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Hack 50 Explode a Single Slice from a Pie Chart

Although pie charts are excellent visual aids,
sometimes you want to emphasize a particular piece of the pie.
Separating it from the rest gives it more attention.

The default option on an exploded pie
chart is to explode all the slices simultaneously and for the same
distance. With a couple of mouse clicks, you can explode one slice at
a time.

To begin, set up a basic pie chart such as the one shown in Figure 5-1.

Figure 5-1. Simple pie chart set up from worksheet data

Next, click the pie chart
and then slowly double-click the slice you want to explode. Drag the
selected slice of pie away from the center of the chart, and you will
see the exploded effect shown in Figure 5-2.

Figure 5-2. Simple pie chart with exploding slice

Dragging the single slice
will leave the other slices unaffected. You can repeat this for other
slices if you want. This technique also works just as well with a 3D
pie. To make the pie 3D, click the chart, right-click and select
Chart Type, and then select the 3D Pie icon.

If you want to explode all the slices at the same time, simply click
the pie to select it, then drag away from the center, and all the
slices will have the exploded effect shown in Figure 5-3. The further you drag the slices, the smaller
they will get.

Figure 5-3. 3D pie chart with exploding slices

The reverse also works if you want to
"unexplode" your pie. Simply click
the piece of pie and drag toward the middle to put it all back
together again.

Andy Pope