Chart areas and plot areas

Most think-cell charts have a chart area and a plot area.

• The inner plot area is where your chart data is plotted. The plot area contains the data markers, such as columns, lines, and data points.
• The outer chart area contains everything in the chart, including the plot area and chart features that extend beyond the plot area, such as series and category labels (see Label types) and CAGR arrows.

To create precise slide layouts, you can align other slide objects with the chart area or plot area, and you can match the sizes of slide objects to either area.

Automatically resize chart areas and plot areas to fit their contents

Chart areas and plot areas can automatically resize to fit their contents. For example, the chart area can resize to fit a CAGR arrow ...

... and the plot area can resize to fit the number of columns in a column chart.

You can turn automatic resizing on and off, and chose the direction in which the chart grows or shrinks, by unlocking and locking the edges of the chart area or plot area.

You can't lock the same edge of both the chart area and the plot area. For example, if you lock the top edge of the plot area, the top edge of the chart area automatically unlocks. This ensures that all of the chart's contents stay inside the chart and plot areas so that you can create precise slide layouts.

If an edge of an area is unlocked, the edge will automatically move to fit the area's contents. An unlocked edge has a blue resize handle . To unlock an edge of the chart area or plot area, select the area, then right-click the edge's resize handle.

If an edge of an area is locked, the edge won't move, even when you edit the area's contents. A locked edge has a white resize handle . To lock an edge of the chart area or plot area, select the area, then left-click the edge's resize handle.

To learn more, see Lock and unlock elements.

Automatic resizing examples

Here are a few examples of how you can control automatic resizing of chart and plot areas.

Match the size of the chart area or plot area to other objects

You can match the size of the chart area or plot area to the size of other objects (see Match objects' sizes). For example, you can match the width of a think-cell image to the width of the plot area.

Align the chart area or plot area with other objects

You can align the chart area or plot area with other slide objects (see Align and distribute objects). For example, you can center the chart title above the plot area and align the left edges of the chart area and the slide title.

Dynamically align the chart area or plot area with other elements

You can create dynamic alignments between the chart area or plot area and other elements. When the chart area or plot area resizes to fit to its contents, the other elements move or resize to preserve the alignment.

For example, you can align the plot area and a text box so that the text box always matches the width of the plot area, even when the plot area's contents change.

Once you move one of the elements or certain edges, the dynamic alignment breaks (see Break dynamic alignments).

To create a dynamic alignment between the chart area or plot area and another element, follow these steps:

1. Before you dynamically align the edges that you want—in this example, the right edges of the text box and plot area—you may want to lock some of the elements' other edges so that they don't move when you edit the chart. A locked edge has a white resize handle . To lock an edge, select its element or area, then left-click the edge's resize handle.
   
   In this example, the left edge of the plot area is locked.

2. Select one of the elements that you want to include in your dynamic alignment. For example, select the text box.

3. Start dragging the resize handle of the edge that you want to align—for example, the handle of the right edge.

4. While dragging the resize handle, move the mouse pointer onto the edge of the other element that you want to align to—in this example, the right edge of the plot area. The edge that you're aligning to is highlighted in blue, and a thin line appears between the edges. Release the mouse button.
   
   In this example, the right edges of the chart area and plot area are in the same position. To make sure that you're aligning to the plot area, drag the resize handle so that you see a blue highlight along the right edge of the plot area only. If the highlight appears along the entire edge of the chart area, you will align the text box to the chart area.

5. In this example, to match the text box width to the plot area, align the left edge of the text box to the left edge of the plot area (see think-cell alignment guides).

6. Make sure that the edges that you want to dynamically align—for example, the right edges of the text box and plot area—are unlocked. An unlocked edge has a blue resize handle . To unlock an edge, select its element or area, then right-click the edge's resize handle.
   
   In this example, the resize handles of the right edges of the chart area and plot area are in the same position. To make sure that you're unlocking the right edge of the plot area, first select the plot area, then right-click the resize handle.

When you edit the chart, the dynamic alignment will persist. In this example, the text box resizes so that it always matches the width of the plot area.

Break dynamic alignments