Data Labels

You can display the data labels for bar values, pie chart segment values, the median line in a boxplot, individual cases in a scatterplot or boxplot, and the equation used for fit lines.

You can specify the contents of the data label. Depending on the type of chart, options include the categorical or legend (grouping) variable, an axis value, a summary statistic (such as counts), the case ID, or the case number. The default for the data label also depends on the chart type.

The Chart Editor provides a special mode for identifying individual cases whose data labels you want to display. This is the data label mode. When you are in data label mode, you can't change anything else in the chart.

How to Display Specific Data Labels

  1. From the menus choose:

    Elements > Data Label Mode

    The cursor changes shape to indicate that you are in data label mode.

  2. Click the graphic element (pie segment, bar, or marker) for which you want to display the case label. If there are overlapping graphic elements in the spot that you click, the Chart Editor displays the Select Graphic Element to Label dialog box. This dialog box allows you to select the specific graphic element or elements for which you want to display data labels. See the topic Select Graphic Element to Label Dialog Box for more information.

    The Chart Editor displays the data label in a default position related to the graphic element.

  3. When you have finished choosing graphic elements, from the menus choose:

    Elements > Data Label Mode

    The cursor changes back to the arrow to indicate that you are no longer in data label mode.

    As an alternative, you can display data labels for all or some graphic elements using the menus.

  4. If you want to display case labels for a specific graphic element or elements, select those elements. If you don't select specific elements, the Chart Editor will display labels for all graphic elements in the chart.

From the menus choose:

Elements > Show Data Labels

The Chart Editor displays the data label in a default position related to the graphic element.

How to Display All Data Labels

As an alternative to data label mode, you can display data labels for all or some graphic elements using the menus.

  1. If you want to display case labels for a specific graphic element or elements, select those elements. If you don't select specific elements, the Chart Editor will display labels for all graphic elements in the chart.
  2. From the menus choose:

Elements > Show Data Labels

The Chart Editor displays the data label in a default position related to the graphic element.

How to Change the Look for Data Labels

  1. Select all of the data labels. Selecting individual data labels is not possible, and you must exit data label mode before you can select the labels.
  2. Use the Data Value Labels tab to change the content and position of the data labels.
  3. To change the text formatting of the data labels, use the Text tab.
  4. To change the fill and border for the data labels, use the Fill & Border tab.

How to Remove Individual Data Labels

You can remove the data labels if you no longer want to display them.

  1. If you are not in data label mode, from the menus choose:

    Elements > Data Label Mode

  2. Click a data label.

The Chart Editor no longer displays the data value label.

How to Remove All Data Labels

You can also remove all data labels.

  1. From the menus choose:

Elements > Hide Data Labels

The Chart Editor no longer displays the data value labels.

How to Use the Data Value Labels Tab

Displayed. You can have multiline labels with more than one content item. The Displayed list shows you the content items in the label. You can change the order in which the content items appear in the label. To change the order, select a content item, and then click either the up or the down arrow to the right of the list. The first content item in the list is displayed in the first line of the data label.

If the element is a fit line, the Equation label is available. This label displays the specific equation used for the fit line (for example, y=7.5+0.2*x for a linear fit line).

Note: If the chart is showing a summary statistic such as mean, the Percent label can be misleading. The percentage value is calculated by summing the previously summarized statistics and dividing by the number of items shown in the chart. The original count is not used unless counts are shown in the chart. Therefore, you should show percentage only when the chart shows a statistic with which percent makes sense, such as count and sum.

Not Displayed. This list shows the content items that are excluded from the data label. To exclude content items from the data label, select a content item in the Displayed list, and then click the X button. To move a content item into the label, select its name in the Not Displayed list, and then click the arrow to the right of the list.

Label Position. Select Custom to choose a custom position for all of the data labels. Then click the button that represents where you want the label to appear in relation to the graphic elements. Automatic positions all of the labels so that the labels do not overlap, if possible. You can also move individual data labels by dragging them to a new position directly on the chart. Manual is selected if any of the labels were moved in this way.

Display Options. By default, the Chart Editor does not display overlapping labels. You can override this behavior by selecting Display all labels. This causes the Chart Editor to display all data labels or all the labels for points that you selected in data label mode. You can also specify that a line connects the data label and the graphic element by selecting Display connecting lines to label. Additionally, you can have the border color and text color match the border color of the associated graphic element by selecting Match label color to graphic element.