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Explode One Slice of the Pie

July 06, 2023 - by

Explode One Slice of the Pie

Problem: What is the point of an exploded pie? It doesn’t look any better than a pie.

Exploding each slice of the pie adds white space to the chart but it does not improve the look of the chart.
Figure 1174. Adding white spaces between wedges doesn’t add anything.

Strategy: It is better to explode one slice of a pie. If you want to draw the reader’s attention to one slice of the pie, bring that slice to the front of the chart and explode that slice of the pie.

  • 1. Identify the pie slice that you want to highlight.

  • 2. Right-click the pie and choose Format Data Series.

  • 3. Use the Rotation slider to bring that slice of the pie to the 4 o’clock position. There is more room for the pie slice at that point.

The Angle of First Slice is set to 114 degrees. The Pie Explosion is set to zero percent.
Figure 1175. Rotate the chart.

  • 4. In the chart, do a single click twice on the wedge to be exploded.

  • 5. Click and drag that wedge out from the center of the pie.

Exploding one slice of the pie (a "point explosion") gives a much better view of the pie.
Figure 1176. Explode one slice of the pie to call attention to that slice..

This article is an excerpt from Power Excel With MrExcel

Title photo by sheri silver on Unsplash