[Libs-Or] Tech-Talk: EXCEL / G-Sheets - Resizing Charts, Eliminating Unnecessary White Space

Wed Mar 11 09:42:50 PDT 2026

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EXCEL - Resize Charts, Eliminate Unnecessary White Space

Intermediate

[A magnifying glass is positioned over a bar and line graph on paper, highlighting rising red bars and a fluctuating black line representing revenue and growth rates from 1996 to 2005.]

Have you ever found yourself trying to add an Excel/G-Sheets chart to a PowerPoint or G-Slides presentation ... only to find that there was so much white space around it? Often, it makes the information too small to see easily.

If you could just make that wasted area go away, you would be able to enlarge the chart itself, making a stronger impression. Instead, every time you pull the chart out, the white space comes with it.

The good news is you can enlarge just the chart. The trick is to know where to click and what to drag.

There are two parts to every chart:
·     The Chart Area: the entire image and white space together
·     The Plot Area: the data graphic (bars, pie chart, scatter points)

EXAMPLES below: Before and After Resizing the inner Plot Area

Before Resizing...

[A horizontal bar chart titled "Overall Tenure" shows four categories: Over 5 years, Between 2 and 5 years, Between 1 and 2 years, Between 6 and 13 months, and Less than 6 months, with varying bar lengths.]

After Resizing...

[Horizontal bar chart titled "Overall Tenure" with five categories: Over 5 years, Between 2 and 5 years, Between 1 and 2 years, Between 6 and 13 months, and Less than 6 months. "Over 5 years" has the longest bar.]

How to Resize

The ability to resize a chart is fairly simple once you can find the Plot Area. Click next to, but not on, the data bars or labels to get to it.

You will know you're in the right place if you see an inner box appear. This is the Plot Area.

TIP: You can also hover over an area in the chart and hold it a bit to see the words "Plot Area" appear.

When you do click inside a chart, you might see the outer box which defines the Chart Area ... and an inner box outlining the Plot Area. You will only see the Plot Area if your cursor was in that space when you clicked.

[Horizontal bar chart titled "Overall Tenure" with four categories: Less than 6 months, Between 6 and 13 months, Between 1 and 2 years, Between 2 and 5 years, and Over 5 years. "Over 5 years" has the longest bar.]

To make that inner box bigger (to eliminate the white space around it), just drag any of the squares on that Plot Area line to the distance you want.

TIP: Unlike other graphics, you can pull out the sides and the chart will stay in the correct relationship, it will not become distorted. So drag in any direction as far as you want, until it is the size you prefer.

Google Sheets

The same concept can be applied in Sheets to resize the plot area. Just mouse over a corner and drag the chart larger or smaller depending on the size you'd like to display.

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Communications: Talking

Replace apology with appreciation

How often do you begin a conversation with… “Sorry to bother you”?

It may sound polite, but it puts you in a position to fail. If what you have to say isn't important enough to share, don't do it. If it is worth communicating, then don't apologize.

Instead, try this simple shift:

“I appreciate your time. Quick question.”

That one change reframes the interaction. You’re no longer apologizing for existing. And you’re acknowledging the other person’s value.

Your language shapes the perception people have of you. Confident courtesy builds credibility. Apologetic language will diminish the value.

Next time you’re about to say “sorry to bother you,” pause. Replace apology with appreciation. You'll feel good about it!

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Cheers,
Darci Hanning, MLIS (she/her/hers)
Public Library Consultant / CE Coordinator
Continuing Education Resources: https://slo.oregon.gov/conted/
State Library of Oregon | Library Support and Development Services
971-375-3491 | darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov> | www.oregon.gov/library<http://www.oregon.gov/library>

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