---
title: "Stacked bars in a Visual Grid"
description: "Combine custom labels and stacked bar charts in one Visual Grid"
---

Build a stacked bar chart inside a Visual Grid when you need more control over label placement and surrounding content than a stand-alone chart provides.

## Prepare the data

Paste or enter category labels in column A, followed by one numeric column per series. You can use embedded data or an Excel connection.

<Frame caption="Category labels followed by three numeric series">
  <img src="/images/powerpoint-add-in/support/how-to-create-a-stacked-bar-chart-in-the-visual-grid-01.png" alt="Category labels followed by three numeric series" width="566" height="367" />
</Frame>

## Add a display column

Right-click column B and insert a new column to its left. This new column B will display the bars; the numeric values move to columns C, D, and E.

<Frame caption="Insert a column for the chart output before the numeric data">
  <img src="/images/powerpoint-add-in/support/how-to-create-a-stacked-bar-chart-in-the-visual-grid-02.png" alt="Insert a column for the chart output before the numeric data" width="586" height="443" />
</Frame>

Select the new column and add the **Stacked bar** rule.

<Frame caption="Choose the Stacked bar rule for the display column">
  <img src="/images/powerpoint-add-in/support/how-to-create-a-stacked-bar-chart-in-the-visual-grid-03.png" alt="Choose the Stacked bar rule for the display column" width="300" height="393" />
</Frame>

## Point the rule to the numeric data

Open the Stacked bar rule and choose **Data**. Set the first series target to column C, where the numeric data now starts.

<Frame caption="Set the first chart series to the first numeric column">
  <img src="/images/powerpoint-add-in/support/how-to-create-a-stacked-bar-chart-in-the-visual-grid-04.png" alt="Set the first chart series to the first numeric column" width="936" height="762" />
</Frame>

Click **Add series** for each additional numeric column. Grunt advances through the columns to the right as you add series. Check the series list before continuing.

<Frame caption="Add series until every numeric column is included">
  <img src="/images/powerpoint-add-in/support/how-to-create-a-stacked-bar-chart-in-the-visual-grid-05.png" alt="Add series until every numeric column is included" width="619" height="350" />
</Frame>

## Hide helper columns and style the chart

Hide columns C, D, and E using their context menu. Hiding changes what appears on the slide; the numeric data remains available to the chart rule.

<Frame caption="Hide numeric helper columns after linking them to the rule">
  <img src="/images/powerpoint-add-in/support/how-to-create-a-stacked-bar-chart-in-the-visual-grid-06.png" alt="Hide numeric helper columns after linking them to the rule" width="1025" height="581" />
</Frame>

Adjust the chart's colors, labels, and legend in the rule. You now have category labels and a stacked bar display in the same grid.

<Frame caption="A finished stacked bar layout with custom category labels and a legend">
  <img src="/images/powerpoint-add-in/support/how-to-create-a-stacked-bar-chart-in-the-visual-grid-08.png" alt="A finished stacked bar layout with custom category labels and a legend" width="687" height="311" />
</Frame>

Use [row types and tags](/powerpoint-add-in/user/visual-grids#use-row-and-column-types) to keep surrounding formatting reusable as the grid changes.