How to create a step Area chart for the Mosaic plot in Excel
![The new data 3 for Mosaic plot in Excel for Microsoft 365 The new data 3 for Mosaic plot in Excel 365](/images/tips/628/6.png)
See more about step charts.
1. Create a step Area chart
1.1. Select a data range (in this example, B13:L29).
1.2. On the Insert tab, in the Charts group, click on the Insert Line or Area Chart dropdown list:
![Insert Line or Area Chart in Excel 365 Insert Line or Area Chart in Excel 365](/images/tips/charts365/line_area.png)
From the Insert Line or Area Chart dropdown list, select 100% Stacked Area:
![The 100% Stacked Area Chart in Excel for Microsoft 365 The 100% Stacked Area Chart in Excel 365](/images/tips/charts365/100stacked_area.png)
At first glance, Excel creates a little strange area chart for this data, but don't worry (it will become normal after a few customizations):
![A little strange area chart in Excel for Microsoft 365 A little strange area chart in Excel 365](/images/tips/629_365/1.png)
2. Customize the horizontal (category) axis
2.1. Do one of the following:
- On the Chart Design tab, in the Data group, choose Select Data:
- Right-click in the chart area and choose Select Data... in the popup menu:
2.2. In the Select Data Source dialog box, under Horizontal (Category) Axis Labels, click the Edit button:
![Select Data Source dialog box in Excel for Microsoft 365 Select Data Source dialog box in Excel 365](/images/tips/629_365/2.png)
2.3. In the Axis Labels dialog box, choose cells with categories (X values) for this axis and click OK several times:
![Axis Labels dialog box in Excel for Microsoft 365 Axis Labels dialog box in Excel 365](/images/tips/629_365/3.png)
2.4. Right-click on the horizontal axis and choose Format Axis... in the popup menu:
![Format Axis popup in Excel for Microsoft 365 Format Axis popup in Excel 365](/images/tips/charts365/format_axis.png)
2.5. On the Format Axis pane, on the Axis Options tab, in the Axis Options section:
- Under Axis Type, select the Date axis option,
- Under Bounds, be sure that:
- In the Minimum field, the value is the 1st day in Excel:
- 00/01/1900, if you use the date format mm/dd/yyyy,
- 01/00/1900, if you use the date format dd/mm/yyyy,
- In the Maximum field, the value of the 100th day in Excel
(the 4th of September):
- 09/04/1900, if you use the date format mm/dd/yyyy,
- 04/09/1900, if you use the date format dd/mm/yyyy,
Note: Unfortunately, at the moment, there are no other ways in Excel to set the calculated axis from 0 to 100. Thus, this workaround means that you use the calculated amount from 0 to 100 (from the 0 to the 100th day because Excel treats dates as numbers).
- In the Minimum field, the value is the 1st day in Excel:
- Under Units, type 20 days for the Major units:
![Format Axis pane in Excel for Microsoft 365 Format Axis pane in Excel 365](/images/tips/625_365/7.png)
Excel changes the original chart to the following step area chart:
![The new step Area chart for Mosaic plot in Excel for Microsoft 365 The new step Area chart for Mosaic plot in Excel 365](/images/tips/629_365/4.png)
3. Customize the data series
3.1. Right-click on the data series and choose Format Data Series... in the popup menu:
![Format data series in popup menu Excel for Microsoft 365 Format data series in popup menu Excel 365](/images/tips/charts365/format_data_series.png)
3.2. On the Format Data Series pane, on the Fill & Line tab:
- In the Fill section, select the Solid fill option and choose the color you prefer:
- In the Border section, select the Solid line option and choose the color and width in the appropriate fields:
3.3. Repeat the previous steps of this section to match data series visual appearance:
![The Mosaic plot with separators in Excel for Microsoft 365 The Mosaic plot with separators in Excel 365](/images/tips/629_365/5.png)
To fix the labels of the chart, see the third part of this tip How to add labels to the Mosaic plot in Excel.