> ## Overview of formatting

> The following types of formatting changes are available for most charts:

> | Laying out and formatting the chart area. Change the background color or outline of different chart areas or modify the padding between chart areas.

> | Formatting numbers, dates, and times. Customize the appearance of dates and numbers in a chart, and add a prefix or suffix to numbers.

> | Formatting the chart plot, title, and legend areas. Add color, an outline, and a shadow to highlight the plot, title, or legend.

> | Formatting an axis. Adjust the line style of an axis, and modify the text style, position, coloring, or outline of axis labels or titles.

> | Formatting a series. Change the type of a series, such as line or bar, the color or style of the series markers, and the attributes specific to each series type.

(c) Copyright Actuate Corporation 2013