Ampler Charts lets you insert a wider category gap between columns, so groups of columns are visually separated on the chart.
Quick answer: Left-click between two columns, drag the handle to the right, and release to insert a category gap; hold Ctrl to keep the chart the same size.
How to use it
Drag between two columns to insert a wider category gap.
- Left-click in between two columns.
- Drag the handle to the right.
- Release to insert the category gap — hold Ctrl to maintain the chart size.
A category gap sets off groups of columns from each other, so the reader sees the grouping at a glance.
When to use it
Add a category gap when columns fall into groups — time periods, segments, scenarios — that should read as distinct blocks rather than one continuous series.
How consultants use it
Grouping is part of how a chart tells its story, and a category gap makes the groups explicit. Three habits apply:
- Show the grouping: a wider gap separates one group of columns from the next
- Guide the reader’s eye: the spacing signals which columns belong together
- Keep the chart sized: holding Ctrl preserves the chart’s footprint on the slide
A category gap makes column groupings clear on the chart.
Tips & best practices
- Use category gaps to separate time periods or segments.
- Hold Ctrl to keep the chart within its slide space.
- Keep group gaps consistent across comparable charts.
Availability
Part of Ampler Charts, included in Ampler for PowerPoint and the Ampler Suite, on Windows desktop PowerPoint.
Frequently asked questions
How do you separate groups of columns in a chart?
Left-click between two columns in Ampler Charts, drag the handle to the right, and release to insert a category gap.
How do you add a bigger gap between column groups?
Insert a category gap by dragging between the columns; hold Ctrl to keep the chart the same size.
What is a category gap in a chart?
A wider gap between columns that visually separates one group — a period or segment — from the next.
How do you keep the chart the same size when adding a gap?
Hold Ctrl while dragging, so the category gap is added without changing the chart’s overall size.