Repositioning datalabels on 3-D stacked-bar chart

Question

I am trying to reposition value datalabels on a 3-D 100%-stacked-bar chart.  I am using Excel 2010.
I am preparing charts for the age distribution and the race/ethnic distribution of new students, among dozens of others.  (Printed, the workbook is over 100 pages, with more charts to be added!)
Each series  (for example, "25 to 29" or "Asian")  has its distinct color.  My boss has stipulated 12pt bold type, but some points are so small that the datalabels are larger than the point.  As a result, he
wants the datalabel filled with the category's color.  He also wants datalabels for points with 0 values displayed  (for instance, "Over 50" or "Not Reported")  inside the bar.
On a 3-D bar chart, the middle of a datalabel is positioned at the vertical middle of the point and at the horizontal middle of the face of the point  (not the middle of the entire point, thus excluding the sidewall).
The 0-valued points are usually at the top or bottom of the bar.  With several categories, inserting the "0" or small-value label at the extreme of the bar often overwrites one or more other labels.  My boss wants the second label moved
below the first, etc.
I have used the eyeball method to adjust the datalabels, but I frequently either overlap another label or allow the contrasting color of the point that the labels overlay to leak through the space between the two labels.
I'm trying to tighten the charts' appearance.  I have written code, for instance, to horizontally align all datalabels for box-and-whisker charts with the label of the mean.  (The labels for the whiskers are not, by default, aligned with the
labels for the box)
The attached code  (in VBA, not VB.Net)
Sub test()
Dim bytPoint As Byte, bytSeries As Byte
Dim strDataLabelName As String
    Dim objDataLabelNext As DataLabel, objPoint As Point
    Const cstrTitle As String = "Position DataLabel"
    If Not TypeName(Selection) = "DataLabel" Then MsgBox "Please select a single DataLabel", , cstrTitle: Exit Sub
    strDataLabelName = Selection.Name
    If Not Left$(strDataLabelName, 4) = "Text" Then MsgBox "DataLabel has an invalid name.  It must be ""Text SnPn"".  Please correct.", , cstrTitle: Exit Sub
    bytSeries = ftbSeries(strDataLabelName)
    bytPoint = ftbPoint(strDataLabelName)
    With ActiveChart
        If bytSeries = .SeriesCollection.Count Then
            Selection.Top = .Axes(xlValue).Top + 0.75
        Else
            Set objDataLabelNext = .SeriesCollection(bytSeries + 1).Points(bytPoint).DataLabel
            Selection.Top = objDataLabelNext.Top + objDataLabelNext.Height
        End If
        Set objPoint = .SeriesCollection(bytSeries).Points(bytPoint)
        Selection.Left = objPoint.Left + (objPoint.Width - Selection.Width) / 2
    End With
    Set objDataLabelNext = Nothing: Set objPoint = Nothing
End Sub
Function ftbPoint(strDataLabelName As String) As Byte
ftbPoint = Val(Mid$(strDataLabelName, InStr(5, strDataLabelName, "P") + 1))
End Function
Function ftbSeries(strDataLabelName As String) As Byte
ftbSeries = Val(Mid$(strDataLabelName, InStr(5, strDataLabelName, "S") + 1))
End Function
...does successfully vertically align the selected datalabel with the label of the next-higher series point, or the bottom of the top axis, if the series is the last.  But the datalabel is horizontally aligned with the entire width of the point, not
the face of the point. 
My strategy is to add half of the excess of the width of the face of the point over the width of the label to the left edge of the point.  objPoint.width returns the 2-D width of the point, not the width of the 3-D face.  I've tried subtracting
the point depth from the point width, but that fails on theoretical, much less practical, grounds.
I'm sure a function or a formula exists to convert the three-space depth to two-space so I can subtract it from the point width, but my little pea-sized brain can't conjure it.  I've invested a day's work with no solution.
Many thanks in advance for your help.

Answer 1

Hi JFHart,
>>The "face" of the point is the front of the object, as opposed to the shaded side.  I'm seeking a way to measure the front.  The .width property seems to include the side; it measures the entire area that is colored<<
Yes, it is correct. The width property of Point include the side. Here the test I did for it:
And as far as I know, Excel object model doesn't provide a way to get the width of front face. I suggest that you submit the feedback from link below if you want to Office support this feature.
Submit Feedback - Microsoft Support
Regards & Fei
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