Manipulating Charts Without Activating

a simple macro using the recorder yields:

Range("A1").Select
ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = "=1+1"

this, of course, can be made more efficient:

Range("A1").FormulaR1C1 = "=1+1"

instead of selecting the range then manipulating the active range, the action is done directly on the range in one step.

now, charts...

with recorder:

ActiveSheet.ChartObjects("Chart 1").Activate
    ActiveChart.ChartArea.Select
    ActiveChart.ChartType = xlBarClustered

i can not find a way to combine this properly so that the action is done without the chart being 'activated'.

the ideal solution would be something like this (conceptually):

Dim mychart As Chart
    Set mychart = Sheet1.ChartObjects("chart 1")
    With mychart
        .ChartType = xlBarClustered
        .PlotBy = xlColumns
... etc.
    End With

i suppose i'm not doing the set part correctly. what's the correct syntax?

also, i'm open to other ideas to achieve this. does not have to be like above.

thanks!

Re: Manipulating Charts Without Activating

.chart !!!

thanks you two!!