Intermediate Excel Chart Skills
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Use this hack to add the data series names in the columns of a graph instead of using a legend in Excel
When you are using a clustered column graph in Excel that has two or more data series, how do you tell the viewer which set of columns is which data series? The default method is to use colors and the legend. This video shows you a way to add the data series names into one… Continue reading Use this hack to add the data series names in the columns of a graph instead of using a legend in Excel
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Fixing the “Values don’t add to 100% because of rounding” issue in Excel pie charts & tables
Too often I see a footnote on an Excel chart or table in a presentation that says “the values don’t add to 100% because of rounding.” Sometimes the values don’t add to 100% and there is no footnote, it just appears to be a mathematical mistake. Both of these situations cause doubt in the mind…
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Excel/PowerPoint tip: Accurately estimating the values in a column/bar/line chart image
What do you do in this situation. You get a chart from another source, like a website or PDF and it doesn’t have data labels with the values. You need the values to incorporate into your analysis or your chart. How can you accurately estimate the values from an image of the graph? This video…
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5 Tips for handling the increased financial reporting workload after colleagues get laid off
We are in another round of layoffs in many organizations. This time it is a slowing economy due to rising interest rates. In the past it has been different factors and the result is the same: fewer financial professionals doing the same (or more) work every month. Here are five tips to get those monthly…
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Excel Chart Tip: Add a goal or target line to a bar chart
When you are showing ranked data in a bar chart you may want to add a goal or target line to easily identify those with performance above the goal and those below the goal. Instead of drawing the line on top of the chart, build the target or goal line as part of the chart…