Linking Time-varying charts

[migalley]

Hi all,

Here's my problem.

I've got a set of Excel files with monthly data which is updated every
month. So in January I only have Jan data. In February I have Jan and
Feb data, and so on.

The chart I have for this data always displays a full 18 months data
from October 2003 to March 2005, and as more data is added, the line on
the chart snakes its way from left to right.

These files are submitted to me from various sources. As a central data
collector, I now want to link these Excel files into a single Excel
file which will display all the charts in one place for convenience.

How do I link the files and get the charts to display properly in the
new composite Excel file? When I link the data, the months which are
still in the future are displayed as zero, so that the line on the
chart covers all 18 months.

Please see the attached .gif files for an idea of the change in chart
display.

Is there any way of getting rid of the zero data in the linked files?

If you can help with ideas or techniques, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks.

MG

Attachment filename: graphs before and after link.gif
Download attachment: http://www.excelforum.com/attachment.php?postid=587686

 

[migalley]

Hi all,

I found a solution.

What needs to be done is to link the source data of the new chart t
the old spreadsheet, rather than just create a new chart which i
sourced to linked data in the new spreadsheet.

M