Best way to show this on a graph?

[ker_01]

I have several lines, which will be graphed prior year (12 months) or current
year to date (1 to 12 months).

On the far right side of the graph, I need to have the lines (at month 12)
intersect with a seperate visual showing multiple levels of the goal (like a
stacked column chart). I can't use horizontal goal lines across the chart-
they need to just be at the end.

When I set it up as a mixed-type chart, with the goal information in Dec
(stacked columns), the actual monthly lines travel into the goal area and
terminate in the center of that stacked column; what I'd really like is for
them to hit the "wall" at the 12 month data point, with the different levels
of goals will be just to the right of that wall.

Or, there may be better ways to do this that I haven't even thought of- I'm
open to options.

Any ideas, including any pointers for implementation?

Thank you!
Keith

 

[Dave Curtis]

Hi Keith,

You could try formatting the x axis scale so that the value (Y) axis doesn't
cross between dates, but that will only display half your December bar, aven
though your lines should now reach the right hand axis.
You could change the stacked bar for a dummy series running up the secondary
y axis, with appropriate markers and labels and perhaps error bars.

Dave

 

[ker_01]

Dave-

I appreciate your suggestions. I tried those; the biggest issue with using a
second Y axis is that I have to let Excel decide the scale the primary axis,
and both Y-axis scales would have to remain the same for my needs. It is too
bad that Excel (at least in 2003, and I assume in 2007) doesn't have a
checkbox to "set secondary axis scale = primary axis scale" since Excel uses
some arcane formula to determine the axis scale so I can't replicate it and
assign it to the secondary axis.

In the end, I used a secondary X-axis with 24 data points instead of 12,
with everything except the 24th point empty; my column data is in point #24.
That way the left side of my columns (at 0 overlap and 0% gap) match up with
the 12th (Dec) line on the primary X Axis (still at 12 data points), and that
seems to be working so far (now I have to reformat all my data to accomodate
the extra blank rows, and then populate the graph with my real data, and make
sure there are no surprises).

Many thanks,
Keith

 

[Jon Peltier]

You can have chart series in both the primary and secondary axis groups
without having both primary and secondary axes. In 2003, go to Chart menu >
Chart Options > Axes group, and uncheck the secondary value (Y) axis. All
series will now plot against the primary value axis.

(In Excel 2007, your results may not be predictable, but I think the problem
is more with plotting different chart types on the same category - X -
axis).

- Jon