change exist chart to be dynamic

[Guest]

Hi all
How can I change an existing chart to be dynamic? In series I saw a name
in y axis only but no name of x axis. How can I create a series for x axis?
Thanks in advance
Daniel

 

[Jon Peltier]

You need to understand how dynamic charts work. There are tutorials and
links to more on this page:

http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Charts/Dynamics.html

- Jon

 

[Shane Devenshire]

Hi Daniel,

It's not clear what exactly you want to do - there are many types of dynamic
chart. Also your solution is version dependent - what version are you
using. There are a lot of hard ways to do this, but there is also a very
elegant and easy way to handle it, depending on what you are actually trying
to do. For example there is not need for dynamic range names in some cases.

Please give us more info.

Cheers,
Shane Devenshire

 

[Guest]

Hi Shane
I have an existing excel chart and I need to change it be dynamic which is
the chart will automatically expand and continue to graph. I 've just learn
that the chart need to define names and add offset, counta functions. But
that is the hard way and I want to learn the easy way. I heard I can change
the series but do not clear about it. Thanks in advance
Daniel

 

[Jon Peltier]

If you're using Excel 2003, define the data range as a list (Data menu) and
as the list changes size, any formulas referencing the list (including the
chart SERIES formula) will update to include the entire length of the list.
If you're using Excel 2007, define the range as a Table, and it will behave
like an Excel 2003 List.

If you're using Excel 2002 or earlier, the dynamic approach using dynamic
names is in fact the easy way.

- Jon

 

[Guest]

Hi Jon
Thanks for response, I am using excel 2003, please give me more details
step by step. How can I define data range? Do I have to change reference in
series?
Thanks
Daniel

 

[Jon Peltier]

This List feature was what convinced me it was worth upgrading to 2003
(haven't encountered the killer feature in 2007 yet).

The list should be structured like a flat database, with column labels in
the first row of the list (needn't be the first row of the sheet), no blank
rows or columns, and each row represents one record of the data. Select the
range (or a single cell within the range and let Excel expand the
selection), go to Date menu > List > Create List, or hit Ctrl + L.

Make sure your series formulas reference the data in the list by column. If
the list has its column headers in row 3 and data in rows 4 through 20, if
your formula includes all these rows of a column in the list, like
=SUM($G$4:$G$20), if the list is expanded or contracted, the formula will
automatically update so it still references the entire list.

- Jon

 

[Jon Peltier]

I meant to add that, like many features in Excel, the best way to learn
about it is to try it out.

- Jon