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  • Thread starter Thread starter april
  • Start date Start date
A

april

i have 5 yrs of revenue data. however, 2 of those yrs had significant spikes
because of unusual circumstances. i would like to hihlight this fact - i.e
say that the total revenue for a spike year was $2M, but that $900K was due
to extraordinary circumstances. also i am showing the revenue data and the
fundraising expenses for that same period. because of the spike in revenue,
the fundraising increments aren't dramatic because the scale has been set by
that high revenue number. any suggestions?

thanks
 
If i understand, the fundraising value is correct, but it just looks small
because the revenue makes the y range very large? If this is the case, you
can look into adding the fundraising range as a secondary y axis that you can
set up how you like. To do this, assuming it is already on your chart, click
the fundraising series, right click and select format data series. Next click
the Axis tab and select secondary axis. If this looks funny you can right
click again and change the chart type. For example if you are doing a bar
chart, change this series to a line chart. If they are all lines, make it
stand out so people know it is on the secondary axis.
 
I would be tempted to plot two lines on the chart. Line one would show the
actuals, and line two would show the actuals minus the unusual amounts. This
addresses your first concern, which is to show that some amounts are
exaggerated. Your second concern may be addressed through the use of either
a log scale axis, which would confound most non-scientists, or a broken
value axis, which is easier to read but harder to set up. Here's a tutorial:

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

- Jon
 
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