"Highlight" current month in 12 month line chart

[Thomas]

Hi all,

My manager saw a presentation from one of our vendors where they had a line
chart, showing forecast dates over a year. What impressed him was that they
had a black line going from the horizontal axis up to the top of the chart,
"highlighting" the month we are currently in. I'm assuming this line moved
automatically as the year progressed. Is this something that's easy to do?
I've looked around but haven't found anything.


Thanks,
Tom

 

[Shane Devenshire]

Hi,

Here is one way - set up your data:
A B C
Month Amount Drop
Jan 81 #N/A
Feb 19 #N/A
Mar 87 100
Apr 35 #N/A
May 9 #N/A
Jun 59 #N/A
Jul 73 #N/A
Aug 6 #N/A
Sep 31 #N/A
Oct 59 #N/A
Nov 24 #N/A
Dec 18 #N/A

the formula is C2 is

=IF(TEXT(NOW(),"MMM")=A2,MAX($B$2:$B$13),NA())

Plot the entire range as a line chart. Then select the "Drop" series and
change it to a Column chart. Remove the legend entry for the Drop series.
You can select the Drop series by using the Select Object dropdown on the
Chart toolbar or its equivalent Chart Tools, Format, Chart Element drop down.

 

[Thomas]

Hi Shane,

This only gives me a mark at the top of the spreadsheet without a line going
up to it. If I add a value (0) for the month before, it gives me a line with
an angle.

Thanks,
Tom

 

[Per Erik Midtrød]

Hi Shane,

This only gives me a mark at the top of the spreadsheet without a line going
up to it. If I add a value (0) for the month before, it gives me a line with
an angle.

Thanks,
Tom

Hi Tom.

I think Shanes solution is working, you probably just need to change
that particular series to column instead of lines.

Per Erik

 

[Thomas]

Hi Per Erik,

You're right, that fixed it! I didn't know you could actually mix two types
of charts!

Thanks!
Tom