how do i create a dashboard in excel 2003 ?

[Jayne Loveman]

Hi there

Can anyone point me to a tutorial which will show me how to create a
Dashboard using Excel 2003? I found the following link, however it just
tells me Dashboards can be created easily !
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/HA012261271033.aspx?pid=CL100570551033
Any help is welcome. Thanks very much in advance

Jayne

 

[Jon Peltier]

Unfortunately this article on the Microsoft site was not very helpful.
Making a dashboard is a complicated process. You need to set up your data so
it can be easily updated and so it can be easily charted. Typically a
dashboard report contains a number of tables, small charts, and displays of
key statistics, with consistent formatting. Here are links to a few
descriptions, all taken from ExcelUser.com, the web site of the author of
the link you already visited:

Getting started
http://www.exceluser.com/dash/startdash.htm

Using small charts in Excel
http://www.exceluser.com/dash/exploredash.htm

Show key stats in Excel (includes some data setup hints)
http://www.exceluser.com/solutions/keystats.htm

More info on data setup:
http://www.exceluser.com/explore/questions/orders.htm

More suggestions on chart styles:
http://www.exceluser.com/solutions/varchart.htm
http://www.exceluser.com/solutions/traffic.htm

Excel drawing objects (shapes and the camera tool)
http://www.exceluser.com/explore/add_class.htm

Display any colors in Excel (formatting)
http://www.exceluser.com/explore/anycolor.htm

ExcelUser also offers an e-book that describes in great detail a process to
build dashboard reports which can be updated easily whenever the backing
data is updated. The book incorporates the above information with clear
examples, and justifies many of the techniques used, which fly in the face
of conventional "wisdom". If you think you'll be heavily involved in making
dashboard reports, the book may be a good investment.

- Jon