2014 Colum Chart with aDiference
Column Chart with a Difference
Column charts are frequently used to compare different data sets. It takes a little trick to have Excel
make more than one stack but it can be done ~ see figures below. The file DoubleColumn is an Excel
file showing how to make these charts. The method is taken from Stephen Bullen’s page but the
instructions have been expanded,
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7 Double Coluran Chart Another example of a "double column" chart
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Colum Chart wth aDiference
Instructions
1) Select the data in B2:F3 and make a column chart. The chart will be blank!
2) Select B6-F22 and click the Copy tool. Select the chart and click the Paste tool
3) Right click the North data series in the chart, open the Format Data Series dialog. On
the Aris tab click on the Secondary Anis box to put a check mark in it
4) Right click within the Chart Area and open the Chart Option dialog. In the Secondary
‘Ans area, put a check mark in the Category (X) Axis box and remove the check mark
from the Value (¥) Axis box,
5) Inturn, format the other three data series to use the secondary axis. After this, when
‘you click on a data series in the chart, the coloured range finder lines will enclose the
data in B6-B22 and the y-values
6) Right click any data series in the chart, open the Chart Type dialog and set the chart to
stacked columns. If you do this without selecting a data series the x-axis labels will be
totally unacceptable
7) Right click on any data series in the chart, open the Format Data Seriet dialog, and on
the Options tab cet the Gap width to 0
8) Weneedto hide the secondary x-asris. Do not merely clear or delete it. Right click on
the secondary x-axis (top one) and open the Format Axis dialog, Setthe Major and
Minor tick marks to none. Set the Tick marks labels to none.
9) Click on the legend box and then click to select the Series J text. Press the Delete key.
10) Note, you may change the order in which the datais displayed. Open any Format
Data Series dialog, open the Series Order tab and.use the Mfove buttons to reorder the
series to your requirements.
11) Remember there is a hidden secondary x-axis. This may interfere with the chart title if
thetwo overlap. You may wish to use the secondary x-axis title as the chart title to
avoid this problem.
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