Using Excel to Plot
Farrokh Alemi, Ph.D.
Objectives
Given a set of data plot a control
chart using Excel software
Observed Upper Lower
Time value limit Limit
Data 1 30 52.5 12.5
2 0 52.5 12.5
3 25 52.5 12.5
Observations over time (see 4 30 52.5 12.5
first two columns) 5 35 52.5 12.5
Upper and Lower control 6 40 52.5 12.5
limits (see columns 3 and 4) 7 50 52.5 12.5
8 45 52.5 12.5
Pre (yellow) & post (white)
9 31 52.5 12.5
Intervention period
10 20 52.5 12.5
Plot a chart with three lines 11 40 52.5 12.5
designating the observed, 12 60 52.5 12.5
the upper and the lower 13 45 52.5 12.5
limits. Distinguish between 14 60 52.5 12.5
pre- and post intervention 15 45 52.5 12.5
periods 16 32 52.5 12.5
17 50 52.5 12.5
18 60 52.5 12.5
Distinguish between before
and after intervention periods
Create a series for the time
period before intervention
Select the range from C2 to
D8 and cut and paste it in
two new columns E2 to F8.
Label E1 as upper limit
before and F1 as lower limit
before
Label C1 as upper limit after
and D1 as lower limit after
Select chart options
1. Click on chart
logo
2. Select first
option of line
charts
3. Enter data
range B2:F19 or
drag cursor from
B2 to F19 to pick
up this range
Title, X-axis, Y-axis & legend
Enter plot title,
X-axis title
and Y-axis
titles
Select legend
folder and turn
off the legend
Select plot area
Select where
to make the
plot
Example of how to plot
See plot. The
Observed values
limits are 80
60
confusing and 40
20
need to be 0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17
redone Time
Redo limits
1. Right click on the
line until selected
2. Select format
data series
3. Set marker to 4. Repeat for the
none. Set line color after portion but
to red this time set style
to dashed
Redo observation line
1. Right click on the line for
2. Set markers to
observed values. Select
automatic, press ok
format data series
3. Click on grid line 4. Delete gridline
until selected
Final output
Example of how to plot
Observed values
80
60
40
20
0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17
Time