Action 3.
1 - Adding Sparklines, continued
Instructions: Results/ Comments:
11. Click the [Marker Color] button drop- The High Point marker is now yellow.
down, choose the High Point Color option
and choose the Yellow color from the
Standard Colors.
12. Click the [Marker Color] button drop- The Low Point marker is now red.
down, choose the Low Point Color option
and choose the Red color from the
Standard Colors.
13. Click the [Axis] button drop-down and Nothing changes yet.
choose Show Axis.
14. Click the [Axis] button drop-down, The Sparkline Vertical Axis Settings dialog
from the Vertical Axis Maximum Values box opens.
Options group and choose Custom
Value....
15. Set the value to 65000 and click the [OK] The sizing of the sparklines shifts in
button. relations to the setting just entered.
16. Select column I and widen it to twice its The column is wider and the sparkline is
original width. easier to see and understand.
17. Select cells A15:G21. The second data set.
18. Click the Quick Analysis Smart Tag and The Quick Analysis windows displayed.
choose the Sparkline option at the top of
the Quick Analysis window.
19. Choose Line from the list. The Sparklines are added in cells H15:H21.
20. Click the Sparklines Design Tab and click The Edit Sparkline dialog is displayed.
the [Edit Data] button drop-down and
choose Edit Group Location and Data.
21. Edit the Data Range to A15:F21 and click The sparklines now reflect the correct data
the [OK] button. range.
22. Save the file as MyAdvancedCharts. [CTRL + S].
Excel: Charts, Rel. 1.1, 1/14/2021
Lesson 3: Charts Advanced, Page 123
Lesson 3: Charts Advanced
Trendlines Trendline Overview
Once data is in a chart, you may want to use Excel’s tools for
forecasting values based on the existing data. Trendlines can be
used to forecast a data series graphically in the chart, they can be
added to any and all data series in a chart.
A Trendline is a graphic representation of an existing trend
in a data series, they are used to see how a current trend may
possibly move in the future. These can help in making decisions,
barring an unforeseen event, a trend should continue along
predicable lines. Chart types which allow Trendlines to be added
include:
Column
Line
Bar
Area
Stock
Bubble
Choosing a Trendline Type
When you want to add a trendline to a chart in Excel, you can
choose any one of these six different trend or regression types:
Linear trendlines
Logarithmic trendlines
Polynomial trendlines
Power trendlines
Exponential trendlines
Moving average trendlines
The type of data that you have determines the type of trendline
that you should use.
A trendline is most accurate when its R-squared value is at or
near 1. When you fit a trendline to your data, Excel automatically
calculates its R-squared value. If you want to, you can display
this value on your chart.
Page 124 Excel: Charts, Rel. 1.1, 1/14/2021
Lesson 3: Charts Advanced
Trendlines, Linear Trendlines
continued A linear trendline is a best-fit straight line that is used with
simple linear data sets. Your data is linear if the pattern in its
data points resembles a line. A linear trendline usually shows
that something is increasing or decreasing at a steady rate.
This example, a linear trendline illustrates that refrigerator sales
have consistently risen over a 13-year period. Notice that the
R-squared value is 0.979, which is a good fit of the line to the
data.
Logarithmic Trendlines
A logarithmic trendline is a best-fit curved line that is used when
the rate of change in the data increases or decreases quickly and
then levels out. A logarithmic trendline can use both negative
and positive values.
This example uses a logarithmic trendline to illustrate predicted
population growth of animals in a fixed-space area, where
population leveled out as space for the animals decreased. Note
that the R-squared value is 0.933, which is a relatively good fit of
the line to the data.
Excel: Charts, Rel. 1.1, 1/14/2021 Page 125
Lesson 3: Charts Advanced
Trendlines, Polynomial Trendlines
continued A polynomial trendline is a curved line that is used when data
fluctuates. It is useful, for example, for analyzing gains and
losses over a large data set. The order of the polynomial can be
determined by the number of fluctuations in the data or by how
many bends (hills and valleys) appear in the curve. An Order 2
polynomial trendline generally has only one hill or valley. Order
3 generally has one or two hills or valleys. Order 4 generally has
up to three hills or valleys.
This example shows an Order 2 polynomial trendline (one hill)
to illustrate the relationship between driving speed and fuel
consumption. Notice that the R-squared value is 0.979, which is a
good fit of the line to the data.
Power Trendlines
A power trendline is a curved line that is used with data sets
that compare measurements that increase at a specific rate — for
example, the acceleration of a race car at 1-second intervals. You
cannot create a power trendline if your data contains zero or
negative values.
In this example, acceleration data is shown by plotting distance
in meters by seconds. The power trendline clearly demonstrates
the increasing acceleration. Note that the R-squared value is
0.986, which is an almost perfect fit of the line to the data.
Page 126 Excel: Charts, Rel. 1.1, 1/14/2021
Lesson 3: Charts Advanced
Trendlines, Exponential Trendlines
continued An exponential trendline is a curved line that is used when data
values rise or fall at constantly increasing rates. You cannot create
an exponential trendline if your data contains zero or negative
values.
In this example, an exponential trendline is used to illustrate the
decreasing amount of carbon 14 in an object as it ages. Note that
the R-squared value is 0.990, which means that the line fits the
data almost perfectly.
Moving Average Trendlines
A moving average trendline smooths out fluctuations in data
to show a pattern or trend more clearly. A moving average
uses a specific number of data points (set by the Period option),
averages them, and uses the average value as a point in the line.
For example, if Period is set to 2, the average of the first two data
points is used as the first point in the moving average trendline.
The average of the second and third data points is used as the
second point in the trendline, etc.
In this example, a moving average trendline shows a pattern in
number of homes sold over a 26-week period.
Excel: Charts, Rel. 1.1, 1/14/2021 Page 127
Lesson 3: Charts Advanced
Trendlines, Creating and Formatting Trendlines
continued
Create your Chart.
Select the series of data you want to plot a Trendline
on.
Note
You can also use Navigate to the Chart Tool’s Design Tab in the Chart
the new [Add Chart Layouts Group, click the [Add Chart Element] button
Element] button to drop-down and select the desired [Trendline].
the right of chart or right
click the data series to Continuing to select Trendlines this way will add more
add trendlines. trendlines. Choosing [None] in the Trendline menu
will clear all Trendlines.
Customizing Trendlines
If you do not want the default settings, you can create a Trendline
Note with your own settings.
You can right-
click the Trendline Create your Chart. Select the series of data you want to
and choose Format
Trendline from the menu
plot a trendline along. The contextual tabs should be
to open the Format displayed.
Trendline pane.
On the Design Tab, locate the Chart Layouts Group and
click the [Add Chart Element] button.
From the drop-down, select [Trendline], More
Trendline Options (Located at the bottom of the drop-
down list.)
In the Trend/Regression Type section of the Format
Trendline pane, choose a trendline.
Check the Trendline Name section to make sure the
name for your trendline is correct - if not, select the
Custom option and in the Custom Text box type a name.
In the Forecast section, use the Forward and Backward
text boxes to specify how far ahead and how far behind
you want to forecast and estimate respectively.
Under Format Trendline in the Fill and Polygon Icons,
choose options for line color, line style, shadow styles
and glow effects.
Click [Close Icon] (x) to close the pane.
Page 128 Excel: Charts, Rel. 1.1, 1/14/2021
Action 3.2 - Adding Trendlines
Instructions: Results/ Comments:
1. MyAdvancedCharts.xlsx file should still If not, re-open the file from the data files
be open. folder.
2. Activate the Trendlines sheet. Click the sheet tab at the bottom of the
spreadsheet.
3. Select the first data series in the chart. Click the blue data bar to make it active.
4. On the Design Tab in the Chart Design The Format Trendline pane is displayed,
Group, and click the [Add Chart showing the list of Trendline types and
Element] button drop-down and choose formatting controls.
Trendline, More Trendline Options....
5. Choose the Logarithmic Trendline The Trendline changes from a straight line
option. to a curved line.
6. Click the Fill & Line category under The color of the line changes to blue. You
Trendline Options and choose Solid can change to color if you like.
from the Line choices.
7. In the Width text box on the right side of The thickness of the line is doubled,
the window, set the width to 1.5. making it easier to see.
8. Click the [Close] button to the pane. The Format Trendline pane closes.
9. Click into a blank area of the chart. To deselect the trendline.
10. Repeat steps 4 and 5 to add a second The Add Trendline dialog opens, displaying
trend line. a list of all the data series in the chart.
11. Choose the QTR 2 series and click [OK]. A new Linear Trendline is added to the
second data series in the chart.
12. Right-click the new trendline and choose The Format Trendline pane opens.
Format Trendline from the menu.
13. Choose the Logarithmic Trendline option The Trendline changes from a straight line
in the Format Trendline Pane. to a curved line.
Excel: Charts, Rel. 1.1, 1/14/2021
Lesson 3: Charts Advanced, Page 129
Action 3.2 - Adding Trendlines, continued
Instructions: Results/ Comments:
14. Click the Fill & Line category under The color of the line changes to Dark Red.
Trendline Options and choose Solid line.
From the Color drop-down choose the
Dark Red option.
15. In the Width textbox on the right side of The thickness of the line is doubled,
the window and change the width to 1.5. making it easier to see.
The pane closes.
16. Click the [Close] button on the pane.
You have added a trendline for each data
17. Repeat steps 10 through 16 to add series in the chart. Set the colors of the
Trendlines to the data series QTR 3 and lines to the same color as the data series.
then for QTR 4.
18. Click into a blank area of the chart. To deselect all trendlines.
19. Select and right-click the first trendline The Format Trendline pane opens.
and choose Format Trendline.
20. In the Format Trendline pane locate the The trendline now extents into two blank
Forecast Group, set the Forward field newly add years of the chart to predict
value to 2 and click the [Close] button. possible future trends based on the current
data of that data series.
21. Save the file and leave it open. [CTRL + S].
Excel: Charts, Rel. 1.1, 1/14/2021
Lesson 3: Charts Advanced, Page 130
Lesson 3: Charts Advanced
Error Bars Error bars are used to express potential error amounts that are
graphically relative to each data point or data marker in a data
series. For example, you could show 5 percent positive and
negative potential error amounts in the results of a scientific
experiment:
Add Error Bars
Error bars can be added to all the data series or to individual
data series in 2-D area, bar, column, line, xy (scatter), or bubble
charts:
To add error bars to all data series in the chart, click
the chart area.
Click the Design Tab. In the Chart Layouts Group,
click on the [Add Chart Element] button.
Mouse-over Error Bars on the menu.
From the Sub-menu, select a predefined error bar
option, such as Standard Error, Percentage, or
Standard Deviation.
Excel: Charts, Rel. 1.1, 1/14/2021 Page 131
Lesson 3: Charts Advanced
Error Bars, To add error bars to a selected data point or data series
continued Click the data point or data series.
Select the Design Tab and from the Chart Layouts
Group, click [Add Chart Element] button.
Mouse-over Error Bars in the menu and click a
predefined error bar option, such as Standard,
Percentage, or Standard Deviation from the sub-menu.
- OR -
Click the chart area to make sure no data points are
selected.
Select the Design Tab and from the Chart Layouts
Group, click [Add Chart Element] button.
Select Error Bars and from the sub-menu, select More
Error Bars Options.
The Add Error Bar dialog will be displayed. Choose
the desired data series you want to use.
The Error Bars are added to the Data Series selected.
The dialog closes and the Format Error Bars pane is
displayed.
Page 132 Excel: Charts, Rel. 1.1, 1/14/2021
