— Menu — Home » Visualization » Highlight Data Points in an Excel Chart Highlight Data Points in an Excel Chart Last Updated on: December 6, 2022 s700 3700 200 200 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun ul_ Aug Sep-Oct Now Dew To highlight data points (high and low points) in an Excel chart, use custom formulas and multiple chart series. Highlighting data is an attention-grabbing method. This guide will show you the best practices, formulas, and VBA examples to perform this action. This tutorial is a part of our Chart Templates guide. How to highlight data points in a line chart? 1. Use the MIN and MAX functions to find a range’s minimum and maximum values.a = errr rr rere rR TE Let us see the details! Find the maximum value in a range The first step is to create an additional series to highlight a single data point in an Excel chart. In the example, we want to find and highlight the maximum value on a line chart. Enter the formula in cell D3: =F (C3=MAX($C$3:$C$14) ,C3,NA()) Evaluate the formula from the inside out: The formula finds the maximum value in the range C3:C14. If the condition is TRUE, it returns with the value in cell C3. In other cases, apply the NA function that returns with an #N/A error. 2 Search (Ane File Home Insert Page Layout Formulas Data Review View Developer bs Fe =IF(C3=MMAX(SC§3:5C514),C3,NA\)) AlAl 8 | c pam F ae et J ER ier 1800 2200 3.440 EXCELKID.COM Why should we use the NA function in the formula? The main reason the Excel chart does not show errors is that this method is perfect for hiding unnecessary data points.Locate the Insert Tab on the ribbon and select the chart that you want to insert under the Charts Group. We recommend you use the “Line with marker” chart type. 20 Arco Li WA PA Usethis chaz pet + Shou trend overtime eat, month and das) categories. Use thers ‘The order of categories inmport. sThereste few dat paints EXCELKID.COM ‘The main reason for using markers is that you can quickly identify the data point you want to format.cans fe 4a) e | Sc o | F ¢j|uijt 2 3| Chart Title a 4| som A 5 | 2500 oa 6 2200 Ad 7 2500 i 2000 3500 9 3000 10] Aug | soo "1 sep] 0 Hi Oe Jan Feb Mar Apr May tun lull Aug. Sep Oct Now Dec 13 | Nov sales Se Maximum 4 Dec : EXCELKID.COM 16 —— Format the highlighted data point It's time to format the highlighted data point. To do that, follow the steps below: 1. First, select the maximum data point, then right-click on the series. 2. Choose the “Format Data Series” option 3. Click on the “Fill and Line" icon and choose "Marker" 4. Format the “Marker’; choose a solid color and use green 5. Remove the markers from the Sales series The formatted chart looks like this:3200 2700 2200 1200 EXCELKID.COM You can find the practice file here. Highlight selected data points dynamically Sometimes we want to highlight data points based on a selection. In the example, the line chart shows the selected data point. Take a look at the formula in cell D3: =IF (AND(CELL("row" )=ROW() ,CELL("col")<3),C3,NA())7 ~ fe Nay em c o e | F 6 wf [os Ronee Highlight 4000 May, 8440 an | 1800] #NVA Feb | 2200 #N/A am Mar 2100] n/a sia Apr_| 3000] N/A 3440, 3440 oie Jun | 2886] #N/A sooo jul | 2500] @N/A Aug | 2000] N/a sep | 2900] #N/A soe oc | 2000] «wa Nev | 2700) #N/A we EXCELKID.COM Dec 2600] N/A —— Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec The next step is to press Alt + F11 to open the VBA editor window. Insert a new module, then copy and paste the following VBA snippet below: Option Explicit Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range) ActiveSheet calculate End Sub Save the Workbook in xlsm format. From now on, you can select any month from the list, and your chart will reflect automatically. Highlight the selected chart series dynamically Here is an example of how to highlight the selected chart when you are working with multiple series.35.0% 26.6% 25.0% oe 1% 18.9% 15.0% Profit: 2020 5.0% a 2 a3 aa Apply the following formula to create an array containing the selected year's data. INDEX ($C$4: $£$7,, ROWS ($G$3:G3) ,MATCH($G$3, $C$3:$€$3,0)) ee 2 Search (tes Fle Home Insert Page Layout Formulae Oats Review View Developer UBT os fe INDEX SC545e57 ROWS 965:63),MATCH|SSS, $53:553.0) aéieiel>ie). am a fo 1) kw 2 E 2020 2021 2022 2022 TE] 01 260% 200% 17.4% 17.4% S| 2 224% 172% 140% 140% 5] a2 189% 230% 130% 130% = T] 04 266% 330% 240% 240% EXCELKID.COM A ———_ Open the VBA editor and insert the following macros: Sub SelectYear2020() Range("G3").Value = 2020 ActiveSheet .Shapes ("2020") .Fill.ForeColor.RGB = RGB(176, 196, 222)Sub SelectYear2e21() Range("G3").Value = 2021 ActiveSheet . Shapes ("2020") . Fill. ForeColor.RGB RGB(232, 232, 232) ActiveSheet .Shapes("2021").Fill.ForeColor.RGB = RGB(176, 196, 222) ActiveSheet .Shapes("2022").Fill.ForeColor.RGB = RGB(232, 232, 232) End Sub Sub SelectYear2022() Range("G3").Value ActiveSheet . Shapes ActiveSheet .Shapes ActiveSheet .Shapes End Sub 2022 "2020") .Fill.ForeColor .RGB "2021") .Fill.ForeColor .RGB "2022") .Fill.ForeColor .RGB RaB(232, 232, 232) RGB(232, 232, 232) RGB(176, 196, 222) The next step is to insert three shapes. Then, assign the macros to the shapes! Right-click on the shape, then select Assign Macro. Select the macro you want to assign, then click OK to close the dialog box. PD Search (ant Fie Home insert PageLayout Formulas Oats Review View Developer UDT Shape Format 2020 ye fe 4| 4 |B] K L M N 2 2 2021 2022 4 | |(semctewomo oR) | at S| | ites out 6 |_| |seicttesoeaz 7 8 9 10 rT 12) | Manos in [al Open Workoocks 33] | Decision 14 is EXCELKID.COM 16 " = Now you have a dynamic chart. For example, click "2020" to highlight the data points in a chart series.266% Profit: 2020 a a eo ae Highlight high and low data points You must add two other series if you want to simultaneously show high and low data points in an Excel chart. Use the following formulas in cells D3 (minimum) and E3 (maximum). = IF (C3=WAX($C$3:$C$14) ,C3,NAC)) =IF (C3=MIN($C$3:$C$14) ,C3,NA()) Copy the formulas down, then create a new chart100 200 3700 200 2100 2200 1700 1200 Jan Feb Mar Apr May un ul Aug Sep Oct Now ee The method is the same as we mentioned above. Finally, we have to talk about drop-down lists. If you want to connect a drop-down list with a chart, use the following example. In this case, we use bar charts and want to display the selected month's data. & . | | | | | | | | | | } Jon Feo Nor Agr May um Ju Aug Sep Oct Nov De EXCELKID.COM You can download the traiCategory: ili Visualization Istvan Vozar Istvan is the co-founder of Visual Analytics Ltd. He writes blog posts and helps people to reach the top in Excel. ate Dashboard Tools é © N Be ScoreMeter ScoreMeter cae ane id oi oad Chart Chart Varience te Waterfall Chats = = Og Chart Pro Dashboard Add-in for Excel. Fully automated. Lightweight. No coding skills required.Topics Formulas Functions Excel Dashboard Shortcuts Excel Tables Data visualization in Excel Privacy Policy Terms of Service _ Ref ind Policy Contact us About Us © 2019-2022. ExcelKid is a trademark of Visual Analytics Ltd,