The following is the list of queries addressed in this article:
- How to customize the formatting options in the chart?
- How to save the chart as a template and re-use it in any other Excel file?
- When to use this chart?
- How to modify the color and style of line and line marker?
How to customize the formatting options in the chart?
How to save the chart as a template and re-use it in any other Excel file?
Before getting into the steps for saving a chart as a template, please click anywhere on the chart and use the "+" icon to remove the data labels.
Now, follow the steps below:
1. Right-click on the chart and select "Save as Template"
This opens a dialog box, assign a name to your chart template, and click "Save". This saves the chart in a .crtx format
2. From our Instant Chart Maker file, Copy the data table (CTRL+C) and paste it (CTRL+V) into your chosen Excel file.
3. Enter your information in the data table. Add or remove rows as needed.
4. Select the columns required to build the chart, for this choose - all the columns - the time series (here, Month) and the Actual, and Target in that order with the headers.
5. Go to Insert and choose to see All Recommended Charts
This opens up a dialog box, go to All Charts and click on the Templates folder. Here, you'll find all the charts you have saved in step 1, choose the one that is relevant to the data and click "Ok".
6. That's it, your chart gets populated with the data from your Excel file and is fully independent of the Instant Chart Maker template file.
- Chart title and Axis titles: Using a saved template to build your chart does not usually bring the Chart title and axis titles. Read this article to add these elements to your chart.
How to add the data labels, when using the chart template?
Click on the Actual (column) series, then click on the "+" from the chart to add the labels:
Similarly, you can add the data labels to the Target line as well (if needed).
Click on the data labels and use the format pane to position it:
The column chart with the target line is ready!
When to use this chart?
The column chart with a target line is best used when you have time series data. That is data collected over a sequential period (like daily, weekly, monthly, yearly etc).
If you have categorical data, use the C006 - Column chart with multiple targets instead.
How to modify the color and style of line and line marker?
1. Click on chart, press CTRL+1to open format pane
2. From the drop-down, choose the "TARGET" series
3. In Fill & Line option, under Line options, modify the Line color, width, and/or line type as shown here:
4. In Fill & Line, under Marker options modify the marker shape, size, its fill or border color as need be:
With this, the modified chart looks something like this:
