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?
- How to format the dumbbell?
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?
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. Please note that green-colored columns are calculated columns - do not enter any data, they are automatically calculated based on the input columns (Blue colored)
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 Min, Range (which is calculated), and the Max columns in that order only.
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. Please note that after step 5, you'll have an empty chart created, only with labels.
- Click on the chart, and press CTRL+1 to open the format pane
- From the drop-down, choose the "Max" Y Error Bars
- Under the Error Bar options, the Error Amount is a custom value range which needs to be entered manually:
Positive Error Value - 0
Negative Error Value - Range series
This brings in the dumbells.
7. 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.
With these steps, your dumbbell chart (round) is ready:
How do I format the dumbbell?
The "dumbbell" shape is achieved using the Max series Error bars. It's shape, color, can be modified easily by:
A. Click on the chart, and press CTRL+1 to open the format pane
B. From the drop-down, choose the "Max" Y Error Bars
C. To change the dumbell "edges" modify the Begin and End arrow type as shown:
Change the End Arrow as well (similar to the Begin Arrow)
With this, the modified dumbbell chart is:
