Comparing values is one of the reasons why we make charts. So today I am going to teach you a handy little trick to make a thermometer like chart to compare targets with actuals. This type of chart is very useful when you have a bunch of sales targets and you want to measure how the performance has been. [Read excel theremometer charts for another option.]
To make a thermometer chart, just follow these 5 simple steps.
1. Select the data and make a column chart
Select the data and insert a column chart.
2. Select a chart data series and adjust “overlap” to “100% overlapped”
This will ensure that one series of the chart is 100% overlapped with another.
3. Format the target series so that only outline is shown
Select the series and set fill color to none, set the border color same as the fill color of “actual” series.
4. Remove grid lines and add data labels
Now our chart looks more like a thermometer.
5. Now go figure out why Acid Pops are struggling to sell
Yep, that is the fifth step. Go figure out why the targets are not met.
Bonus tip: If sometimes actual values are more than targets, then you should try different colors for target series’ border and actual series fill, like this:
Download chart template and compare 2 sets of values easily
Click here to download the excel file and use thermometer chart template.
How do you compare values?
Share your techniques and charting ideas using comments. Tell us how you compare values.
Additional tutorials & material:
Compare actual values with targets using excel and other excel charting tutorials. Also check out our section on excel dashboards.
7 Responses to “Extract data from PDF to Excel – Step by Step Tutorial”
Dear Chandoo,
Thank you very much for this and it is very helpful.
However, all the Credit Card Statements are now password protected.
Please advise how can we have a workaround for that
Hello sir,
How to check two names are present in the same column ?
Thanks and Regards
Hi, Thank you for the great tip. One problem, when I click on get data >> from file, I don't see the PDF source option. How can I add it?
I tried to add it from Quick Access toolbar >>> Data Tab, but again the PDF option is not listed there.
I am using Office 365
Hi, Thank you for your video. I see you used the composite table, but I when I load my pdf, it does not load any composite table. It has 20 tables and 4 pages for one bank statement. I have about 30 bank statements that I want to combine. Your video would work except that I can't get the composite table and each of the tables I do get or the pages does not have all the info. what to do?
Dear Chandoo,
How do we select multiple amount of tables/pages in one PDF and repeat the same for rest of the PDF;s in the same folder and then extract that data only on power query.
Thank you
Hi, Thank you for your video. I see you used the composite table, but I when I load my pdf, it does not load any composite table. It has 20 tables and 4 pages for one bank statement. I have about 30 bank statements that I want to combine. nice share
One bank statement takes up 20 tables and four pages in this document. I need to consolidate roughly thirty different bank statements that I have. Your video would be useful if I could only get the composite table, which I can't for some reason, and each of the tables or pages that I can get is missing some information.