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Hui will share excel tutorials, implementations with us once a week. Please visit About – Hui to learn more about him.
This week I am going to introduce a method for allowing single points to be highlighted and interactively moved in Excel Scatter / X-Y Charts and Line Charts.
You will see a lot of these style charts in various places where you want to highlight various aspects of the chart to your audience. It is a great technique for complex scientific and engineering charts where you may have hundreds or thousands of points.
Introduction
Excel charting basically has 2 styles of charts with these being Y value vs X Value charts and Y value vs X Label charts.
Examples of the X Value charts are Scatter and Bubble charts. Examples of the X Label charts are Line, Column, Surface, Area, Radar and Bar charts.
The basic differences between these is that the former has a variable X Axis and the later has a fixed X-Axis spacing between subsequent data points.
Some members of the X Label charts can display a value-type X axis when the X entries are dates, ie: The X values are plotted proportionally to the dates they represent. These types include Line, Area, Column, and Bar (Thanx Jon)
Y value vs X value (Scatter Charts)
As these charts are plotting Y vs X directly onto the chart, it is simple to add a series which contains the points you want to highlight.
It is worth noting that chart series for Scatter Charts don’t have to have an equal number of entries in each series. We will use this add a new series with just one point.
Method:
Goto Pg1 of the sample file. Sample File
My Data is an X-Y set of data in B2:C41, each Y value in Column C is plotted on the chart against the corresponding X value.
To plot a single point it is a matter of adding a new data series to the chart
The new series will be the 2 cells at B43:C43
1. Setup 2 lookup cells
In B43 put the equation =OFFSET(B$1,$B$44,0)
In C43 put the equation =OFFSET(C$1,$B$44,0)
Note that both these formula retrieve a value that is the value in the Cell Reference cell, B44, below B1 and C1 respectively.
2. Setup a Cell Reference cell
Put a value in B44 for now say 1
3.Add a new Data Series to the Chart
Right click on the chart and goto Select Data
Add a New Series
Series Name  Highlight
X Values  =’Pg1′!$B$43
Y Values  =’Pg1′!$C$43
4. Add a slider
The slider is already installed
5. Set the Sliders Cell Link, Min, Max and other details
You will now have a new data point which will be at point 1 on the chart
6. Format the New Data Series
Right Click the new point and Format Data Series
Select a larger Marker Size and make it a Bold Red to stand out
7. Add a data Label to the series
Right Click the New Series and select Add Data Labels
8. Format the Data Label
Right Click the New Series and select Format Data Labels
On the Labels Options Tab, Tick the X & Y values
Select the Label and change the Font to a Bold and Increase Size so that it stands out
Use:
As you move the slider the Highlighted point will move back and forwards across the screen and show both the location and X & Y Values of the data point.
How Does This Work?
The chart contains a second series consisting of a single point (x,y)Â which has been formatted to make it stand out on the chart
The coordinates for the new point are retrieved from the My Data list by using an offset from the top of the list.
The offset retrieves its offset value from a Cell Reference cell which in turn is controlled by a slider.
Why use Offset instead of Vlookup or Index/Match?
We aren’t concerned with looking up the actual value of the highlighted point, we are interested in retrieving for example the 9th data point from the list and the the 10th or 8th as we move the slider. The Offset only cares about how far it has to go to get the value, not the value.
By doing this we can mix up the X values, as Scatter charts allow you to do, and offset will happily retrieve data in order and doesn’t care about duplicates or having sorted data. Type any values into the X Column and watch as the offset happily maintains the highlighted point.
Line Charts
As these charts are plotting Y vs the position of the value on the X-Axis, a slightly different method is employed to highlight a point of interest.
For Line Charts we will add a new series to the chart and then use a method for hiding the non-highlighted points  so that only the highlighted point is visible.
Method
Goto Pg2 of the sample file. Sample File
1. Setup a Cell Reference cell
Setup a Cell Reference cell by putting a 1 in D43
2. Add a New Data Series
Besides the sample data, add a new series Highlight
D1: Â Highlight
D2: =IF(ROW()-1=$D$43,C2,NA())
Copy D2 down to D27, Don’t worry about the errors #N/A, you put them there.
3. Add a new Data Series to the Chart
Right click on the chart and goto Select Data
Add a New Series
Series Name – Highlight
Y Series =’Pg2′!$D$2:$D$27
Note there is no X Value as the Y values are plotted in order against the existing X Values
You will now have a new data point which will be at point 1 on the chart
4. Format the new Data Series
Right Click the new point and Format Data Series
Select a Bigger marker size and make it a Bold Red to stand out
5. Add Data Labels
Right Click the New Series and select Add Data Labels
Right Click the New Series and select Format Data Labels
On the Labels Options Tab, Tick the X & Y values
Select the Label and change the Font to a Bold and Increase Size so that it stands out
6. Add a slider
The slider is already installed
7. Set the Sliders Cell Link, Min, Max and other details
Use:
As you move the slider the Highlighted point will move back and forwards across the screen and show both the location and X & Y Values of the data point.
How Does This Work?
The chart contains a second series consisting of a Column of #N/A error messages and a single cell containing teh Y value for the corresponding data point
Excel ignores and doesn’t plot the cells with the error message and so only the highlighted cell is plotted
The coordinates for the new point are retrieved from the My Data list by comparing the current Row to the Cell Reference cells value and if they are the same retrieving the Y value, all others rows have an error message inserted.
The slider is connected to the Cell Reference cell and so when the slider is moved the Cell reference cell updates and the new highlighted cell retries its value.
Quick Tip #1:
You can change the highlight from a standard marker to pretty much anything you like
Insert an Icon on your worksheet, Insert Menu, Insert Icon
Format the icon as you wish, Color, Size and Copy the icon
Select the Chart and select the Highlighted data point and Paste
To apply the picture/icon to all points in a series select the series and paste
Quick Tip #2:
You can add multiple highlights using the same techniques described in this post ie: for showing Min and Max values.
Instead of linking the Cell Reference cell to a slider link it to the Minimum or Maximum value of the data: =Min(Range), =Max(range)
Checkout the example on Pg3 of the Sample File: Sample File
FUNCTIONS USED:
Offset: http://chandoo.org/wp/2008/11/19/vlookup-match-and-offset-explained-in-plain-english-spreadcheats/
Row: =Row() returns the Row number of the Current cell
=Row(M10) returns the Row Number of Cell M10 = 10
NA: = Returns the Error Message #N/A
How do you like to highlight your data? Let us all know in the comments below:
What would you like to see discussed as a How To? Let me know in the comments below:
54 Responses
Hi Chandoo,
This is awesome *****
Found 6, just one remaining, and I think it should be in sheet2, as I found 1 in each sheet but didn’t found anything in sheet2 (till yet, I am keep looking).
Very cleaver and amazing work, enjoyed a lot…
Thanks Chandoo for this beautiful work.
Wish you have great time at Hyderabad.
Regards,
Khalid
go to AB201 on Sheet2, you will see Panda there !!!
Press F2 in Cell A1 and then read the actual text !!
In Sheet 2 go to Cell AB201. You will find one.
There is one on first sheet, if you press F5 (goto), the word PANDA can be seen there.
Oh I found the last one, (custom format hmm)
Truly Amazing and the beauty of this forum.
You are an Artist Chandoo.
Hi Chandoo,
Wow, you really have magical skills. I am in office and this sheet ate up an hour of my time….didn’t expect that.
I could find 5 of the 7 pandas. Didn’t know one could hide so much data in innocent looking excel sheets.
Thanks!
-Ranjith
yeah! found all 7 panda, time to go to china.
This was very fun and challenging, thanks for posting! I found all of them (well, Sheet1 was tricky, it seems you’re supposed to find the cell and type it in yourself?). Wasn’t sure if it was cool to post the answers here or not, though. Guess I’ll post SPOILER ALERTS so you can skip the rest of the message if you don’t want to see what I came up with.
SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!
My answers appear below.
Sheet1: type PANDA in cell PAN3489
Sheet2: cell AB201
Sheet3: cell J8 (Picture1)
Sheet4: cell H9
Sheet5: expand Chart1
Sheet6: formula = “=MID(ADDRESS(9,2^3*23*59,4),1,3)&BIN2HEX(11011010)”
Sheet7: named range (A1:I18)
Wookie – I would love to get a walkthrough of HOW you figured out sheet 1 and a bit of a formula walkthrough for Sheet 6.
Basically, I don’t know how I could have found that particular cell input message on Sheet 1.
And I have no clue about the BIN2HEX part of the formula…before your hint I was able to get the output to read AN9DA. The change to MID and the addition of that ‘,1’ changed it to PANDA…
Hi Rachel,
To get to the cell in sheet 1 you can press: ctrl G. Then special and then data validation: all. This is also the way to find panda in sheet 7 😉
I agree, this was a fun way to test your ability to navigate through the functionality of Excel! And since you already posted the SPOILER ALERT warning, I should be safe posting a reply to your comment with some solutions of my own… 🙂
I found all the same solutions you did with a few minor changes:
Sheet1: If you notice, cell PAN3489 has Custom formatting. You don’t have to type “PANDA”, just the number 1.
Sheet6: The MID function works as you described, but you can also simply change the RIGHT function to the LEFT function without having to add in the start and end positions for MID.
Sheet7: Yes, the range name for these cells is called PANDA, but you don’t see the actual word in the sheet unless you change the Zoom setting to 39% or less (hence the clue “Z” 39%).
Thanks again for a great post, Chandoo!!
I must admit sheet 7 defeated me, but I have some corrections
Sheet 1 – you type =LEFT(ADDRESS(ROW(),COLUMN(),2),3)&DEC2HEX(ROW())
in PAN3489 to get “PANDA1”. As it is the first panda. I think panda1 is appropriate, but maybe
=LEFT(ADDRESS(ROW(),COLUMN(),2),3)&LEFT(DEC2HEX(ROW()),2)
is better, because it leaves you with “PANDA”
Sheet 6 – I corrected to
=LEFT(ADDRESS(9,2^3*23*59,4),3)&BIN2HEX(11011010)
Picky I know, but who uses mid when a right or a left will do?
I know; that was weird. I did try using a LEFT formula, but I kept getting the $ prefix from the cell address. So I tried a couple of variations using MID and it gave me the result I needed. This is actually the first time I’ve ever tried using a MID formula starting at the first character, but I wasn’t trying to spend a lot of time on it, so I went with what worked.
Sheet1: Type 1 in PAN3489
Sheet6: =LEFT(ADDRESS(9,2^3*23*59,4),3)&BIN2HEX(11011010)
Slight change…
For sheet 1 goto PAN3489 and type in 1. The word PANDA appears.
Love it!
Sheet 6 was my favorite. How many people still know what binary, hex and octal are? :o)
—–Spoilers———
Alternate Solutions
1) Type “1” (not the quotes) in PAN3489 and Excel will turn “1” into “PANDA”
6) The formula Wookie lists also works with LEFT in place of MID
Lot of fun. Solve time ~20 mins.
@ Rob
How this 1 turns to PANDA .. means How this is done by excel any formula or something in VBA
Also how to reach cell PAN3489 .. there are no clues given on sheet 1
You reach PAN3489 by pressing Ctrl + End to bring you to the last used cell in Sheet 1
@ Navdeep I found PAN3489 by going to “Formulas” and then “Name Manager” and saw there was a field called “Clue1” listed in the Name Manger that references 3489. Finding PAN as the column index was just a bit of a lucky guess through trial and error. Then a note in cell PAN3489 when you navigate there says to try “typing something.” I tried scrolling through the Format Cells menu to see if the text typed in the cell needed to be formatted a certain way, and noticed that “1= Panda” was listed in the custom text menu and tried it. A bit brute force, but I think the desired text entry.
Clever!
The Data Validation one took me a bit. Had to resort to brute force.
Thanks for the fun!
Awesome! Found 7 pandas in 20 minutes)))
Sheets 1 and 6 were the best!
Thanks!
Sheet 1: The answer is not type in Panda. Type 1. There’s a special formatting that replaces 1 with Panda.
Sheet 6: Just replace right with left, don’t worry about changing the numbers.
Sheet 7: I found the named range, but don’t know what the Z 39% means. Thoughts?
when you changed the zoom level to 39% or below, you will see the name of namedrange (if any)
WOW! I’ve just found the secret eighth PANDA!
Truly awesome!!!
Am I the first one who figured that out, guys?
Btw, thanks for the puzzle!
Found them all – very inventive. Had to think outside the “box”. Great fun!
It was truly a artists work
chandoo you are grate
all sheets are deigned different from each other
@Wookiee: you have a good for others by posting the answers, Thank you too
it is fun and great invent
Guys I Got 8 PANDA in the workbook… 🙂
[Look Chandoo has against played great trick by reserving one more ester egg, but we are also fan of none other than Chandoo, who can get hold of hidden 8th (untold) ester egg]
Here is the full list:
1) Sheet1: Type 1 in Cell PAN3489
2) Sheet2: Goto Cell AB201
3) Sheet3: Check the picture located above cell J8
4) Sheet4: Goto Cell H8
5) Sheet5: Cells, viz., A4, A10, A16, A21, A29 have all alphabets of PANDA
6) Sheet5: Resize the chart to see PANDA
7) Sheet6: Correct the formula as LEFT(ADDRESS(9,2^3*23*59,4),3)&BIN2HEX(11011010)
8) Sheet7: Range A1:I18 is named as PANDA
1) Sheet1: Type 1 in Cell PAN3489
2) Sheet2: Goto Cell AB201
3) Sheet3: Check the picture in the cell J8
4) Sheet4: Goto Cell H9
5) Sheet5: Resize the chart to see PANDA
6) Sheet6: Correct the formula as LEFT(ADDRESS(9,2^3*23*59,4),3)&BIN2HEX(11011010)
7) Sheet7: Range A1:I18 is named as PANDA
Actually, for sheet7, if you set the zoom to 39% or less, you will see the word PANDA. Yet another PANDA! 🙂
Hi,
i want to know how to manage bill wise manage vendor invoice and payment in excel please suggest.
Thanks,
Ram
Hi Chandoo!
You rock with these amazing skills!
Sheet 1: ??
Sheet 2: ??
Sheet 3: Cell J8
Sheet 4: Cell H9
Sheet 5: A4, A10, A16, A21, A29
Sheet 6: B2
Sheet 7: ???
Sheet1 F5
Sheet2 AB201
Sheet3 Picture1
Sheet4 H9
Sheet5 Chart
Sheet7 Zoom to 30%
I love this time of year and look forward to Chandoo’s egg hunts. Whilst I got all the pandas, I do not understand how sheet 7 works; Where is the source data and why does it only work when zoomed out to 39% or more?
@Leon-K
When you change the zoom level to be less than 40% Excel shows the Ranges which have Names applied to them
Ha ha, that’s fantastic. Thanks Hui. @Chandoo, thanks for yet another method to decrypt worksheets in order to re-build or explain them better to clients.
These were fantastic and kept me intrigued until I could finish them. (Had to look here for help with Sheet1!) Definitely learning a lot about some new formulas. Awesome, Chandoo!
Ok, just saw the notes on the Zoom 39% on Sheet 7. Can someone explain what’s happening here and why PANDA shows up at that level?
@Bryan
When you change the zoom level to be less than 40% Excel shows the Ranges which have Names applied to them
Wow, great exercise.
Tried and solved 5 out of seven and other two solved incorrectly (1 & 6).
Thanks 🙂
Hi Chandoo,
Gr8 …had fun in searching it. I got 5 out of 7.
You are brilliant.
Found all except in sheet6 as not able to understand formula.
thanks
Raja Aurongzeb
Hi,
I am not able to find 1st Panda, which is on Sheet1. Rest all I have found.
Wonderful Chandooji… you are brilliant.
Wow.. Awesome set of puzzles Chandoo!!
Am now trying to figure out how sheet 7 was prepared.. 39% Zoom setting logic.. Can someone help me with a hint?
Thanks!
Looks like this is an XL feature.. Zooming out the worksheets below 40% level, by default displays all named ranges (more than 2 cells)! Had not come across this till date..
Great works! Was having FUN in finding the pandas. Thanks.
btw, I used one basic function (Find, CTRL+F) to find 2 pandas. Simply Find “Panda” within “Workbook”… To my surprise, seems no one mentioned that in the process.
On other other hand, Selection and Visibility Pane is a handy tool to see if there is “extra” shapes for locating pandas hidden in chart/picture.
Had fun doing this, Found 5 and the rest I saw clues on here 🙂
I really enjoyed when finding the pandas.And also I am so surprised.Very Nice thought and Excellent.
This was fun! Thanks!
Nice and fun post. Thanks, Chandoo!