We have talked a lot about VLOOKUP and other lookup formulas recently during VLOOKUP Week.
In this post I am giving away a free VLOOKUP formula cheat-sheet for our readers. This cheat-sheet is prepared by Cheater John specifically for our readers. I hope you enjoy the one page help on VLOOKUP.
Click here to download VLOOKUP Cheat-sheet. [mirror]
More resources on VLOOKUP & Other Lookup Formulas:
- What is VLOOKUP Formula & How to use it?
- 6 tips for writing better VLOOKUP formulas
- How make lookups to left? (INDEX + MATCH combination)
- Plain English explanation of VLOOKUP, OFFSET and MATCH formulas
- Looking up based on Multiple Criteria
- … more tips & tricks on vlookup formula
Thanks Cheater John
Thanks to Ates, the person behind Cheater John for preparing this beautiful VLOOKUP cheat sheet and sharing it with us. Visit his site if you are looking for more such cheat sheets.
If you enjoyed this cheat-sheet, please take a minute to say thanks to Cheater John.
9 Responses to “Show forecast values in a different color with this simple trick [charting]”
While this works in a pinch, it clearly "lightens" the colors of the entire chart. Depending on where you use this, it will be blatantly obvious that you don't know what you are doing and present a poor looking graph.
Why not separate the data into different segments when charting and have as many colors as you have data points? You might have to create a new legend and/or repeat the chart in "invisible ink", but it would be cleaner and more consistent when new or updated data becomes available.
While I think I agree that doing it "properly" via a second series is preferable, I don't necessarily agree that making the entirety of the "future" (data, gridlines, and even the axis) semi-transparent is "poor looking". I think it could be seen as adding more emphasis to the "future-ness" of the forecast data.
In short, it's another tool for the toolbox, even if it's never needed.
Simply and clever 🙂
Quick & effective, cool. thanks.
I always use the dummy series.
Nice little trick, thanks very much!
Two sets of data better. Control is much better.
You can use the same chart next month to see what is actual and what is forecast.
To use this trick, I think grid lines has to be removed, that will make the graphic much more sharp.
to be honest, i dont understand why there is needed to do this way... in this case horizontal lines will be pale as well. then why a just can't change the color of the line partly???
Great tutorial. Thanks for the tutorial!