Time for another round of open-mic weekend.
As you know, Chandoo.org has been running a podcast show for last few months. We have completed 14 episodes as of today. For the 15th episode, lets have an “Ask Chandoo” as the theme.
What you need to do:
Simple. Head over to ask.chandoo.org and submit your questions. You can leave me a voice-mail or post your questions
What happens next?
I will listen (or read) your questions and choose a handful for the session 15 of our podcast.
What you get:
If your question is picked up for the podcast, you will receive the 25 Excel tips e-book.
How to find out if your question is picked:
Simple. Tune in to Chandoo.org podcast next Thursday and you will know.
So what are you waiting for?
Go ahead and ask your questions.
PS: You are welcome to ask questions about Excel, data analysis, automation, my personal life, how I run Chandoo.org etc.
PPS: Preference will be given to interesting, amusing & useful questions.
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!