Here is a very simple but effective tip: use print areas.
Oh.. but what is a print area?
Imagine looking at a report or dashboard worksheet. Now, that sheet also has few calculations, some extra stuff to the right of the report. When you print, you don’t need those extra elements. Just the report will do. This is where print areas can help.
When you set up a print area, Excel will print only the contents of print area. Nothing else.
How to set up print areas:
There are just 2 steps.
- Select the range you want to print
- Go to Page Layout > Print areas and click on “set print area”
Your print area is ready. Now when you print (or save as PDF) the worksheet, Excel will only print the contents of Print area you have set. This saves you a lot of time and paper.
Related: Learn more about printing in Excel
Do you use print areas?
I have been a fan of print areas ever since I learned about them few years ago. I use them on whenever there is a possibility of my workbooks getting printed.
What about you? Have you heard about print areas? How do you use them to simplify your work? Please share your tips in the comments section.
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!