Show Details On-demand in Excel [Tutorial + Training Program]

Yesterday, we have seen a beautiful example of how showing details (like distribution) on-demand can increase the effectiveness of your reports. Today, we will learn how to do the same in Excel.

How does the on-demand details chart work – demo:

This is a replica of yesterday’s chart from Amazon. When you click on any cell inside the Items + Rating table, the corresponding items review break-up is shown in the chart aside.

Creating this chart in Excel – Step-by-step Instruction

So you are ready to learn how to do this chart? Great, grab a cup of coffee or tea and get started.

1. Understanding the data

This is how I have setup the source data for the chart. It has 3 columns – Item name, Reviewer ID and Rating. Each item has several ratings from several different reviewers. And our goal is to summarize all these ratings.

All this data is in the range Table1. We will use structured references [what are they?] in formulas to keep them readable.

2. Setting up the Item & Rating Table

The first step is to show a table with all the products we sell and their corresponding average rating. We will then add the circle indicators at the end to visually show the rating.

Calculating the averages using AVERAGEIF() formula:

The formula is quite simple. Assuming the product names are in C5:C13,

We just write =AVERAGEIF(Table1[Item],C5,Table1[Rating]) for first product’s average. Fill the rest by dragging the formula down.

Displaying Circles:

There are no star symbols in the default fonts. But we have circles – a full circle, an empty circle and a donut to indicate half-circle. These symbols are available in Wingdings 2 font. We will use an incell chart to display the circles. Assuming the rating is 2.83, we need to print 2 full circles, one donut and 2 empty circles. [related: inserting symbols in to Excel workbooks]

The formula is quite simple. Since the ratings are in D5:D13, the formula becomes,

=REPT(fullCircleSymbol,INT(D5)) & REPT(donutSymbol,(INT(D5)<>D5)+0) & REPT(emptyCircleSymbol,INT(5-D5))

Naming this grid

Now that we are done with the rating grid, let us name it – rngReviews.

3. Finding out which cell is selected

Now comes the macro part.

Before jumping in to the code, take a sip of that coffee. It is getting cold.

When a user selects any cell inside rngReviews, we need to findout which product it is so that we can load corresponding details.

The macro logic is quite straight forward.

1. On Worksheet_SelectionChange, check if the ActiveCell overlaps with rngReviews
2. If so,
   1. findout the relative row number of ActiveCell with respect to topmost row in rngReviews (ie the position of selected cell inside rngReviews)
   2. Put this value in to a cell on worksheet – say E28

The macro code can be found in the downloaded workbook. Here is an image of macro code.

4. Using the macro output to drive…,

We need to use the value E28 to do 2 things.

1. Highlight the corresponding row in the rngReviews using conditional formatting.
2. Findout the corresponding product using INDEX formula.

I am leaving both of these to your imagination.

5. Calculating Product – Rating Breakup

In order to show details for the product, we must calculate the corresponding breakup of ratings (ie how many 1 star, 2 star … 5 star reviews the product got).

I am leaving the formulas for this to your imagination. But when you are done, make sure your output looks like this:

(hint: use COUNTIFS formula).

6. Create a Chart to show Rating Break-up

This is the last one before we put everything together. Just follow below 5 steps.

1. Select the 3 columns – Rating type, number of reviews, total reviews and create a bar chart (not stacked bar chart). In my workbook, this data is in the range C29:E34 in the sheet “Rating Summary”.
2. Reverse the order of categories as Excel shows them upside down. For this select the vertical axis and hit CTRL+1 (or go to axis options from right click menu). Here check the “Show categories in reverse order” option. Also remove the chart legend.
3. Set both series of the chart such that they completely overlap each other [image]. Adjust the gap width to 50%. Also, adjust the order of the series from Chart’s source data options [image].
4. Remove grid lines, axis line and horizontal axis. Format the chart colors to your pink and translucent green (really!).
5. Re-size the chart, add title, add labels, remove border. You need to use dynamic titles.

7. Put everything together

Now is the time to put everything together and test. Move the chart close to the rating table. Test it by clicking on any value inside table.

You can also do some colorful formatting if you prefer.

Finish the coffee and show-off the chart to a colleague or boss. Bask in glory.

Download Example Workbook – On-demand Details in Excel

Click here to download the workbook with this example. Play with it to understand how this chart works.

Note: You must enable macros to use the file.

Note2: If the file does not open on double-click, just open Excel (2007 or above) and drag the file inside to Excel.

How do you like this chart?

Ever since I learned this technique from a good friend, I have been using it in dashboards & complex models to make them more user friendly.

What about you? Did you like this technique? Where are you planning to use it? Please share your views & ideas using comments.

More Resources to One-up your Chart Awesomeness

Want more, here is more:

• Grammy Bump Charts – a dynamic excel chart
• Showing same data in multiple views
• Using Checkboxes to make dynamic charts
• More on Excel Dynamic Charts
• More on Excel Charts