How to Make a Step Chart in Excel (fully dynamic & easy to read)

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In this video you'll learn how to setup a step chart in Microsoft Excel. A stepped line graph, often referred to as a step chart, resembles a traditional line graph but features a distinctive series of steps connecting the data points. This type of chart is particularly effective for displaying changes occurring at irregular intervals, providing a clear visualization of each specific shift in the data.
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What's Inside:
Step-by-step guide on creating step charts in Excel for visualizing irregular data changes.
▪️ Understanding Step Charts: Ideal for visualizing price changes and inventory fluctuations.
▪️ Data Preparation: Setting up a dynamic data table for step chart visualization.
▪️ Building the Chart: Detailed instructions on creating, formatting, and adding dynamic labels to the step chart.
▪️ Making It Dynamic: Techniques to ensure the chart updates automatically with new data.
▪️ Improving Readability: Customizing data labels for clarity and visual appeal.
What is a Step Chart? A Step Chart is great for visualizing variables that change on an irregular basis. For example price and inventory changes. If you create a line chart directly on the data set you will realize it doesn't show the correct visualization. For the correct visualization you need a data preparation table that plots two points for each value. One point represents the value before the change and the second point the value after the change.
Once you get past this step, you can further improve the readability of the Excel Step Chart by taking additional steps to bring the data labels inside the chart instead of relying on the axis. This improves the readability of the chart.
The last part of the video shows you how to create a fully dynamic Step Chart so that when new dates are added, the chart updates automatically. We do this with Excel's OFFSET function and Name Manager to create dynamic chart ranges.
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★★ Contributions ★★
Thanks to Bart Titulaer (Lecturer at Fontys International Business School in Venlo, Netherlands) for providing the Step Chart Template.
Other fun chart tricks:
Info Charts (non standard graphs): • This Excel Chart will ...
Dynamic drop-down: • Excel Dynamic Chart wi...
Changing chart ranges: • How to Create a Dynami...
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0:00 Setting up Stepped Line Chart in Excel
3:36 Data Preparation for Step Chart
12:34 Improve Readability
21:53 Creating A Dynamic Step Chart
#excel

Пікірлер: 95

  • @LeilaGharani
    @LeilaGharani5 ай бұрын

    Grab the file I used in the video from here 👉 pages.xelplus.com/step-chart-file

  • @excelisfun
    @excelisfun6 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the Step-rific chart and formulas!!

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    You're very welcome Mike.

  • @christoslefkimiotis9889
    @christoslefkimiotis98892 жыл бұрын

    Epic video, not only for the step chart per-se, but how you unlocked the secret world - at least for me - of handling chart labels. Epic video

  • @vincentm4495
    @vincentm44955 жыл бұрын

    Gosh, this is absolutely brilliant. Thanks Laila.

  • @ExceliAdam
    @ExceliAdam6 жыл бұрын

    Awesome dynamic step chart. I decided to test a few things and learned some interesting staff. For labels formulas you do not have to check if they are odd because if they are bigger or smaller, they are odd, because the value of the price is repeated. For charts, you only need a dynamic range for the series other ranges can be left to the maximum, and the whole chart is still dynamic. Thanks again for the movie!

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    That's great!!!! Thanks for the testing and the feedback. Agree about the extra named ranges. We're always starting from the beginning of the data prep. so they aren't necessary for the other chart elements. You're right about the odd part of the data labels. The check for the change is enough. Perfect! It's even more optimized now. I'll update the template tomorrow. Thanks for the comment :)

  • @cshahed
    @cshahed4 жыл бұрын

    Super cool, thanks

  • @johnborg5419
    @johnborg54196 жыл бұрын

    Amazing!!!!

  • @barttitulaerexcelbart9400
    @barttitulaerexcelbart94006 жыл бұрын

    Hello Leila, thank you for making this video. Very interesting and fun to see that you explain the things almost exactly as I thought it should be. Well done, patiently and with lots of intermediate steps. As for the comment of Abdelraham, that is correct. In a real model you can always add check IF the first entry is on an even or an odd line. If not: remove or add a row!!

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    Sure. Thank you for the content and the template :)

  • @nevermind4780
    @nevermind47805 жыл бұрын

    Your Creativity Level is Remarkably best☺

  • @bricc322
    @bricc3226 жыл бұрын

    Amazing, interesting and helpful, as always. Thank you, Leila.

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    You're very welcome Celia.

  • @sajiwithnature2058
    @sajiwithnature20583 жыл бұрын

    Excellent, thanks a lot.

  • @terrymadeley
    @terrymadeley6 жыл бұрын

    That was really great, so many useful tips there, the odd rows, using names in chart ranges and so on. Thanks!

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    You're welcome Terry. I like the Odd rows idea from Bart as well.

  • @faresrabia
    @faresrabia6 жыл бұрын

    Very thanks Leila, very appreciate for your contribution

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    You're welcome Fares.

  • @vida1719
    @vida17196 жыл бұрын

    So many useful things in one place. It's just amazing. Just looked at the video length - 30 min. Couldn't believed. It was so interesting that time passed so quickly.

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    I was also surprised to see the time after I stopped recording. This is the longest video to date. Glad to hear the time went by fast :)

  • @chandanlimma3443
    @chandanlimma34435 жыл бұрын

    Awesome... Like the chart

  • @chamindabasnayake4844
    @chamindabasnayake48446 жыл бұрын

    Hi Leila, Once again you provided a great tutorial, Thank you!

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    You're welcome Chaminda.

  • @fareedbadar8793
    @fareedbadar87936 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Leila, you have beautifully explained and it is very helpful.

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    Happy to hear that Fareed.

  • @1gopalakrishnarao
    @1gopalakrishnarao6 жыл бұрын

    Yes Once again, your intelligence/innovative idea has been displayed. Hats Off!!!!!!!!!!!! to my beautiful and brilliant teacher. I hope and trust that God is only giving you the strength, intelligence and everything to help the Excel lovers/addicts/learners. No words to express my gratitude in guiding the Excel topics/tricks/charts. Waiting eagerly for your VBA videos. A big SALUTE.

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    Thank you very much Gopala as always for your very kind comments and support. Yes, I am currently recording the VBA material for the course and will put some up on KZread as well :)

  • @1gopalakrishnarao

    @1gopalakrishnarao

    6 жыл бұрын

    Thank you very much Madam, I appreciate and respect your zeal, enthusiasm, vigour, grit, dexterity and tenacity in doing this videos. Great indeed. Respectful Salute.

  • @tinovakimzamora9799
    @tinovakimzamora97996 жыл бұрын

    Wonderful LG as always!

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    Glad you like it TZ :)

  • @gabormathe823
    @gabormathe8236 жыл бұрын

    a fascinating gem again! thank you! :)

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    You're very welcome Gabor.

  • @onlinebusiness5305
    @onlinebusiness53056 жыл бұрын

    Leila thank you for your tips.

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    You're very welcome Cherrell. Thank you for your support.

  • @nishantkumar9570
    @nishantkumar95706 жыл бұрын

    Very nice! Thank you.

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    You're welcome Nishant.

  • @ismailismaili0071
    @ismailismaili00716 жыл бұрын

    you are just perfect thank you Ms. Leila

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Ismail for your support & very kind comment.

  • @zakimoustapha7296
    @zakimoustapha72962 жыл бұрын

    Actually it was so interesting...I like a lot the way you explain things. Really Professional.

  • @shaikhzahid2363
    @shaikhzahid23636 жыл бұрын

    Wow super cool trick

  • @craigvoss1468
    @craigvoss14686 жыл бұрын

    Excel MVP!

  • @alexrosen8762
    @alexrosen87626 жыл бұрын

    This was just amazing

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    Glad you like it Alex :)

  • @pradeep05100
    @pradeep051006 жыл бұрын

    yeah, great, mind blowing and useful

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    Very happy to hear that :)

  • @ashishmohan4707
    @ashishmohan47076 жыл бұрын

    great leila really really helpful

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    You're welcome & thanks to Bart for providing the template.

  • @Sal_A
    @Sal_A6 жыл бұрын

    Very useful techniques :)

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    Yes - Thanks to Bart for the great input.

  • @Nonas63
    @Nonas633 жыл бұрын

    Dear Leila, late response, but you have made my day today (as always)! My new graphs are looking amazing!! Thanks a lot for this great video!! Best regards Thomas

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    3 жыл бұрын

    That's great, Thomas! Glad the video was helpful.

  • @Dev_Bartwal
    @Dev_Bartwal6 жыл бұрын

    Mind blowing LG .. 😱

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Dev. It's Bart's idea so the credit goes to him :)

  • @marcq877
    @marcq8773 жыл бұрын

    You always have a brilliant demonstration. How would you do the same when dealing with Pivot Tables? Thank you

  • @dvesfvhssss
    @dvesfvhssss6 жыл бұрын

    you are a best teacher of MS excel. thanks

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    Ohh thank you very Seion. Thanks for the support.

  • @davidhansen527

    @davidhansen527

    5 жыл бұрын

    I like the way Leila breaks down all the steps and also the overall goals of the steps. For example, using a formula in name manger so you can use a formula in chart data. Plus the goals of the steps telling us the goals of the next steps, for example telling us the next steps are to improve the readability of the chart. along with why it impoves the readablity.

  • @jhamca10
    @jhamca106 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Leila for your valuable video. Kindly provide VBA related Video also. Last year you had promised that you will provide VBA Video. Because your way of teaching and presentation is marvelous.

  • @MalinaC
    @MalinaC6 жыл бұрын

    EXCELlent! :)

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Malina for dropping by :)

  • @MalinaC

    @MalinaC

    6 жыл бұрын

    :)

  • @vincentm4495
    @vincentm44955 жыл бұрын

    Watched the video again. Was wondering if you can do the conditional formatting with older versions of Excel (e.g. 2010). Thanks

  • @DimONMINIpeople
    @DimONMINIpeople4 жыл бұрын

    Awesome video. 30 minutes flew past!

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    4 жыл бұрын

    I forgot I made such long videos. Glad you managed to stick around until the end :)

  • @hosseinhosseinpoor4845
    @hosseinhosseinpoor48453 жыл бұрын

    thanks thanks thanks

  • @onlinebusiness5305
    @onlinebusiness53056 жыл бұрын

    Hi leila i like to see how you explained in your video.

  • @dennisroote9145
    @dennisroote91452 жыл бұрын

    Great video - could it be updated using xlookup and the other functions available from Office 365? -Thanks!!

  • @phule1896
    @phule18965 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Leila. could i create a step chart if axis is not a date, example axis is a interval time ( 09:00-09:30;09:30-10:00;...)

  • @abdanomer
    @abdanomer6 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for sharing such a wonderful video. Just I have a thought if a add a row in the above of the data is it will change the step chart? Because of the isodd formula?!

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    You're welcome Abdelrahman. Bart answered your question in the comments above....

  • @kabilankabilan
    @kabilankabilan4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for explaining clearly how to build an step chart in excel. I am trying to build a step chart using a text (station names) in replacement of dates explained. But when i convert all the dates in to text (say A, B, C,D….. so on), the excel chart is converting to normal chart with inclined lines. Can you help me out in building an step chart using texts. Thank You!

  • @buravalliswarnalatha6432
    @buravalliswarnalatha64322 жыл бұрын

    Is there any way to use this water flow chart with pivot tabkes

  • @rrrprogram8667
    @rrrprogram86676 жыл бұрын

    Beauuutyyy

  • @zakimoustapha7296
    @zakimoustapha72962 жыл бұрын

    I need some videos about animated chart using mouse over event procedure.

  • @harishpaldhir5915
    @harishpaldhir59156 жыл бұрын

    Gd mng madam Thanks for ur reply I think u like to solve difficult problems 😁😁😁

  • @harishpaldhir5915
    @harishpaldhir59156 жыл бұрын

    Gd evening madam A bit leanthy process but very very intersting and impressive to explain the whole process I am fan of urs way of Explaing the problems Thanks very much for all these videos

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for watching. Glad you like it...even though it's lengthy :)

  • @michaeldiamond2726
    @michaeldiamond27266 жыл бұрын

    Hi Leila, Great video as always. Trying to find another approach with familiar formulas (though I don't use IsODD or IsEven very much). I wonder if you could substitute the Isodd function with IsEven or the Mod function? . Also, could you substitute a dynamic range formula using index and counta instead of using Offset (to avoid using volatile functions)? I always cringe when I have to use Offset because I tend to this function in larger spreadsheets (and you know how too many formulas slow down calculation time). This video reminds me of doing a cross word puzzle with Sherlock Holmes: sniffing around to find solutions to one answer which then leads to another question with a huge magnifying glass. I've been thinking about this for awhile but I haven't tested or tried this technique out yet. Instead of putting formulas in the cells directly would it be more efficient to put them in the name manager. This way, someone couldn't come along and break the formula by modifying the formula arguments. I think also if you made a change to the formula in the name manager you wouldn't have to copy down the changes to the other cells providing it isn't in a table. Michael

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Michael - Yes Index could replace offset here too. I find offset easier to write for this type of range referencing. Since it's just one drop-down it will probably not impact performance. But if there were more, I agree - it would be better to use Index instead. You're right - it's like a cross word puzzle that's fun to solve :)

  • @TAMANNASHAMIMA

    @TAMANNASHAMIMA

    7 ай бұрын

    Hello

  • @TAMANNASHAMIMA

    @TAMANNASHAMIMA

    7 ай бұрын

    Mam you russian

  • @pawanblogs569
    @pawanblogs5696 жыл бұрын

    nice for knowledge but your are very smart mam

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    no not smart - just enjoy working with Excel :) Thank you for your comment and support.

  • @magorzatagaik2440
    @magorzatagaik24406 жыл бұрын

    Hello, Its a great step by step chart. Is it possible to use week number or month name instead of date values?

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    Yes - you could put in a date, but show the label as month name by adjusting the formatting for date to for example "mm" or "mmm".

  • @pitadomingos9934
    @pitadomingos99348 ай бұрын

    How can I do it when my x-axis is text? I havde followed your steps using my own data, but my x-axis has double lables on the axis. I am using company names on x-axis How can fix this?

  • @TheJoeman187
    @TheJoeman1874 жыл бұрын

    Hi Leila, If you get this, I just wanted to let you know you have really helped me understand Excel. I like your videos and so glad that you provide the workbooks that helps a lot. I like to make my own and follow along to your videos. On this one I think I followed your instructions but my step line is all screwed up. It's updating and the labels are correct. Not sure why the line isn't like yours. When I did the offset formula I got a different number than you did. But I checked and rechecked and not sure how. I got 43842 instead of 42747. I almost got it and i'm sure that's the reason. Can you help me fix it? Thanks, Joe, from Michigan.

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    4 жыл бұрын

    Please download my workbook (link is in the description of the video) and compare it with my solution. Hope it'll help to find the issue.

  • @TheJoeman187

    @TheJoeman187

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for replying so quickly Leila. This is the only thing that I can come up with when comparing your chart to mine: {43842;43862;43862;43881;43881;43905;43905;43931;43931;43956;43956;43988;43988;44019;44019;44051;44051} My total is 43842 compared to yours 42747. And the rest of them are different. Any ideas?

  • @TheJoeman187

    @TheJoeman187

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hi Leila, I did find out what happened. Now it's working perfect. Fun chart to make. Is there a way where I can put a comment next to the labels to indicate a reason why it fluctuates up or down? Just wondering...Thanks again for your help. Hope you are safe and healthy.

  • @pawanblogs569
    @pawanblogs5696 жыл бұрын

    but your knowlege is very good

  • @LeilaGharani

    @LeilaGharani

    6 жыл бұрын

    Thank you :) Appreciate your support.

  • @suliman9058
    @suliman90584 жыл бұрын

    Half an hour for chart tutorial, Microsoft is blamed here !!

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