Do you need create multiple line charts on Excel Combo Graph? And then create multiple line charts on secondary axis, which helps you better answer business question? As part of this tutorial we will be creating Excel Combo Chart with multiple line graphs on secondary Axis.
We have already established relationships between monthly sales data and temperature for the imaginary store in our Tutorial Excel Combo Chart with Secondary Axis – How To Explain Sales Numbers History to Find Pattern.
But unfortunately, relationship, even though there is a relationship between sales and temperature it doesn’t explain all variations in sales, especially during the warmer weather. In this tutorial we will add average discounted rates, offered by the store to see if we have a correlation between different discounts offered by the store and sales during the summer month. And then create a awesome graph with multiple line charts on the second axis, which clearly shows the pattern?
Our initial set of data consists of Monthly Sales in one column, Average Outdoor Temperature in another column and average monthly discount data in the third column. Our combo chart will consists of 3 charts:
- Bar chart which would represent monthly sales,
- Line Chart would display average outdoor temperature
- and another second Line chart, which would represent discounts.
We will also add make line charts more professionally looking by adding markers and 3d animation effect. In the end we will also attempt to answer business questions: is there a correlation between monthly sales and average discounts, especially during the warmer month? Do people shop more when there are higher discounts offered?
This tutorial is a part of multi-series of video tutorials, which teaches you from start until the end how to take business data and make it ready for professional presentation. We start with Microsoft Excel data, create chart with secondary axis, add 3D effects to the chart. Then in the second tutorial we create an additional Line graph on secondary axis. And in the last tutorial we take created chart into PowerPoint and create animated slide
Tutorial 2. Create multiple line charts on Excel Secondary Axis Combo Graph
Tutorial 3. How to Animate Microsoft Excel Combo Chart with Secondary Axis
What is Secondary Axis and how is it helpful for presenting the data
When the numbers in a chart you created vary widely from data series to data series, or when you have mixed types of data (for example, sales volume, temperature and discounts), you can plot one or more data series on a secondary vertical (value) axis. The scale of the secondary vertical axis shows the values for the associated data series.
A secondary axis works well in a chart that shows a combination of column and line chart and especially useful for presentations when you need to present multiple data sets on the same chart
Source Data in Microsoft Excel
Our initial set of data consists of Monthly Sales in one column, Average Outdoor Temperature in another column and average monthly discount data in the third column.
Final Chart The will be created
Our combo chart will consists of 3 charts – Bar chart which would represent monthly sales, Line Chart would display average outdoor temperature and another line chart, which would represent discounts. We will also add make line charts more professionally looking by adding markers and 3d animation effect. In the end we will also attempt to answer business questions: is there a correlation between monthly sales and average discounts, especially during the warmer month? Do people shop more when there are higher discounts offered?
Analyze data in Excel to make sure everything is present
First lets review if we have complete data set to build quality graph”
- Monthly Sales data, Average Outdoor Temperature and Average Monthly Discounts data is present for the entire year
- Both Average Outdoor Temperature and Average Monthly Discounts are in the same data range : single to double digits, which can be proportionally reflected on the graph
We are ready to generate Multiple Line Charts On Excel Secondary Axis Combo Graph. First step is to select source data
Create a Combo Chart in Excel
Microsoft Excel Combo Chart is used to highlight the different types of information. You can used it when the range of values in the chart varies widely or you have mixed types of data.
Excel Combo chart highlights different types of information. It is applicable for our example because the range between Sales Volume and Outdoor temperature is very different, but ranges for Outdoor temperate and Discount are the same. There are going to be three diagrams in one in the chart we will generate: Sales will be represented by Excel Bar Chart and Average temperature and Discounts will be represented by Excel Line Graph.
Navigate to Insert -> Charts->Combo->Clustered Column->Line on Secondary Axis
Below is the chart Microsoft Excel inserted by Default. In the next section we are going to format the graph to make it look professional. By Default Sales and Temperature have been created as Bar Charts and Discount was created as a line Chart. In our next step we would need to change Temperature from Bar Chart into Line Chart.
Change Temperature graph from Bar Chart into Line Chart.
To make Average temperature show up as a line change we need to select the chart, Right Mouse Click and select [Change Chart Type]
As you can see in the new dialog box, which appeared, Sales and temperature represented by the chart Type [Clustered Column] and initially located on the Primary Axis. Only Discount data is represented as a Line Chart and associated with Secondary Axis
To complete this task follow steps below:
For Temperature Series, change Chart Type to [Line] and select [Secondary Axis] checkbox
This is how updated chart looks like. In the next step we will update the chart title and make Bar Graphs and Line Graphs look 3D
Complete Excel Chart Formatting to make it 3D
Change Title for the Chart
Click on the tile for the chart and type a new name
Make Bar Chart look 3D
Select Sales data series then Right Mouse Click [Format Data Series]
In [Format Data Series] change value for Top Bevel and Material
Make Line Charts look 3D
Complete below steps for both Outdoor Temperature and Discounts Series, selecting different colors of your preference
01 Make line thicker
Select the orange temperature line and in Line Properties change Width to 7pt
02 Add Line Markers
To enable Circle marker follow this steps: In Properties select Marker->Built-In->Type Circle
To change the size of the marker: In Properties Select Marker -> Size = 17
03 Make Markers 3D
To make markers 3D navigate to Properties->Effects -> To Bevel and select value from dropdown box
To change the material for the markers navigate to Properties->Effects->Material and change the value for the material, by selecting the value in Special Effects section
In [Format Data Series] change value for Top Bevel and Material
Select Value for Top Bevel
Select Value for Material
Repeat steps 01- 03 for the Disount Data Series. Below is how final version of the chart looks:
Chart Analysis
Now lets answer the business question: “What does best explain variance in monthly Sales for hardware store”? Can both changes in Outdoor temperature and changes in promotional discounts, offered by the store explain variation in sales?
Sales volume variation can be explained by multiple variables (Outdoor Temperature and Discounts offered by the store). Fewer people shop during the winter month. But changes in outdoor temperature don’t explain all sales volume variations through the year. During warmer weather people buy more during the month when discounts are offered. There is also correlation between the percentage of the discount and Sales Volume: the higher the discount the higher the monthly sales numbers.
How To Create Multiple Line Charts On Excel Secondary Axis Combo Graph [Video]
Source Files used in the Tutorial
Download PDF version of this Tutorial
How To Create Multiple Line Charts On Excel Secondary Axis Combo Graph [PDF Tutorial]
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