Need to create a clustered bar chart to compare timelines

[Meli]

Hello,

I have data that is currently linked to a bar chart. The data represents the various events that need to be completed in a project and the dates they ideally need to be completed by. I would like to also link the actual dates of the project to the bar chart so as to compare the data in a clustered bar chart.

Is this possible?? Thank you very much for your help!!

Meli

[bf0109]

Hi Meli

I could not manage to answer your question, but one thing I picked up why your actual dates are not displayed on the chart, is that it is in text format (General to be exact), whereas the starting date is in a date format.

You should change the formatting to Date Format, and also type the dates in again, e.g. 2012/7/17 - it will then display exactly the same, but Excel picks it up as a date and not text.

As far as I have it (I can be wrong), Excel can only make charts with data that is the same "type" -- i.e. the same format.

All the best with finding your answer - that is what makes life so awesome!

Regards

[lmp]

Hi,

after you have fixed the text vs date issue in column D as BF0109 has correctly identified above, you can plot the data in column D in the chart. Send it to the secondary axis and format the series to be of the chart type XY with markers, no line.

In order for the markers to appear at the correct vertical dimension, you need to add a column of data for the Y position.

The chart needs to show the secondary X and secondary Y axes, so these can be formatted to align with the primary axes. The minimum and maximum values of the primary and secondary axis need to be the same. This can be a bit tricky if the number of events changes, and may require manual adjustments.

Also, some of the "Actual" dates are before the first date of the time line that is charted, so they will not show, unless both X axes are defined to include that time frame.

See attached file.