Comments on: Interactive Charts with Checkboxes and Formulas

By: Jon Peltier

Jon Peltier — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:56:29 +0000

Malcolm – This can be done using VBA, but not through formulas and worksheet tricks. If you set the sheet up so that you can hide a row using an autofilter, then by default data in the hidden cells will be hidden from the chart, but this means that the chart series after the hidden one will assume the formatting of the hidden series.

By: Malcolm

Malcolm — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:59:07 +0000

I have been able to have the legend names appear/disappear if based on the state of the checkboxes; is there a way to also have the legend colors do the same? For example, where you state, “Using a custom number format of “0;;;”, we can suppress the display of any label except positive numbers (and errors).”, can the Series B orange box also disappear?

By: Leonardo

Leonardo — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 07:52:37 +0000

Jon,

Thanks a lot. The inclusion of the Sheet Name did the trick when defining the Data Series on the chart.

I will keep the second hint in mind as well for future. Thanks, you’re a legend!

By: Jon Peltier

Jon Peltier — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:49:00 +0000

Leonardo -

This is still supported. Two hints:

Make sure you qualify the name with the worksheet name. I find the easiest way to get this right is to create my chart with regular data, so the values range is represented by something like =’Data Sheet’!$B$2:$B$100, and replace everything after the exclamation point with the name.

In Excel 2007, there are problems if the name of the named range begins with “Chart”. For example, you can’t name a range ChartData, but you can name it ChtData.

By: Leonardo

Leonardo — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:41:24 +0000

Hi Jon,

Dynamic Charts are great. I however have a problem currently where the Data Series doesn’t allow me to enter a named range in Excel 2007. I even tried to put it in with VBA but still no joy as well as in the SERIES function. The named ranges are correct, it just seems like Excel 2007 doesn’t support it any more? Does it possibly have something to do with SP’s that I need to install?

By: Jon Peltier

Jon Peltier — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:08:27 +0000

Tim: Next time you will.

By: Tim Mayes

Tim Mayes — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:53:29 +0000

Thanks Jon, the data label is the perfect solution. I should have thought of that.

By: Jon Peltier

Jon Peltier — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 10:39:18 +0000

Tim -

To change the legend, other than the text shown in the legend entry), you need more than worksheet formulas. You either have to do it manually or using VBA.

You could apply a data label to each series, and when the series isn’t visible, neither is the label. This approach eliminates the need for a legend.

By: Tim Mayes

Tim Mayes — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 05:57:40 +0000

Jon, I’ve been playing around with something very similar to this for awhile now. I’ve been using defined names for the ranges, where the name is either the range that contains the data, or a blank column. The choice is made depending on the value of the cell link from the checkbox. Works great, except, as you mention, the legend entry remains.

For this project, I’m trying very hard to avoid using VBA so I’d rather not use your clever technique from the next post. Is there any non-VBA method of making the legend entry appear or disappear? I can’t think of anything short of just not showing a legend, or deleting the entry for the one series that I want to toggle on or off. That will work for me, but it isn’t ideal and I may just give up and use VBA.

By: Bernard Lebelle

Bernard Lebelle — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:37:09 +0000

Another brilliant way of tweeking Excel. Look forward for a practical implementation on a real dashboard