Adding a Benchmark line in an Excel chart

[John Krsulic]

I have created a great looking Excel chart. I now need to add a benchmark
line to show what parts of my column bars are below or above the benchmarked
data. Is there an easy way to do this and show the number on the line what
the benchmark actually is? I have just been manually drawing a line with the
line tool then using a text box to write in the number. I would love to be
able to tell Excel what the benchmark is and have it draw it on the graph.

[Dave Curtis]

Hi,

Enter your benchmark figure in a cell. This will be your y value.
Add a suitable x value in the cell to the left of your y value.
Plot these as a new series and change the chart type to x-y. (You may need
to change it's axis back to primary.)
Add an x error bar extending to the right, format the error bar.
You can smarten it up by hiding the data point.
Add a data point to show the y value.

Let me know if you want an example. I use these all the time.

Dave

url:http://www.ureader.com/msg/10296039.aspx

[Jon Peltier]

Here's an illustrated tutorial of the approach Dave suggests:

http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Charts/AddLineHorzErrBar.html

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
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