Data Labels and Trendlines

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Two questions:

Is it possible to individually color format Data Labels?

Can drop lines somehow be added to a trend line?

Thanks, Phil
 
Phil,

Yes, you can individually color data labels. If you click on any data label
once, you will select all of the labels within the series. Click again and
you will select the individual label. In effect, double-click on the data
label to select it. Then use the fill-color icon or other formatting tools
to format the label.

I don't believe you can add drop down bars to a trendline via Excel's normal
trendline options. However, you can extract the formula for the trendline
via the "Display Equation on Chart" option and then plot data points using
the formula just like you would plot your normal data. You can then add
drop-down bars to the new plotted trendline.

For example, add the following data to a spreadsheet . . .

a 4
b 3
c 5
d 6

Create a normal line chart, add a linear trendline to the series, and use
the "Display Equation on Chart" option. The equation returned should be

y = ( 0.8 * x ) + 2.5

Using x =1, X=2, X=3, and X=4, extract the data points for the trendline.
They should be 3.3, 4.1, 4.9, and 5.7. Now delete the trendline. Plot a
second line series in the chart with the new trendline points. It should
look just like the original trendline did. Double-click on the second series
to get the Format Data Series dialog box. Go to Options -> Drop Lines to add
the drop lines.
 
Phil -
Is it possible to individually color format Data Labels?
Click to expand...

Yes. It takes two clicks to select one data label: the first click selects all
labels for a series. With one label selected, use your favorite formatting technique.
Can drop lines somehow be added to a trend line?
Click to expand...

Add another XY series, and use error bars for the drop lines (negative, 100%).

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
http://PeltierTech.com/
_______
 
I presumed since Phil was making a trendline, he was using an XY Scatter chart type.
Otherwise the trendline might be less useful. That is why I suggested adding an XY
Scatter series, and since these do not support drop lines, I suggested error bars.

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

Extracting values for a new series works great. I'm using this technique in
charts with linier, log, and polynomial trendlines. After creating the new
series, the line is smoothed, drop lines and data labels added. Neat! Is
there a way to delete some of the new drop lines? I tried Y-bars too and
couldn't figure how to delete some of them.
 
Every point in the series will have the error bars if you do it as I suggested.
Remove unwanted lines by deleting those points. You might have to have two extra
series, one for your new trendline, another for the desired droplines.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
http://PeltierTech.com/
_______
 
Hi. I found this reply close to what i was searching. I want to get the
formula for the trendline in the power function but not in default i.e ax^b
but as a*(x-e)+c. I there any way to change the trendline equation to the one
i want. Thanks in advance.
regards,
Karthik.
 
Back
Top