Excel Question - Creating charts from data

Hi-I am creating charts from data that is over time (over the past 25 years). I would like to have my chart show vertical shaded bars where there were recessions over that period (i.e. 91-92). Is there a way to do this automatically without manually and sloppily trying to draw it in myself? Thanks!

14 Comments
 

Plot it as a secondary axis, with 1's and 0's. Then set the secondary axis maximum value to 1. The result will be shaded areas were there are 1s. Play with the formatting to adjust to your liking (such as, overlap 100% and various transparencies).

I'll do what I can to help ya'll. But, the game's out there, and it's play or get played.
 
pplstuffPlot it as a secondary axis, with 1's and 0's. Then set the secondary axis maximum value to 1. The result will be shaded areas were there are 1s. Play with the formatting to adjust to your liking (such as, overlap 100% and various transparencies).

This is right.

To the OP: wherever you want a shaded bar on your graph, put a 1 next to that specific date in time in your data series. Leave blank the other areas (where there were no recessions). Then graph that second column (where there are 1's and blanks) and change it to the secondary axis. Then change the chart type to a bar chart and adjust the secondary Y axis to a maximum of 1.

 

@hockey1316-yes. I could try that but I am doing this about 15-20 times so that would be ultra-tedious. Not a bad idea though and that will be my backup plan.

@pplstuff-never done this before. Where do I add a secondary axis?

Thanks guys

 

Only lets you rotate clockwise and stops you at 180, need to rotate counter clockwise.

 

Right-click data series, format data series, secondary axis. Excel 2007.

Else: Google

I'll do what I can to help ya'll. But, the game's out there, and it's play or get played.
 

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