Add high/low lines to your Excel charts

by Mary Ann Richardson | Jan 30, 2007 8:00:00 AM

Tags: Microsoft Office, Investment, Mary Ann Richardson, Microsoft Excel, Format Data Series, Microsoft Office Suite Excel Tips Newsletter

Takeaway: Analyze your Excel information by creating high/low lines for your data charts, allowing you to easily view parameters of a given range. Mary Ann Richardson gives you the lowdown.

Most often found in stock market charts, the addition of high/low lines help to point out how close actual values came to the goal points. All you need are at least two data series for you to add high/low lines to connect the maximum data point in a category with its corresponding minimum point. For example, you can use high/low lines to compare actual expenses against budgeted expenses. To add high/low lines in Excel, follow these steps:

1. Open the line chart that graphs budgeted and actual expenses over the last 12 months.
2. Right-click one of the lines, and select Format Data Series.
3. In the Options tab, click the High/Low Lines check box, and click OK.

If you wish to change the format of the resulting lines, double-click one of the high/low lines and select Format High/Low Lines to access the Format dialog box.

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Print/View all Posts Comments on this article

Visuals Mr. Content | 01/31/07

EXACTLY what I was thinking... newbytech | 01/31/07

I agree cpersing@... | 02/14/07

RE: Add high/low lines to your Excel charts nicholas.young@... | 10/14/07