Challenges: Final Friday Fix: August 2018 Challenge

On the final Friday of each month, we’re going to set an Excel challenge for you to puzzle over so that you can get your “Excel fix”. Challenge your office colleagues to see who can solve the puzzle quickest. There’s no prizes at this stage, you’re playing for bragging rights only!

Clustering Charts Consistently

This month’s problem was another one actually asked by one of our clients. The solution is fairly straightforward; the issue arises from choosing the wrong approach.

The Challenge

Imagine you have five business units: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta and Echo and data for each business unit under five scenarios, displayed using a clustered chart similar to the following:

Note the consistent colouring of the business units for each scenario.

Next, you decide you want to create an interactive chart, so you add a slicer:

Selecting ‘Alpha’ generates

Alpha’s data is in blue – as in the summary chart. Then you decide to select ‘Bravo’ and ‘Echo’:

Again, the colours are consistent with the original chart and there is no unnecessary spacing.

All you have to do is replicate this chart’s behaviour…

Sound easy? Have a go. We’ll publish one solution in Monday’s blog. Have a great weekend!