Functions and Formulas in Excel

Functions and Formulas in Excel - Formulas tab of the Ribbon in Excel showing Function Library, Defined Names, Formula Auditing and Calculation groups

Functions and formulas are among the most essential elements of Excel. They both perform calculations and produce certain results. Although the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, it is important to know the difference between them. continue reading >>

How to create a combined clustered and stacked bar chart in Excel

Combined clustered and stacked bar chart

When visually comparing the values of multiple items, if the value of one item is greater than the total values of all the other items, you may want to emphasize it. You can do so by displaying the largest value in one bar and grouping the smaller values together in another bar in a combined clustered and stacked bar chart. continue reading >>

How to create a mirror bar chart in Excel

Mirror bar chart

Mirror bar chart is a type of bar chart that comparatively displays two sets of data side by side along a vertical axis. The chart resembles the reflection of a mirror, hence the name “mirror bar chart”. The advantage of a mirror bar chart is that it illustrates two data sets side by side and therefore makes it easy to make comparisons and spot any differences between them.
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How to create a pie chart in which each slice has a different radius in Excel

piechart_18

In infographics and other visuals, I have many times come across a pie chart in which each slice has a different radius based on the percentage it represents: the slices representing categories with large percentages have larger radii (the plural of radius is radii), while the slices representing categories with small percentages have shorter radii. The advantage of such a pie chart is that it further emphasizes the relative importance of a particular category to the total and is useful when you want to draw attention to categories with large percentages. Also, it can be a visually nice addition to any dashboard, report or presentation. For all these reasons, I have decided to create this pie chart in Excel and share it with you. continue reading >>