Highlighting a Section of Chart by Adding a Second Series in Excel 2007:-


The chart in the Figure (given below) shows a sales trend over one year. The business was affected by road construction that diverted traffic flow from the main road in front of the business.



(It would be best to highlight the road construction months in the chart to further emphasize the title.)

The title calls out the July and August time period, but it would be cool to actually highlight that section of the chart. You follow these steps to add an area chart series to the chart:

1. Begin a new series in column C, next to the original data. To highlight July and August, add numbers to column C for the July and August points, plus the previous point, June. In cell C7, enter the formula of =B7. Copy this formula to June, July, and August.

2. Click the chart. A blue bounding box appears around B2:B13 in the worksheet. Drag the lower-right corner of the blue bounding box to the right to extend the series to include the three values in column C. Initially, this line shows up as a red line on top of a portion of the existing blue line.

3. On the Layout ribbon, use the Current Selection drop-down to choose Series 2. This is the series you just added.

4. While Series 2 is selected, choose Design, Change Chart Type. Select the first area chart thumbnail. Click OK. Excel draws a red area chart beneath the line segment of June through August.

5. On the Format ribbon, use the Current Selection drop-down to reselect Series 2. Then choose Shape Fill, White, Background 1, Darker 25%.

The top chart in the Figure (given below) shows the gray highlight extending from the horizontal axis up to the data line for the two line segments.

Alternatively, you could replace the numbers in column C with 70,000 in order to draw a gray rectangle behind the months, as shown in the bottom chart in the Figure (given below).



(A second series, with only three points, is used to highlight a section of the chart.)