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Excel Bar Chart With Line On Secondary Axis

If you are looking for a way to make your data more visually appealing, an Excel bar chart with a line on secondary axis is a great option. This type of chart allows you to easily compare two sets of data that have different units of measurement. In this article, we will walk you through the steps of creating this type of chart in Excel.

Step 1: Prepare Your Data

The first step in creating an Excel bar chart with a line on secondary axis is to prepare your data. You will need to have two sets of data that you want to compare. One set of data should be in a format that can be displayed on a bar chart, while the other set of data should be in a format that can be displayed on a line chart.

For example, let's say you want to compare the sales revenue and expenses of your business over the past year. You would need to have two sets of data: one that shows the sales revenue by month, and another that shows the expenses by month.

Step 2: Create the Chart

Once you have your data prepared, it's time to create the chart. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Select both sets of data. To do this, click and drag your cursor over both sets of data.
  2. Click on the "Insert" tab in the Excel ribbon.
  3. Select "Combo" from the "Charts" section of the ribbon.
  4. Select the chart type that you want to use for your bar chart. In this case, we will use a stacked column chart.
  5. Click "OK" to create the chart.

Your chart should now be created, but it will only have one set of data displayed.

Step 3: Add the Secondary Axis

Now that you have your chart created, it's time to add the secondary axis. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Click on one of the bars in your chart to select it.
  2. Right-click on the bar and select "Format Data Series" from the context menu.
  3. Select the "Series Options" tab in the formatting pane that appears.
  4. Check the box next to "Secondary Axis" and click "Close".

You should now see the secondary axis added to your chart. However, the data for the second series is still not displayed.

Step 4: Add the Line Chart Data

Now that you have the secondary axis added, it's time to add the line chart data. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the chart to select it.
  2. Click on the "Design" tab in the ribbon.
  3. Select "Select Data" from the "Data" section of the ribbon.
  4. In the "Select Data Source" dialog box, click "Add" to add a new series.
  5. Select the data range for your line chart data.
  6. Click "OK" to close the dialog box.

Your line chart data should now be displayed on the secondary axis of your chart.

Step 5: Format Your Chart

Now that you have your chart created and your data displayed, it's time to format your chart. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the chart to select it.
  2. Click on the "Design" tab in the ribbon.
  3. Select the "Chart Styles" dropdown and choose a style that you like.
  4. Click on the "Chart Title" and add a title for your chart.
  5. Click on the "Axes" dropdown and select "Primary Vertical Axis" to format the primary axis, or "Secondary Vertical Axis" to format the secondary axis.
  6. Make any additional formatting changes that you want.

Your Excel bar chart with a line on secondary axis is now complete!

Step 1: Prepare Your Data

Conclusion

An Excel bar chart with a line on secondary axis is a great way to visually compare two sets of data that have different units of measurement. By following these steps, you can easily create this type of chart in Excel and customize it to fit your needs.

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