How to Create a Floating (High-Low) Bar or Column Chart

 Last reviewed: November 2, 1994
Article ID: Q66023

SUMMARY

You may want to plot a High-Low Chart using the Bar or Column types in Excel. This is also called a floating bar chart. You can create this chart using the steps discussed below.

NOTE: This method will not work with 3-D type charts.

MORE INFORMATION

The worksheet will have two columns of data to be plotted. One column will contain the "low" data points, and the other will contain the "high" data points.

The following is an example: 

                 Low    High
                 ---    ----

   JohnDoe       15      18
   MarySue       16      22
   Jennifer      12      20
Create a column or bar chart in such a way so that the second data series plots the low data points. You can do this many ways. One easy way to do this is to switch the positions of the Low-High columns above, and then create the chart.

To employ the floating-chart effect, do the following:

  1. Once the chart is created, open the Format menu and choose Main Chart.

  2. Place a check (X) in the Overlapped box.

  3. In the % Overlap box, type 100 and press ENTER.

  4. In the chart, click the second data series twice, or select it.

  5. Open the Format menu and choose Patterns.

  6. Select White for the Border, Foreground, and Background color. (Selecting Invisible will not work.) Do not select Apply to All.

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Additional reference words: noupd

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Last reviewed: November 2, 1994
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