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- Advanced Excel Charts Tutorial
- Advanced Excel Charts - Home
- Advanced Excel - Introduction
- Advanced Excel - Waterfall Chart
- Advanced Excel - Band Chart
- Advanced Excel - Gantt Chart
- Advanced Excel - Thermometer
- Advanced Excel - Gauge Chart
- Advanced Excel - Bullet Chart
- Advanced Excel - Funnel Chart
- Advanced Excel - Waffle Chart
- Advanced Excel Charts - Heat Map
- Advanced Excel - Step Chart
- Box and Whisker Chart
- Advanced Excel Charts - Histogram
- Advanced Excel - Pareto Chart
- Advanced Excel - Organization Chart
- Advanced Excel Charts Resources
- Advanced Excel Charts - Quick Guide
- Advanced Excel Charts - Resources
- Advanced Excel Charts - Discussion
Advanced Excel - Thermometer Chart
Thermometer chart is a visualization of the actual value of well-defined measure, for example, task status as compared to a target value. This is a linear version of Gauge chart that you will learn in the next chapter.
You can track your progress against the target over a period of time with a simple rising Thermometer chart.
What is a Thermometer Chart?
A Thermometer chart keeps track of a single task, for example, completion of work, representing the current status as compared to the target. It displays the percentage of the task completed, taking target as 100%.
A Thermometer chart looks as shown below.
![Thermometer Chart](/advanced_excel_charts/images/thermometer_chart.jpg)
Advantages of Thermometer Charts
Thermometer chart can be used to track any actual value as compared to the target value as percentage completed. It works with a single value and is an appealing chart that can be included in dashboards for a quick visual impact on % achieved, % performance against the target sales target, % profit, % work completion, % budget utilized, etc.
If you have multiple values to track the actuals against the targets, you can use Bullet chart that you will learn in a later chapter.
Preparation of Data
Prepare the data in the following way −
Calculate the Actual as a percentage of the actual value as compared to the target value.
Target should always be 100%.
Place your data in a table as given below.
![Prepare Data](/advanced_excel_charts/images/prepare_data.jpg)
Creating a Thermometer Chart
Following are the steps to create a Thermometer chart −
Step 1 − Select the data.
Step 2 − Insert a Clustered Column chart.
![Insert Clustered Column Chart](/advanced_excel_charts/images/insert_clustered_column_chart.jpg)
As you can see, the right Column is Target.
Step 3 − Click on a Column in the chart.
Step 4 − Click the DESIGN tab on the Ribbon.
Step 5 − Click the Switch Row/ Column button.
![Switch Buttons](/advanced_excel_charts/images/switch_buttons.jpg)
Step 6 − Right click on the Target Column.
Step 7 − Select Format Data Series from the dropdown list.
Step 8 − Click on Secondary Axis under SERIES OPTIONS in the Format Data Series pane.
![Click Secondary Axis](/advanced_excel_charts/images/click_secondary_axis.jpg)
As you can see, the Primary Axis and the Secondary Axis have different ranges.
Step 9 − Right click on the Primary Axis. Select Format Axis from the dropdown list.
Step 10 − Type the following in Bounds under AXIS OPTIONS in the Format Axis pane −
- 0 for Minimum.
- 1 for Maximum.
Repeat the steps given above for the Secondary Axis to change the Bounds to 0 and 1.
![Repeat Steps](/advanced_excel_charts/images/repeat_steps.jpg)
Both the Primary Axis and Secondary Axis will be set to 0% - 100%.
As you can observe, the Target Column hides the Actual Column.
Step 11 − Right click on the visible Column, i.e. Target.
Step 12 − Select Format Data Series from the dropdown list.
In the Format Data Series pane, select the following −
- No fill under the FILL option.
- Solid line under the BORDER option.
- Blue under the Color option.
![Select Options](/advanced_excel_charts/images/select_options.jpg)
Step 13 − In Chart Elements, deselect the following −
- Axis → Primary Horizontal.
- Axis → Secondary Vertical.
- Gridlines.
- Chart Title.
Step 14 − Right click on the Primary Vertical Axis.
Step 15 − Select Format Axis from the dropdown list.
Step 16 − Click TICK MARKS under the AXIS OPTIONS in the Format Axis pane.
Step 17 − Select the option Inside for Major type.
![Select Option](/advanced_excel_charts/images/select_option.jpg)
Step 18 − Right click on the Chart Area.
Step 19 − Select Format Plot Area from the dropdown list.
Step 20 − Click Fill & Line in the Format Plot Area pane. Select the following −
- No fill under the FILL option.
- No line under the BORDER option.
![Click Fill and Line](/advanced_excel_charts/images/click_fill_and_line.jpg)
Step 21 − Resize the Chart Area to get the Thermometer shape for the chart.
![Resize Chart Area](/advanced_excel_charts/images/resize_chart_area.jpg)
You got your Thermometer chart, with the Actual Value as against Target Value being shown.
Step 22 − You can make this Thermometer chart more appealing with some formatting.
- Insert a Rectangle shape superimposing the blue rectangular part in the chart.
- In the Format Shape options, select the following −
- Gradient fill for FILL.
- Linear for Type.
- 1800 for Angle.
- Set the Gradient stops at 0%, 50% and 100%.
- For the Gradient stops at 0% and 100%, choose the color black.
- For the Gradient stop at 50%, choose the color white.
![Insert Rectangular Shape](/advanced_excel_charts/images/insert_rectangular_shape.jpg)
- Insert an oval shape at the bottom.
- Format the oval shape with the same options as of rectangle.
- The result will be as shown below −
![Thermometer Chart](/advanced_excel_charts/images/thermometer_chart.jpg)
Your aesthetic Thermometer chart is ready. This will look good on a dashboard or as a part of a presentation.
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