Chart – A chart in Excel is a graphical representation of data from a worksheet. It allows users to visualize data more meaningfully and easily, making it easier to spot trends, patterns, and relationships. Charts can be created from various data types, such as numbers, percentages, dates, and times. Excel offers several types of charts, including column charts, line charts, pie charts, bar charts, area charts, scatter graphs, and more. Each chart type is best suited for different kinds of data and presentation purposes.
Excel charts are highly customizable and can be edited to suit individual needs. Users can modify chart elements such as titles, legends, axis labels, colors, fonts, etc. Additionally, charts can be formatted to include additional information, such as trendlines, data labels, and error bars.
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Method 1 – Create an Actual Vs. Target Chart without using Kutools
An Actual vs. Target chart is a helpful tool to visualize the performance of a business or project against its goals. Here are the steps to create an Actual vs. Target chart in Excel:
- Enter your data into an Excel worksheet. Include columns for Actual values, Target values, and each data point’s date or time period.
- Select the entire data range, including column headings.
- Click on the “Insert” tab in the Excel Ribbon and select “Combo Chart” from the “Charts” section.
- In the “Change Chart Type” dialog box, select “Combo” as the chart type.
- Select “Line” as the chart type for the Actual values and choose the primary axis option.
- Select “Clustered Column” for the Target values as the chart type and choose the secondary axis option.
- Click “OK” to close the dialog box and create the chart.
- Right-click on any of the columns in the chart and select “Format Data Series” from the context menu.
- In the “Format Data Series” dialog box, select “Secondary Axis” under the “Series Options” tab.
- Click “OK” to close the dialog box.
- Format the chart as needed by adding titles, axis labels, and legends.
- Save the chart and use it to track your performance against your target goals over time.
- Your Actual vs. Target chart is now complete and ready to use.
Method 2 – Create Actual Vs. Target Charts with using Kutools
To Create an Actual Vs. Target Charts in Excel 365, you need to follow the below steps:
- First, create a data table with Actual and Target values.
- On the Kutools tab, Select the Charts option. It will display the menu.
- Choose Target and Actual Chart options from the menu.
- Now, it will open the Actual Vs. Target Chart Dialog box.
- Select the Chart type as you wish.
- Horizontal (Category) Access labels – Select the horizontal access values from the table.
- Target Value – Select the column of target values.
- Actual Value – Select the column of actual values from the table.
- Hit the OK button.
- Now, the chart is inserted into the spreadsheet.
- In the above image, we have shown two chart types: Show Target Value with a Line and Show Target Value with a Column.
Notes
Suppose you want to see the preview of Actual Vs. Target chart, then use the Sample option in the dialog box.
Usage of Actual Chart Vs. Target Chart
- Actual and target charts are tools used to track and visualize progress toward a specific goal or target.
- The primary use of Actual charts Vs. Target charts is to compare the current progress or performance of a project or activity to the intended target or goal.
- Actual charts show progress towards a particular goal, while target charts display the desired or expected progress.
- The purpose of the target chart is to set a benchmark or standard for performance, and the actual chart is used to track progress toward that standard.
- By comparing the actual chart to the target chart, you can quickly identify if you are on track to achieve your goals or if adjustments need to be made.
- This type of comparison can be helpful in various fields such as business, education, sports, and personal goal setting.
- For example, in a sales department, the target chart could show the desired sales target for each month or quarter, and the actual chart would display the actual sales achieved.
- By comparing the two charts, the sales team can identify improvement areas and make necessary changes to achieve their goals.
- Overall, Actual charts Vs. Target charts are powerful tools that can help individuals and organizations monitor their progress and achieve their goals efficiently.
Conclusion
In this article, creating Actual Vs. Target charts in Excel can be a powerful way to visually compare performance against a set goal or benchmark. By following a few simple steps, users can create these charts quickly and efficiently, making it easier to identify success areas and improvement areas. Some best practices for creating these charts include selecting the appropriate chart type, formatting the data correctly, and customizing the chart to suit individual needs. With these tips, users can create clear, concise, and visually appealing Actual Vs. Target charts in Excel.
Video Tutorial
Here you can easily understand how to create an Actual Vs. Target Chart in Excel by a clear-cut video demonstration.
FAQ
A chart in Excel is a graphical representation of data from a worksheet. It allows users to visualize data more meaningfully and easily, making it easier to spot trends, patterns, and relationships. Charts can be created from various data types, such as numbers, percentages, dates, and times.
An actual chart is a visual representation of the actual progress or performance of a project or activity.
A target chart is a visual representation of the desired or expected progress or performance of a project or activity.
The purpose of an Actual chart vs. a Target chart is to compare the current progress or performance of a project or activity to the intended target or goal.
Hajira is a skilled financial analyst (Microsoft Certifications Completed) with more than 10 years of expertise in Excel. I love using Excel to assist individuals and organisations in enhancing their financial procedures. I like hiking and exploring outdoors when she’s not crunching mathematics. Follow me on my Mastodon account.
