Trend graph in Excel

[Ofina]

I have a regular line graph with each point marked and 12 lines. I'm trying to change each line to a moving average trend line. How can I just change them? All I can figure out is to add a trendline.

 

[SkipVought]

hi,

change each line to a moving average trend line

A Trend Line is done in conjunction with a series.

You might want to use the TREND() function in your source data and then plot the result of the formula instead.

Skip,

_{Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE!}

 

[Ofina]

Are you telling me that I can't just have a graph with 12 trendlines that pull from my data?
I have to either have both the regular line there and the trendline (I'm trying to simplify how it looks not make it worse), or calculate the averages myself and graph THAT?

Surely I can just make a graph that shows the trends from my data.

 

[SkipVought]

I dunno, how do you read the Excel HELP for trend? I'm sure that you have read it.

Skip,

_{Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE!}

 

[SkipVought]

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/e...emove-a-trendline-in-a-chart-HP010007461.aspx

Add, change, or remove a trendline in a chart
Applies to: Microsoft Office Excel 2007, Outlook 2007, PowerPoint 2007, Word 2007

You can add a trendline (trendline: A graphic representation of trends in data series, such as a line sloping upward to represent increased sales over a period of months. Trendlines are used for the study of problems of prediction, also called regression analysis.) or moving average (moving average: A sequence of averages computed from parts of a data series. In a chart, a moving average smooths the fluctuations in data, thus showing the pattern or trend more clearly.) to any data series (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.) in an unstacked, 2-D, area, bar, column, line, stock, xy (scatter), or bubble chart. A trendline is always associated with a data series, but a trendline does not represent the data of that data series. Instead, a trendline is used to depict trends in your existing data or forecasts of future data.

Note You cannot add a trendline to data series in a stacked, 3-D, radar, pie, surface, or doughnut chart.

Skip,

_{Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE!}

 

[SkipVought]

I'm trying to simplify how it looks not make it worse

Why not make each of the Data Series color, the same as the background color (that will make them "disappear") and have your Trend Lines various colors?

Skip,

_{Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE!}

 

[Ofina]

Thanks. I didn't read that particular page. It still doesn't seem to tell me if I really need both to actually show. It seems ridiculous to me that if the purpose of the moving average trendline is to smooth out the fluctuations and make it easier to read the trend, that I have to have the original line visible as well. To me that would make it even harder to read and interpret.

I'm trying to make my cluttered graph a bit easier to read. This is counter-productive as I am reading it.

Please tell me I'm misunderstanding something.

 

[SkipVought]

No misunderstanding at all.

Just try to understand how to use the features of the tool to your advantage.

Make the Data Series DISAPPEAR!!!

FYI, if you want some innovative, out-of-the-box ideas for charts, get John Walkenbach's Excel Charts.

Skip,

_{Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE!}

 

[Ofina]

That's a good idea. Sorry, you originally posted the idea while I was typing up my response, so I didn't see it.

 

[SkipVought]

If it were me, since I like to make charts interactive, using controls and VBA, I might play around with toggling between series data and trend data. It may or may not convey useful information to the viewer.

Skip,

_{Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE!}