Microsoft Excel

3 minute read

Excel Challenge 28: Create a Column Chart With Conditional Formatting

Deb Ashby

Deb Ashby

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Do you consider yourself to be a TOTAL BOSS at creating engaging, functional charts? If so, it’s time to put your skills to the test. 

Everything you need to participate in this Excel challenge can be found on this page. To take part:

  • First, watch the challenge video and read the instructions below the video.
  • Review the previously published video(s) and article(s) on which the challenge is based.
  • Download the Excel worksheet you will use to complete the challenge tasks.
  • Put yourself to the test!

Download your challenge data

Download the file to get started!

Want to chat about your approach and process with other Excel-heads? Join our Slack channel to share your insights and questions with like-minded learners.


The challenge🧠

Here’s the scenario to be solved from the download file:

Every month the Sales Team logs their actual sales in an Excel spreadsheet. The Sales Team Manager would like to visualize how sales are performing against the monthly sales target of $2000. 

Tasks

It’s our job to create a clustered column chart with the following features:

  1. The actual sales should be represented by columns, but the sales target value should be represented as a line. 
  2. The chart should be conditional, i.e., the columns should change color depending on if they have met the sales target or not. 
  3. The chart should update when the sales target value is changed in cell C2. 

The challenge is to create a chart that meets the above criteria. 

Chart, bar chart

Description automatically generated

Would you like to test your knowledge further? Try to set the chart up so the columns in the data table can be hidden, but the chart data remains visible. 

How quickly can you complete this challenge? Fifteen minutes? Ten? Less?

Clues đź•µď¸Ź

If you’re just getting started with Excel, check out the following resources to learn how to create and customize Excel charts.

 

    Microsoft Excel   

    Read: GoSkills Ultimate Guide to Excel Charts    

 

If you’re already proficient with Excel, maybe you can tell us a creative way to solve this problem in our Slack channel.

Download your challenge data

Download the file to get started!

Have fun!


The solution đźŽ‰

We hope you enjoyed taking part in this challenge! Here is our expert's solution.


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If you enjoyed this challenge, you might be ready to jump into our Microsft Excel Dashboards course, taught by award-winning Microsoft MVP Ken Puls. Try for free.

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Join the Excel conversation on Slack

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Deb Ashby

Deb Ashby

Deborah is a Microsoft MVP and TAP Accredited Microsoft Instructor and Content Creator. She has had various careers in the IT industry since the mid 1990s. This includes various roles in IT training, including the starting of her own company where she focuses on creating video-led, Microsoft training courses for clients. She is an instructor at GoSkills with various Microsoft courses, including Excel for Business Analysts. In her spare time, she likes to swim, practice yoga, travel, and refine her photography skills. View her profile here.