Excel Effects

The High-Low Chart Step-by-Step Tutorial

BY ALEX SHAW III, EXCEL EFFECTS

August 12, 2016

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Table of Contents

Introduction _____________________________________________________ 1

The Data ________________________________________________________ 2

Create the Chart __________________________________________________ 4

The Final Chart __________________________________________________ 13

Download the Chart ______________________________________________ 14

Introduction

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Introduction The high-low chart shows the difference or spread between two numbers. For example, if Company A

has an initial price of $20 and a closing price of $25, then the spread is $5.

It also does not matter if the first value is greater or less than the second value. The spread is still the

same. You are essentially subtracting the low value from the high value. However, the spread can be

positive or negative. Figure 1.1 shows the high-low spread of four companies.

Figure 1.1 High-low chart.

Sometimes, it is difficult to visualize the spread, particularly when the numbers are so close, as in Figure

1.1. However, you can still see the difference in performance for each company.

For example, looking at Figure 1.1, Company C has the largest value for high at $95.98, with a spread of

$34.76. Company D, on the other hand, has the lowest high value at $81.59; but, the highest spread at

$39.73. You can say, Company D performed the best or had the most improvement over the same

period of time. That is what this type of chart is good for.

Keep in mind though; a high-low chart should only represent the difference across a very short time

span, such as one day.

What You Need We use Microsoft Excel 2010 (Version 14.0) for Microsoft Windows in this tutorial.

It is suggested that you have Microsoft Excel 2007 or higher or compatible, to follow along successfully.

The Data

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The Data STEP 1. Open Microsoft Excel and start a new document (Ctrl-N).

The Raw Data STEP 2. Enter the company names, with their high and low values, as shown in Figure 2.1.

Figure 2.1 Raw data for high-low chart.

We will create a separate area for our chart data. You never know when someone will need to edit the

data. In most cases, it is better to have the chart data update automatically, based on the raw data.

The Chart Data STEP 3. Type in the four company names in column E, and create three header columns, labeled Low,

Diff, and High (see Figure 2.2).

Figure 2.2 Raw data and chart data labels.

Notice that we created a different arrangement for our chart data, with Low first and High last. We call

Low, Diff, and High, chart series. Note: Diff is short for difference.

STEP 4. For the Low series, enter =$C2 for Company A, and copy the formula down (see Figure 2.3).

Figure 2.3 Chart values for Low series.

=$C2

=$C3

=$C4

=$C5

The Data

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STEP 5. For the High series, enter =$B2 for Company A, and copy the formula down (see Figure 2.4).

Figure 2.4 Chart values for High series.

STEP 6. Under Diff, subtract Low from High, starting with =H2-F2, for Company A (see Figure 2.5).

Figure 2.5 Chart values for Diff series.

We are now ready to create our chart.

Create the Chart

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Create the Chart STEP 1. Select all the columns (E through H) you just created (see Figure 3.1).

Figure 3.1 Selected chart data.

STEP 2. Select Insert from the ribbon; click the Column option under Charts; and, select Stacked

Column under 2-D Column options (see Figure 3.2).

Figure 3.2 Insert ribbon with Column option selected.

Your chart should appear on the sheet, similar to ours in Figure 3.3.

Figure 3.3 Chart data with stack column chart.

Create the Chart

Excel Effects 5

STEP 3. On the chart, click on the Low series (see Figure 3.4).

Figure 3.4 Chart with Low series selected.

The ribbon should now display a highlighted area for Chart Tools, as in Figure 3.5.

STEP 4. Select Layout under Chart Tools; click Data Labels; and, select Inside End (see Figure 3.5).

Figure 3.5 Selected Layout ribbon under Chart Tools.

Create the Chart

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Data labels should appear for the Low series (see Figure 3.6).

Figure 3.6 Chart with data labels.

STEP 5. Select the Low series again (see Figure 3.4).

STEP 6. Under the Home ribbon, click the Fill Color icon and select the No Fill option (see Figure 3.7).

Figure 3.7 Home ribbon with chart fill colors.

You should no longer see the column bar for the Low series (see Figure 3.8).

Figure 3.8 Chart without column bar for Low series.

Create the Chart

Excel Effects 7

If you noticed, the High series skews the chart a little and pushes down Diff series, which represents the

spread. We need to fix that to maximize the viewport, so people can visualize the data better.

STEP 7. Click on the High series (see Figure 3.9).

Figure 3.9 Selected High series.

STEP 8. Select Format from Chart Tools and click the Format Selection option (see Figure 3.10).

Figure 3.10 Format ribbon with highlighted Format Selection option.

The Format Data Series (Figure 3.11) dialogue box is displayed.

Figure 3.11 Format Data Series dialogue box.

Create the Chart

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STEP 9. Click Series Options and select Secondary Axis as the Plot Series On.

Click Close (see Figure 3.12).

Figure 3.12 Format Data Series dialogue box with Secondary Axis selected.

You should see a secondary axis (Figure 3.13) for the High series. The High series is also shifted to the

secondary axis and is no longer part of the stacked column chart on the primary axis.

Figure 3.13 Chart with High series shifted to secondary axis.

Notice that the primary axis scale changed, enhancing the scale of the spread. You may not see the

spread due to the High series on the secondary value axis.

In addition, the maximum value and intervals on the secondary value axis may not be the same as the

primary value axis. For the chart to function properly, we need to make sure both axes mimic each

other.

Create the Chart

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STEP 10. Click on the secondary value axis (Figure 3.14).

Figure 3.14 Chart with selected secondary value axis.

STEP 11. Select Format from Chart Tools and click the Format Selection option (see Figure 3.10).

Figure 3.15 Format ribbon with highlighted Format Selection option.

The Format Axis (Figure 3.16) dialogue box is displayed.

STEP 12. Under Axis Options, for Minimum, click Fixed and enter 0 as the value.

Click Close (Figure 3.16).

Figure 3.16 Format Axis dialogue box.

If your maximum values do not match, adjust that too. See circle 4 in Figure 3.16.

Create the Chart

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Your High series is now on the same scale as the other series. Keep in mind; High is the same as Low

plus Diff.

STEP 13. Click on the High series (see Figure 3.17).

Figure 3.17 Chart with High series selected.

STEP 14. Select Design from Chart Tools and click Change Chart Type (Figure 3.18).

Figure 3.18 Chart Tools Design menu with Change Chart Type selected.

The Change Chart Type (Figure 3.19) dialogue box is displayed.

STEP 15. Under Change Chart Type, click Column and select Clustered Column. Click OK (Figure 3.19).

Figure 3.19 Change Chart Type dialogue box.

Create the Chart

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Although you cannot see it, you now have two types of charts in one chart; a stacked column chart on

the primary axis, and a clustered column chart on the secondary axis.

The reason why we converted the High series to a column chart is to be able to place the data labels on

the outside of the series. You do not have that option in a stacked column chart, unless you do some

sort of manual manipulation.

STEP 16. Click on the High series (see Figure 3.17).

STEP 17. Select Layout from Chart Tools; click the Data Labels option; and, select Outside End as the

label position (Figure 3.20).

Figure 3.20 Layout options under Chart Tools with Data Labels option selected.

Your chart now has labels outside the bar for the High series (Figure 3.21).

Figure 3.21 Chart with data labels for High series.

Create the Chart

12 Excel Effects

STEP 18. Remove the fill color from the High series. See page 6.

Your chart is completed!

Figure 3.22 High-low chart.

Remember, you may need to check your scales when the data changes or if you resize your chart, just to

make sure they are in sync. Otherwise, you are good to go.

Cosmetic Stuff Although the chart is essentially completed, there are some things I like to do to make the chart look

better. Here they are…

1. Hide the primary and secondary axes.

2. Remove the tick marks from the category (horizontal) axis.

3. Delete the gridlines.

4. Delete the legend; or, just keep just the Diff legend entry and rename, if necessary.

5. Change the color of the Diff series.

6. Remove border around plot area.

These are all optional items.

The Final Chart

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The Final Chart Below is how my chart looks after I apply all my cosmetic changes.

Figure 4.1 Formatted high-low chart.

Download the Chart

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Download the Chart You can download the high-low chart directly from our website, in our chart library.

http://www.exceleffects.com/pages/charts/index.php