12/5/2023 0 Comments Waterfall chart![]() ![]() This was calculated based on the sum of all the previous transactions. In the case of our example, the final value (September 30) is shown in the color gray and is the closing balance in the account. This is useful for comparing start and end values. Perhaps the second most noticeable feature of waterfall charts is that the final column usually represents the total or subtotal of all the previous values and is shown in a special color. Total or subtotal displayed as final data point On September 16, a significant decrease resulted in the bank balance being just above $2000 ($2,169.52 to be exact). When there is a decrease in value, the current status of the total is shown at the bottom of the orange bar (see example below). Since we already understand how to read bars representing positive values, let’s see how waterfall charts help us to form a mental image when negative values are shown.Īn increase in values is shown by the blue bars, with the cumulative total being at the top of the blue bar. Cumulative data pointsĮach data point is shown in comparison to the data point immediately preceding it, with negative values in a different color from positive values.īelow is a waterfall chart of banking transactions which includes deposits and withdrawals, so both positive and negative values are shown. ![]() By showing only the difference between two data points at a time, waterfall charts highlight the changes between one date and the next. If you imagine each floating datapoint as extending all the way down to the X axis, the waterfall chart would simply be a cumulative column chart. The most noticeable feature of waterfall charts is their “floating” columns. Some distinctive features are discussed below. Waterfall charts look a bit unusual compared to the more common pie, bar, and line charts. Each subsequent value (with the exception of the final value - Total Sales) only highlights the difference between the previous value and the current. The chart above starts with the October 1 value (56 sales). The independent variables (dates) are shown on the horizontal axis, while the dependent variables (sales units) are shown on the vertical axis. The first seven values are shown in blue since they represent an increase in sales, as indicated by the legend. Once you understand that, we’ll graduate to a chart with both negative and positive values. While positive-only values are not typical of waterfall charts, this example is presented to show how the data is represented. In our first example, the source data is a table showing daily sales, so there are only positive values. However, they can also be applied in other settings such as sales, inventory, and education management to track and understand the effects of negative and positive values on cumulative performance. Right-click on any column in the chart and then choose ‘Format Data Series…’ from the shortcut menu.Waterfall charts have been typically used to track important values such as net profit or cash flow over time.Right-click on the Legend and select ‘Delete’ from the shortcut menu.With the chart selected, go to the Chart Tools ‘Layout’ tab in the Ribbon and select ‘Chart Title’ and ‘Axis Titles’ labels from the ‘Labels’ group.By using the ‘Switch Row / Column’ button if necessary, ensure that the Legend Entries are the titles from the top row of the data table (row 32 in our example) and that the Horizontal (Category) Axis Labels are the descriptions from the first column (column D in our example).Right-click on the chart and select ‘Select Data…’ from the shortcut menu.On the ‘Insert’ tab of the Ribbon, select ‘Column’ in the Charts group and the ‘Stacked Column’ chart (second one on first row) from the 2-D column charts (ALT + N + C + Right Arrow + ENTER). ![]() The distinction in whether the movement is positive or negative is so that positives may be coloured one way and negatives another. This is used as an invisible column to ‘prop down’ the movement that will be displayed. In either case, the balance used must not be positive. Together with column I, this will ensure a block appearing to go upwards will calculate correctly if the previous cumulative balance was negative.Įxactly the opposite of column I, if the particular movement is positive, this takes the current movement’s cumulative balance if not, it takes the previous movement’s cumulative balance. Similar to column J, if the movement is positive, display as a positive number the smaller of the movement and the current movement’s cumulative balance. ![]() This is used as an invisible column to ‘prop up’ the movement that will be displayed. In either case, the balance used must be positive. If the particular movement is positive, this takes the previous movement’s cumulative balance if not, it takes the current movement’s cumulative balance. ![]()
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