Chapter 22: Creating Sparkline Graphics
22
Auto-Updating Sparklines
If a Sparkline uses data in a normal range of cells, adding new data to the beginning or end of
the range does not force the Sparkline to use the new data. You need to use the Edit Sparklines
dialog box to update the data range. (Choose Sparkline Tools Design ➪ Sparkline ➪ Edit Data.)
But if the Sparkline data is in a column within a table (created by choosing Insert ➪ Tables ➪
Table), the Sparkline will use new data that’s added to the end of the table.
Figure 22.14 shows an example. The Sparkline was created using the data in the Rate col-
umn of the table. When you add the new rate for September, the Sparkline will automati-
cally update its Data Range.
FIGURE 22.14
Creating a Sparkline from data in a table
Displaying a Sparkline for a Dynamic Range
The example in this section describes how to create a Sparkline that displays only the
most recent data points in a range. Figure 22.15 shows a worksheet that tracks daily sales.
The Sparkline, in merged cells E4:E5, displays only the seven most recent data points in
column B. When new data is added to column B, the Sparkline will adjust to show only the
most recent seven days of sales.