Part III: Creating Charts and Graphics
486
New Feature
The data bars feature is improved significantly in Excel 2010. Data bars now display proportionally (just like a
bar chart), and there is now an option to display data bars in a solid color (no more forced color gradient) and
with a border. In addition, negative values can now display in a different color, and to the left of an axis. n
A simple data bar
Figure 20.4 shows an example of data bars. It’s a list of tracks on Bob Dylan albums, with the
length of each track in column D. I applied data bar conditional formatting to the values in column
D. You can tell at a glance which tracks are longer.On the CD
The examples in the section are available on the companion CD-ROM. The workbook is named data bars
examples.xlsx.
FIGURE 20.4The length of the data bars is proportional to the track length in the cell in column D.
Tip
When you adjust the column width, the bar lengths adjust accordingly. The differences among the bar lengths
are more prominent when the column is wider. n
Excel provides quick access to 12 data bar styles via Home ➪ Styles ➪ Conditional Formatting ➪
Data Bars. For additional choices, click the More Rules option, which displays the New Formatting
Rule dialog box. Use this dialog box to