Excel 2010 Bible

Part III: Creating Charts and Graphics

504

Sparkline Types

Excel 2010 supports three types of Sparklines. Figure 21.1 shows examples of the three types of

Sparkline graphics, displayed in column H. Each Sparkline depicts the six data points to the left.

l Line: Similar to a line chart. As an option, the line can display with a marker for each data

point. The first group in Figure 21.1 shows line Sparklines, with markers. A quick glance

reveals that with the exception of Fund Number W-91, the funds have been losing value

over the six-month period.

l Column: Similar to a column chart. The second group in Figure 21.1 shows the same

data displayed with column Sparklines.

l Win/Loss: A “binary” type chart that displays each data point as a high block or a low

block. The third group shows win/loss Sparklines. Notice that the data is different. Each

cell displays the change from the previous month. In the Sparkline, each data point is

depicted as a high block (win) or a low block (loss). In this example, a positive change

from the previous month is a win, and a negative change from the previous month is a

loss.

FIGURE 21.1

Three groups of Sparklines.