Excel 2010 Bible

Part III: Creating Charts and Graphics

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The Sparklines are linked to the data, so if you change any of the values in the data range, the

Sparkline graphic will update.

FIGURE 21.3

Use the Create Sparklines dialog box to specify the data range and the location for the Sparkline graphics.

Tip
Most of the time, you’ll create Sparklines on the same sheet that contains the data. If you want to create
Sparklines on a different sheet, start by activating the sheet where the Sparklines will be displayed. Then, in the
Create Sparklines dialog box, specify the source data either by pointing or by typing the complete sheet refer-
ence (for example, Sheet1A1:C12). The Create Sparklines dialog box lets you specify a different sheet for the
Data Range, but not for the Location Range. n

Most of the time, you’ll probably create a group of Sparklines — one for each row or column of data. A

worksheet can hold any number of Sparkline groups. Excel remembers each group, and you can work

with the group as a single unit. For example, you can select one Sparkline in a group, and then modify

the formatting of all Sparklines in the group. When you select one Sparkline cell, Excel displays an

outline of all the other Sparklines in the group.

You can, however, perform some operations on an individual Sparkline in a group:

l Change the Sparkline’s data source. Select the Sparkline cell and choose Sparkline Tools ➪

Design ➪ Sparkline ➪ Edit Data ➪ Edit Single Sparkline’s Data. Excel displays a dialog box

that lets you change the data source for the selected Sparkline.

l Delete the Sparkline. Select the Sparkline cell and choose Sparkline Tools ➪ Design ➪

Group ➪ Clear ➪ Clear Selected Sparklines.

Both operations are available from the shortcut menu that appears when you right-click a Sparkline cell.

You can also ungroup a set of Sparklines by selecting any Sparkline in the group and choosing Sparkline

Tools ➪ Design ➪ Group ➪ Ungroup. After you ungroup a set of Sparklines, you can work with each

Sparkline individually.

Understanding Sparkline Groups