In Excel, you can use data bars as a powerful visual aid to help people visualize the data you’re presenting.
Data bars are a type of conditional formatting that varies depending on the data being displayed; the larger the number, the longer the bar in the cell.
Although data bars tend to be a more advanced feature, they are actually very simple to add to a spreadsheet in Excel with just a few clicks.
- Pick your cells in Excel and then choose data bars from Conditional Formatting to create data bars.
- Data bars are a type of conditional formatting in which the length of the bar is determined by the cell value.
- Color scales, which code cells based on their value in comparison to other cells, can also be generated.
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So, How to create data bars in Excel?
- Choose the cells where you want the data bars to appear. A single cell, a set of cells, a table, or the entire sheet may be chosen.
- Pick the “Home” tab from the ribbon at the top of the Excel pane.
- Pick “Conditional Formatting” from the drop-down menu.
- Pick “Data Bars” from the Conditional Formatting menu, then the style you like. You can choose between a gradient or a solid fill.
If you want to further refine your data bars, choose “More Rules…” Here you can fine-tune how the data bars will appear. By default, “Format all cells based on their values” is selected, but you can, for example, choose “Format only cells that contain” and specify a numeric range for the data bars to appear. After you edit the rule, click “OK.”
Now, How can you create color scales in Excel?
You can also use color scales instead of data bars if you prefer. Color scales are similar to data bars in that they conditionally format the values in the array based on where they fall within the total spectrum rather than using a single color. Lower numbers, for example, maybe shaded in blue, while higher numbers may be shaded in red.
To use color scales, follow these steps:
- Pick the “Home” tab from the ribbon at the top of the Excel window.
- Pick “Conditional Formatting” from the drop-down menu.
- Pick “Tone Scales” from the Conditional Formatting menu, then the color type you want.
