Creating a chart with critical zones

Excel 365 2016
Periodical processes like volume of support service calls often have critical zones that indicate a serious problem that need to be investigated and mitigated. This tips shows how to reveal and emphasis those critical zones for analysis.
The Chart with critical zones Excel 2013

E.g., if you have data like this:

Data for Chart with critical zones Excel 2013

To create the chart with broken data, do the following:

   1.   Add additional data for this chart - in this example:

  • column E to show data before broken line
  • column F to show data after broken data
  • column G to show the biggest data
  • column H for broken line.
Additional Data Broken Chart Excel 2013

   2.   Select all necessary data - in this example, C5:C14, E5:H14.

   3.   On the Insert tab, in the Charts group, select launch or click on the Recommended Charts button:

Charts in Excel 2013

   4.   In the Insert Chart dialog box, on the All Charts tab, select the Combo group and then choose Custom Combination:

  • For all series choose Scatter with Smooth Line chart type
  • For Series 3 and Series 4 check Secondary Axis
Combo Chart in Excel 2013

   5.   Double-click in the primary vertical axis and then in the Format Axis task pane make all changes you prefer for this series. For this example:

Primary vertical axis in Excel 2013

   6.   Double-click in the secondary vertical axis and then in the Format Axis task pane make all changes you prefer for this series. For this example:

Secondary vertical axis in Excel 2013

   7.   To hide parts of the lines, select the part of the line and choose Gradient Fill for it:

Gradient Fill in Excel 2013

   8.   Make adjustments for Vertical Axes, do one of the following:

  • To show both Axes, hide non-used data - see more how to hide points on the chart axis:
    Hidden values in Axes Fill in Excel 2013
  • To hide values of both Axes, on the Format Axis task pane, on the Axis Options tab, in the Labels group, for Label Position choose None for every axis:
    Hide values in Axis options in Excel 2013

    Instead of hidden values you can add a text box this data you prefer.

Make any other adjustments to get the look you desire.

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