Thread: Can I avoid plotting 'non-empty' cells

Hi
I am plotting data such as the following on a simple line chart...

Jan Feb Mar Apr May June
10 11 12 0 0 0

The future month (Apr, May , June) each contain a formula which returns either zero or "" as no data is available.

The problem is that I don't want the future months to be plotted as zero, which is what happens. There is an option in Excel to avoid plotting 'empty' cells - but these cells are not empty as they contain a formula.

Of course, I could simply choose Jan:Mar as the chart range and update it each month, but I know I'll forget to do it. Alternatively, I could delete the formula and paste them in each month, but that's still relying on me to remember.

Thanks

germullen:

Here is a link to a post that I have on handling missing data.

http://processtrends.com/pg_charts_missing_data.htm

In your If formula, replace your "" with NA(). This will place a #N/A in
your future cells. Excel recognizes #N/A and will not plot them. that should
solve your problem.

Bernard Liengme also has a post on handling missing data..

http://www.stfx.ca/people/bliengme/E...issingData.htm


...Kelly

koday@processtrends.com



"germullen" <germullen.263oxp_1144760109.1661@excelforum-nospam.com> wrote
in message news:germullen.263oxp_1144760109.1661@excelforum-nospam.com...
>
> Hi
> I am plotting data such as the following on a simple line chart...
>
> Jan Feb Mar Apr May June
> 10 11 12 0 0 0
>
> The future month (Apr, May , June) each contain a formula which returns
> either zero or "" as no data is available.
>
> The problem is that I don't want the future months to be plotted as
> zero, which is what happens. There is an option in Excel to avoid
> plotting 'empty' cells - but these cells are not empty as they contain
> a formula.
>
> Of course, I could simply choose Jan:Mar as the chart range and update
> it each month, but I know I'll forget to do it. Alternatively, I could
> delete the formula and paste them in each month, but that's still
> relying on me to remember.
>
> Thanks
>
>
> --
> germullen
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> germullen's Profile:
> http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=30626
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=531874
>

That's brillant, thanks a lot

Ger