Thread: How to make a Line Chart with shaded uncertainty band

In scenarios, the forecasted values often have a higher uncertainty the
further they are in the future (like a weather forecast). I would like to
show this "uncertainty band" in a line chart. Of course this can be done by
graphing two extra lines for optimistic and pessimistic values, or for any
limit values, but I would like to shade the area between these upper and
lower limits, preferably by a transparent colour so gridlines are still
visible. Anyone with an idea how to do this?
Thanks for your help,
Henk

Hi,

You can create the shading by using dummy data plotted as an area chart.
See here for some examples.

http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Charts/...f.html#XYArea2
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/P...cle.asp?ID=590
http://www.andypope.info/ngs/ng21.htm

You will not be able to get the transparent effect you need though,
unless you use a shape to provide the fill. See Jon Peltier's page to this.
http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Charts/VBAdraw.html

Cheers
Andy

HEK wrote:
> In scenarios, the forecasted values often have a higher uncertainty the
> further they are in the future (like a weather forecast). I would like to
> show this "uncertainty band" in a line chart. Of course this can be done by
> graphing two extra lines for optimistic and pessimistic values, or for any
> limit values, but I would like to shade the area between these upper and
> lower limits, preferably by a transparent colour so gridlines are still
> visible. Anyone with an idea how to do this?
> Thanks for your help,
> Henk

--

Andy Pope, Microsoft MVP - Excel
http://www.andypope.info

Thank you, Andy! I guess I can work it out now. I think I can keep the
gridlines with a transparent overlay chart but will have to figure it out.
Henk

"Andy Pope" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> You can create the shading by using dummy data plotted as an area chart.
> See here for some examples.
>
> http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Charts/...f.html#XYArea2
> http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/P...cle.asp?ID=590
> http://www.andypope.info/ngs/ng21.htm
>
> You will not be able to get the transparent effect you need though,
> unless you use a shape to provide the fill. See Jon Peltier's page to this.
> http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Charts/VBAdraw.html
>
> Cheers
> Andy
>
> HEK wrote:
> > In scenarios, the forecasted values often have a higher uncertainty the
> > further they are in the future (like a weather forecast). I would like to
> > show this "uncertainty band" in a line chart. Of course this can be done by
> > graphing two extra lines for optimistic and pessimistic values, or for any
> > limit values, but I would like to shade the area between these upper and
> > lower limits, preferably by a transparent colour so gridlines are still
> > visible. Anyone with an idea how to do this?
> > Thanks for your help,
> > Henk
>
> --
>
> Andy Pope, Microsoft MVP - Excel
> http://www.andypope.info
>