Stacked chart to show progress

Hi Everyone,

I have searched the internet and can't seem to make any of the suggestions work. . . so hopefully someone here can help!

I want to create a stacked chart to show monthly progress towards a goal and previous income that has carried over. The idea is best explained as a thermometer chart--"contract fees" should grow each month (not show number for that month, but year to date total for each month) and "carryover" would decrease over time (showing use of previous project budgets deteriorating over time). Does that make sense to anyone? Here's the data I would be using:

Year Month Contract Fees Carryover
2013 Jan $17,901.66 $386000
2013 Feb $630.00 $380000
2013 Mar $22,328.10 $380000
2013 Apr $52,012.80 $370000
2013 May $208,017.90 $360,000
2013 Jun $12,590.00 $331,047
2013 Jul $50,100.00 325000


Thanks!

Bryn,

Thank you for your reply. I see you have a third number there. Can you tell me where you got that?

Thanks!

The third column provides the running total so the thermometer shows totals.
It has a formula in F9 =C9+F8 (from memory, I'm on a different PC now). Fill down for subsequent rows.
It's also why the headings are a line higher than would be obvious, leaving the cell F8 empty for the first row.

Okay, so I finally was able to try what you said and here is what I have:

Chart for Excel Forum 20130807.jpg

I don't see my picture. . . I can't seem to upload it. Well, it's just a clustered column chart. I'm going to do some poking around, but in case you see this first. . . I wanted to have the Fees and Carryover columns stacked and the Running total behind them.

Thank you for your help!

Originally Posted by CalisArtStudio

. . . I wanted to have the Fees and Carryover columns stacked and the Running total behind them.

I expect you finished now, but just in case, or for others who see this...
This is achieved by selecting the Running series and changing its chart type to unstacked. You may have to tweak other things depending on how it looks; possibly secondary axis, possibly bring to front or move to back (move the data source references in the data sources dialog.

Good luck.

Thank you! Finally finished it and it worked great.

You're welcome. Don't forget to mark it solved (and Reputation points are always welcome).