2.1.15: Sparklines
- Page ID
- 56679
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Now that you have seen the value of data visualization in charts, we can address a much simpler and compact visualization: a sparkline. Sparklines are small graphs that are created to offer simple visual clues about the data graphed. Basically, they are tiny charts inside a single cell.
There are three types of sparklines:
- Line: visualizes the data in a line graph form
- Column: visualizes the data in column form, similar to the clustered column chart
- Win/Loss: visualizes the data as positive or negative based on color
The best use of a sparkline is to place it close to the data you are visualizing. You may be wonder what use a sparkline is since you know how to create a chart. Well, the great thing about sparklines is they automatically print when you print a worksheet. Charts do not print when you print a worksheet; they must be separately printed or moved to another program like Word or PowerPoint.
Sparklines are also great in that they automatically update if you change the data they display.
Sparklines are very small graphs or charts that exist within a cell. They are usually entered as a quick visual reference or representation of numerical data. There are three types of Sparklines available: Line, Column/Loss. Line & Column Sparklines provide the same type of visual reference of information as charts. Win/Loss Sparklines show an upward-facing chart for positive values and a downward-facing chart for negative values. To add a sparkline to a cell, highlight the cells in which you want to use their data to create a sparkline. Then click on the icon corresponding to the type of Sparkline you would like to create. Once selecting the Sparkline, a Sparkline dialogue box will appear, allowing you to select or change the cells to be used to generate the Sparkline and a cell to select to insert the Sparkline. When all data is entered, click OK and the Sparkline will be inserted in the appropriate cell.
Sparkline Design Tools
After a Sparkline is created, the user can adjust some of the design elements of the Sparkline by selecting the cell and then navigating to the Design Tab in the Excel Ribbon.
Using the Design tools, users may edit the Sparkline Data, change the type of Sparkline, and select whether to display different points/stages of data in the sparkline. Users may also adjust the Sparkline color.
Create Sparklines
To create your own sparklines, follow the steps below.
- Click on the cell where you want your sparkline to appear.
- Click on the Insert tab and find the Sparklines group. Select the type of sparkline you want to create.
- A new data box will appear. This is where you will enter the range of cells to be graphed by your sparkline.
- Hit Enter.
Note that like any other chart, you can change the display options of a sparkline, including colors and style, after you have created it. To change a sparkline, you will need to access the Design tab that appears under Sparkline Tools once you have created a sparkline. This tab will only appear if you have selected the cell with your sparkline in it.
Contributors and Attributions
- Sparklines. Authored by: Shelli Carter. Provided by: Lumen Learning. License: CC BY: Attribution(opens in new window)