Compare Sales Forecast with Actual

I want to generate two superimposed line charts to represent, during a
particular month:
a) forecast sales (accumulated)
b) actual sales as they are taken (accumulated)

I want to be able to directly compare the progress of actual sales with the
forecast, and a prediction of month end sales.

The forecast sales values and expected dates are entered at the start of the
month. The actual sales are entered daily by checking a separate resource and
entering sales values and corresponding dates. Multiple sales values may be
forecast and taken on the same date.

By the end of the month, in an ideal scenario, all the forecast sales values
will have been entered in the actual column at the forecast date and the
actual total will match the forecast total. In practice, however, the actual
dates may vary from the forecast dates, and perhaps not all the sales will
have been taken. The shortfall should be obvious from the chart.

This sounds to me like two separate charts, because although the range of
dates (month start to month end) is the same for forecast and actual, I can't
use a single column date range for both.

Any advice please?
I'm sure this must have already been done, but I've looked at online
templates and not found anything suitable.

I'm using Excel 2003.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com

Rather than two separate charts, use one chart, of type XY, with two
separate sets of XY data. Make the chart with one set of XY data, then copy
the other set, select the chart, and use Paste Special to add the data as a
new series, with category data in the first column (or row).

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
_______


"RichUE" wrote in message
...
I want to generate two superimposed line charts to represent, during a
particular month:
a) forecast sales (accumulated)
b) actual sales as they are taken (accumulated)

I want to be able to directly compare the progress of actual sales with
the
forecast, and a prediction of month end sales.

The forecast sales values and expected dates are entered at the start of
the
month. The actual sales are entered daily by checking a separate resource
and
entering sales values and corresponding dates. Multiple sales values may
be
forecast and taken on the same date.

By the end of the month, in an ideal scenario, all the forecast sales
values
will have been entered in the actual column at the forecast date and the
actual total will match the forecast total. In practice, however, the
actual
dates may vary from the forecast dates, and perhaps not all the sales will
have been taken. The shortfall should be obvious from the chart.

This sounds to me like two separate charts, because although the range of
dates (month start to month end) is the same for forecast and actual, I
can't
use a single column date range for both.

Any advice please?
I'm sure this must have already been done, but I've looked at online
templates and not found anything suitable.

I'm using Excel 2003.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com

Jon

I tried your suggestion, but the new series seems to use the X range of the
pre-existing series.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com


"Jon Peltier" wrote:

Rather than two separate charts, use one chart, of type XY, with two
separate sets of XY data. Make the chart with one set of XY data, then copy
the other set, select the chart, and use Paste Special to add the data as a
new series, with category data in the first column (or row).

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
_______


"RichUE" wrote in message
...
I want to generate two superimposed line charts to represent, during a
particular month:
a) forecast sales (accumulated)
b) actual sales as they are taken (accumulated)

I want to be able to directly compare the progress of actual sales with
the
forecast, and a prediction of month end sales.

The forecast sales values and expected dates are entered at the start of
the
month. The actual sales are entered daily by checking a separate resource
and
entering sales values and corresponding dates. Multiple sales values may
be
forecast and taken on the same date.

By the end of the month, in an ideal scenario, all the forecast sales
values
will have been entered in the actual column at the forecast date and the
actual total will match the forecast total. In practice, however, the
actual
dates may vary from the forecast dates, and perhaps not all the sales will
have been taken. The shortfall should be obvious from the chart.

This sounds to me like two separate charts, because although the range of
dates (month start to month end) is the same for forecast and actual, I
can't
use a single column date range for both.

Any advice please?
I'm sure this must have already been done, but I've looked at online
templates and not found anything suitable.

I'm using Excel 2003.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com

What Jon said was:
"... add the data as a new series, with category data in the first column
(or row)."
The last phrase is significant.
--
David Biddulph

"RichUE" wrote in message
...
Jon

I tried your suggestion, but the new series seems to use the X range of
the
pre-existing series.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com


"Jon Peltier" wrote:

Rather than two separate charts, use one chart, of type XY, with two
separate sets of XY data. Make the chart with one set of XY data, then
copy
the other set, select the chart, and use Paste Special to add the data as
a
new series, with category data in the first column (or row).

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
_______


"RichUE" wrote in message
...
I want to generate two superimposed line charts to represent, during a
particular month:
a) forecast sales (accumulated)
b) actual sales as they are taken (accumulated)

I want to be able to directly compare the progress of actual sales with
the
forecast, and a prediction of month end sales.

The forecast sales values and expected dates are entered at the start
of
the
month. The actual sales are entered daily by checking a separate
resource
and
entering sales values and corresponding dates. Multiple sales values
may
be
forecast and taken on the same date.

By the end of the month, in an ideal scenario, all the forecast sales
values
will have been entered in the actual column at the forecast date and
the
actual total will match the forecast total. In practice, however, the
actual
dates may vary from the forecast dates, and perhaps not all the sales
will
have been taken. The shortfall should be obvious from the chart.

This sounds to me like two separate charts, because although the range
of
dates (month start to month end) is the same for forecast and actual, I
can't
use a single column date range for both.

Any advice please?
I'm sure this must have already been done, but I've looked at online
templates and not found anything suitable.

I'm using Excel 2003.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com

If you make an XY chart, not a line chart, this will not happen.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
_______


"RichUE" wrote in message
...
Jon

I tried your suggestion, but the new series seems to use the X range of
the
pre-existing series.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com


"Jon Peltier" wrote:

Rather than two separate charts, use one chart, of type XY, with two
separate sets of XY data. Make the chart with one set of XY data, then
copy
the other set, select the chart, and use Paste Special to add the data as
a
new series, with category data in the first column (or row).

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
_______


"RichUE" wrote in message
...
I want to generate two superimposed line charts to represent, during a
particular month:
a) forecast sales (accumulated)
b) actual sales as they are taken (accumulated)

I want to be able to directly compare the progress of actual sales with
the
forecast, and a prediction of month end sales.

The forecast sales values and expected dates are entered at the start
of
the
month. The actual sales are entered daily by checking a separate
resource
and
entering sales values and corresponding dates. Multiple sales values
may
be
forecast and taken on the same date.

By the end of the month, in an ideal scenario, all the forecast sales
values
will have been entered in the actual column at the forecast date and
the
actual total will match the forecast total. In practice, however, the
actual
dates may vary from the forecast dates, and perhaps not all the sales
will
have been taken. The shortfall should be obvious from the chart.

This sounds to me like two separate charts, because although the range
of
dates (month start to month end) is the same for forecast and actual, I
can't
use a single column date range for both.

Any advice please?
I'm sure this must have already been done, but I've looked at online
templates and not found anything suitable.

I'm using Excel 2003.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com

True, but if the initial chart was a line chart, the added series will still
assume the original series' X values.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
_______


"David Biddulph" groups [at] biddulph.org.uk wrote in message
...
What Jon said was:
"... add the data as a new series, with category data in the first column
(or row)."
The last phrase is significant.
--
David Biddulph

"RichUE" wrote in message
...
Jon

I tried your suggestion, but the new series seems to use the X range of
the
pre-existing series.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com


"Jon Peltier" wrote:

Rather than two separate charts, use one chart, of type XY, with two
separate sets of XY data. Make the chart with one set of XY data, then
copy
the other set, select the chart, and use Paste Special to add the data
as a
new series, with category data in the first column (or row).

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
_______


"RichUE" wrote in message
...
I want to generate two superimposed line charts to represent, during a
particular month:
a) forecast sales (accumulated)
b) actual sales as they are taken (accumulated)

I want to be able to directly compare the progress of actual sales
with
the
forecast, and a prediction of month end sales.

The forecast sales values and expected dates are entered at the start
of
the
month. The actual sales are entered daily by checking a separate
resource
and
entering sales values and corresponding dates. Multiple sales values
may
be
forecast and taken on the same date.

By the end of the month, in an ideal scenario, all the forecast sales
values
will have been entered in the actual column at the forecast date and
the
actual total will match the forecast total. In practice, however, the
actual
dates may vary from the forecast dates, and perhaps not all the sales
will
have been taken. The shortfall should be obvious from the chart.

This sounds to me like two separate charts, because although the range
of
dates (month start to month end) is the same for forecast and actual,
I
can't
use a single column date range for both.

Any advice please?
I'm sure this must have already been done, but I've looked at online
templates and not found anything suitable.

I'm using Excel 2003.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com

I changed the Chart Type to XY so now I can compare two XY plots - thanks.
I'm just puzzled that the points on each XY plot are not joined up. I used
the 'joined up' chart version. Specifically, two of the forecast series are
joined (3 not), and three of the actual series (3 not).
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com


"Jon Peltier" wrote:

If you make an XY chart, not a line chart, this will not happen.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
_______


"RichUE" wrote in message
...
Jon

I tried your suggestion, but the new series seems to use the X range of
the
pre-existing series.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com


"Jon Peltier" wrote:

Rather than two separate charts, use one chart, of type XY, with two
separate sets of XY data. Make the chart with one set of XY data, then
copy
the other set, select the chart, and use Paste Special to add the data as
a
new series, with category data in the first column (or row).

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
_______


"RichUE" wrote in message
...
I want to generate two superimposed line charts to represent, during a
particular month:
a) forecast sales (accumulated)
b) actual sales as they are taken (accumulated)

I want to be able to directly compare the progress of actual sales with
the
forecast, and a prediction of month end sales.

The forecast sales values and expected dates are entered at the start
of
the
month. The actual sales are entered daily by checking a separate
resource
and
entering sales values and corresponding dates. Multiple sales values
may
be
forecast and taken on the same date.

By the end of the month, in an ideal scenario, all the forecast sales
values
will have been entered in the actual column at the forecast date and
the
actual total will match the forecast total. In practice, however, the
actual
dates may vary from the forecast dates, and perhaps not all the sales
will
have been taken. The shortfall should be obvious from the chart.

This sounds to me like two separate charts, because although the range
of
dates (month start to month end) is the same for forecast and actual, I
can't
use a single column date range for both.

Any advice please?
I'm sure this must have already been done, but I've looked at online
templates and not found anything suitable.

I'm using Excel 2003.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com

You mean the markers are not connected by lines? If the cells between the
data points are actual blank cells (not "" returned by a formula), then go
to Tools menu Options Chart tab, and choose the Interpolate option for
dealing with blank cells.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services, Inc.
774-275-0064
208-485-0691 fax

http://PeltierTech.com/
_______


"RichUE" wrote in message
...
I changed the Chart Type to XY so now I can compare two XY plots - thanks.
I'm just puzzled that the points on each XY plot are not joined up. I used
the 'joined up' chart version. Specifically, two of the forecast series
are
joined (3 not), and three of the actual series (3 not).
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com


"Jon Peltier" wrote:

If you make an XY chart, not a line chart, this will not happen.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
_______


"RichUE" wrote in message
...
Jon

I tried your suggestion, but the new series seems to use the X range of
the
pre-existing series.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com


"Jon Peltier" wrote:

Rather than two separate charts, use one chart, of type XY, with two
separate sets of XY data. Make the chart with one set of XY data, then
copy
the other set, select the chart, and use Paste Special to add the data
as
a
new series, with category data in the first column (or row).

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
_______


"RichUE" wrote in message
...
I want to generate two superimposed line charts to represent, during
a
particular month:
a) forecast sales (accumulated)
b) actual sales as they are taken (accumulated)

I want to be able to directly compare the progress of actual sales
with
the
forecast, and a prediction of month end sales.

The forecast sales values and expected dates are entered at the
start
of
the
month. The actual sales are entered daily by checking a separate
resource
and
entering sales values and corresponding dates. Multiple sales values
may
be
forecast and taken on the same date.

By the end of the month, in an ideal scenario, all the forecast
sales
values
will have been entered in the actual column at the forecast date and
the
actual total will match the forecast total. In practice, however,
the
actual
dates may vary from the forecast dates, and perhaps not all the
sales
will
have been taken. The shortfall should be obvious from the chart.

This sounds to me like two separate charts, because although the
range
of
dates (month start to month end) is the same for forecast and
actual, I
can't
use a single column date range for both.

Any advice please?
I'm sure this must have already been done, but I've looked at online
templates and not found anything suitable.

I'm using Excel 2003.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com

Thanks, Jon. All the markers are connected now.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com


"Jon Peltier" wrote:

You mean the markers are not connected by lines? If the cells between the
data points are actual blank cells (not "" returned by a formula), then go
to Tools menu Options Chart tab, and choose the Interpolate option for
dealing with blank cells.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services, Inc.
774-275-0064
208-485-0691 fax

http://PeltierTech.com/
_______


"RichUE" wrote in message
...
I changed the Chart Type to XY so now I can compare two XY plots - thanks.
I'm just puzzled that the points on each XY plot are not joined up. I used
the 'joined up' chart version. Specifically, two of the forecast series
are
joined (3 not), and three of the actual series (3 not).
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com


"Jon Peltier" wrote:

If you make an XY chart, not a line chart, this will not happen.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
_______


"RichUE" wrote in message
...
Jon

I tried your suggestion, but the new series seems to use the X range of
the
pre-existing series.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com


"Jon Peltier" wrote:

Rather than two separate charts, use one chart, of type XY, with two
separate sets of XY data. Make the chart with one set of XY data, then
copy
the other set, select the chart, and use Paste Special to add the data
as
a
new series, with category data in the first column (or row).

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
_______


"RichUE" wrote in message
...
I want to generate two superimposed line charts to represent, during
a
particular month:
a) forecast sales (accumulated)
b) actual sales as they are taken (accumulated)

I want to be able to directly compare the progress of actual sales
with
the
forecast, and a prediction of month end sales.

The forecast sales values and expected dates are entered at the
start
of
the
month. The actual sales are entered daily by checking a separate
resource
and
entering sales values and corresponding dates. Multiple sales values
may
be
forecast and taken on the same date.

By the end of the month, in an ideal scenario, all the forecast
sales
values
will have been entered in the actual column at the forecast date and
the
actual total will match the forecast total. In practice, however,
the
actual
dates may vary from the forecast dates, and perhaps not all the
sales
will
have been taken. The shortfall should be obvious from the chart.

This sounds to me like two separate charts, because although the
range
of
dates (month start to month end) is the same for forecast and
actual, I
can't
use a single column date range for both.

Any advice please?
I'm sure this must have already been done, but I've looked at online
templates and not found anything suitable.

I'm using Excel 2003.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com

Now that I have a working chart (thanks to the forum members), am I 'stuck'
with an XY scatter chart to superimpose two different X-Y relationships? Is
it possible to change one of the scatter charts to a column style? When I've
tried this for the Actual chart, the columns use the X parameters from the
Forecast chart instead. Thius gives wrong information because the Actual
sales values are taken on different dates from Forecast sales.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com


"RichUE" wrote:

Thanks, Jon. All the markers are connected now.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com


"Jon Peltier" wrote:

You mean the markers are not connected by lines? If the cells between the
data points are actual blank cells (not "" returned by a formula), then go
to Tools menu Options Chart tab, and choose the Interpolate option for
dealing with blank cells.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services, Inc.
774-275-0064
208-485-0691 fax

http://PeltierTech.com/
_______


"RichUE" wrote in message
...
I changed the Chart Type to XY so now I can compare two XY plots - thanks.
I'm just puzzled that the points on each XY plot are not joined up. I used
the 'joined up' chart version. Specifically, two of the forecast series
are
joined (3 not), and three of the actual series (3 not).
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com


"Jon Peltier" wrote:

If you make an XY chart, not a line chart, this will not happen.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
_______


"RichUE" wrote in message
...
Jon

I tried your suggestion, but the new series seems to use the X range of
the
pre-existing series.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com


"Jon Peltier" wrote:

Rather than two separate charts, use one chart, of type XY, with two
separate sets of XY data. Make the chart with one set of XY data, then
copy
the other set, select the chart, and use Paste Special to add the data
as
a
new series, with category data in the first column (or row).

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
_______


"RichUE" wrote in message
...
I want to generate two superimposed line charts to represent, during
a
particular month:
a) forecast sales (accumulated)
b) actual sales as they are taken (accumulated)

I want to be able to directly compare the progress of actual sales
with
the
forecast, and a prediction of month end sales.

The forecast sales values and expected dates are entered at the
start
of
the
month. The actual sales are entered daily by checking a separate
resource
and
entering sales values and corresponding dates. Multiple sales values
may
be
forecast and taken on the same date.

By the end of the month, in an ideal scenario, all the forecast
sales
values
will have been entered in the actual column at the forecast date and
the
actual total will match the forecast total. In practice, however,
the
actual
dates may vary from the forecast dates, and perhaps not all the
sales
will
have been taken. The shortfall should be obvious from the chart.

This sounds to me like two separate charts, because although the
range
of
dates (month start to month end) is the same for forecast and
actual, I
can't
use a single column date range for both.

Any advice please?
I'm sure this must have already been done, but I've looked at online
templates and not found anything suitable.

I'm using Excel 2003.
--
Richard

Search the web and raise money for charity at www.everyclick.com