Step chart type in Excel

Keywords: Excel, step chart, delta x, delta y.

Version: Excel 97 or later

This article was originally posted on BloggPro.com.

It is possible with Excel to create a graph showing for example Δx and Δy between datapoints, simply a step chart according to picture 1 and 2 below. Doing this is easier than it might first seem. While Excel doesn´t have a built in step chart type one can use the x-y error bar function to work around this lacking feature.

Picture 1.

Picture 2.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Enter a series of x and y data (in my example I used y=log(x)) in column A and B as illustrated in picture 3. Select cells A1:B19 and create a x-y scatter plot and format it to your liking.

Picture 3.

2. In cell C1 type “x change” and in cell D1 type “y change”. These cells will contain the Δx and Δy values. Cell C2 must contain the x increment between the first and the second data point, (=A3-A2). Copy the formula in A2 to A3:A19

3. Cell D2 should be 0, since the y bar between the first and second data point will originate from the second data point. Thus, in cell D3 type =B2-B3 and copy to D4:D19.

4. To add error bars, right click on the data series in the chart and select Format data series. In the X error bars tab select Custom and select the x change column (range A2:A19, see picture 4). Do the same for the Y error bars.

Picture 4.

5. You should now have something similar to picture 5. If you want a pure step chart type (like in picture 2) you simply double click the data series, select the Patterns tab, remove the line and make the Markers No Color.

Picture 5.

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