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8. Charts

8.13 Dynamic Chart from a Table

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The simplest dynamic chart: build the chart on an Excel Table. New rows (a new month) appear in the chart automatically.

Steps in Excel

  1. Convert ChartData to a Table (Ctrl + T, name tblMonthly).
  2. Select the Table › Insert › Charts › Line.
  3. Add a new row "Jan" with values – the chart extends automatically.
  4. Filter the Table (e.g. hide Jul) – the chart hides filtered rows too (default Show data in hidden rows and columns is off).

Ravindra Bagale's Tip

Many students extend the chart's data range by hand every month, and a month gets missed. Build the chart on a Table – when a new row is added, the chart grows by itself. This is the simplest dynamic chart, and it can be your first answer in an interview to "how did you build a dynamic chart?"

Worked example — dynamic chart from a table

Why

Rohan Patil in Pune and Carlos Rivera abroad both need a clear, repeatable way to use dynamic chart from a table on a Orbit Logistics sheet without breaking totals.

What

Dynamic Chart From A Table is the Excel idea this page teaches. We will walk one tiny example end to end.

How

  1. Open a blank sheet. In A1 type a short label for dynamic chart from a table.
  2. Enter a small made-up value for Rohan Patil using $ where money appears.
  3. Add a second value for Carlos Rivera using € so you see mixed currencies stay numeric.
  4. Apply the method from this lesson step by step (menu or formula as shown above).
  5. Check the result still works inside SUM or a simple check cell.

Formula / action

Follow the formula or ribbon steps shown in this lesson (keep values numeric).
Result: The demo cell shows the expected result for Orbit Logistics's sample row.
Meaning: Once dynamic chart from a table is correct on one row, copy the same pattern down the column.

Practice tasks (10+)

Try these on a blank sheet. Open a hint only if you are stuck. No quiz — just practice.

1. Rebuild the smallest example of dynamic chart from a table on a blank sheet for GreenField Dairy.

Hint: Use only the steps on this page. Keep numbers numeric.

2. Change one input for Priya Deshmukh and confirm the result updates.

Hint: If the result is stuck, check absolute vs relative references.

3. Repeat the same steps with a £ or € value for Liam Murphy.

Hint: Formatting must not break SUM.

4. Write the result meaning in one plain sentence next to the cell.

Hint: Imagine explaining it to a new joiners.

5. Add a second row and fill the method down.

Hint: Double-click the fill handle if the pattern is consistent.

6. Break the example on purpose, then fix it using this lesson.

Hint: Common break: text instead of a number.

7. Apply dynamic chart from a table to a 5-row made-up GreenField Dairy table.

Hint: Keep column headers clear.

8. Check your answer with a simple total or COUNT.

Hint: A wrong total usually means a format or key mismatch.

9. Swap ₹ and $ on one column and re-check totals.

Hint: Stored values stay the same; only the display changes.

10. List two mistakes beginners make with dynamic chart from a table.

Hint: Look back at the tip box on this page.

11. Teach the steps out loud in under one minute.

Hint: Why → What → How.

12. Save the sheet as GreenFieldD_practice.xlsx.

Hint: Use a clear file name for class.

Loading practice tasks...

  1. Total clicks (Easy): Add up the "Clicks" column.
  2. Average spend (Easy): Average of the Spend (€) column, rounded to 2 decimals.
  3. Rows in Google (Easy): How many rows have Category/group "Google"? (the "Platform" column)
  4. Largest clicks (Easy): The largest value in the "Clicks" column.
  5. Clicks for Google (Medium): Total of the Clicks column where Platform is "Google".
  6. Google in Madrid (Medium): Total of the Clicks column where Platform is "Google" and City is "Madrid".
  7. Best in Google (Medium): Largest value in the "Spend (€)" column where "Platform" is "Google".
  8. Value of row 2 (Medium): Multiply the first-row Clicks by the first-row Spend (€).
  9. Look up Liam O'Brien (Medium): The Clicks for "Liam O'Brien" (use a lookup on the "Name" column).
  10. Total value (Hard): Sum of "Clicks" times "Spend (€)" for all rows.
  11. Share of Google (Hard): Share of the "Clicks" column that is "Google", rounded to 3 decimals.
  12. Total "Clicks" for Google (Hard): Add up the "Clicks" column for the rows where "Platform" is "Google".
  13. Above average? (Hard): "Above" if the "Spend (€)" value in the first row is above the average of the "Spend (€)" column, else "Below".

See all practice tasks in the Task Hub →

Quick revision cards

Three standalone cards. Each one explains the idea with its own example. Scan the QR to open this lesson.

Revision card 1: What is Dynamic Chart From A Table?
Card 1: What is Dynamic Chart From A Table? · Download PNG
Revision card 2: Tiny example — Dynamic Chart From A Table
Card 2: Tiny example — Dynamic Chart From A Table · Download PNG
Revision card 3: Checklist — Dynamic Chart From A Table
Card 3: Checklist — Dynamic Chart From A Table · Download PNG