Creating a progress bar in Numbers

Hi Lil,

Here are the same tables and chart, with the values adjusted to match your goal of 208 and current progress of 150.

The example was set up on the assumption you would be making periodic entries on rows of a Data table, as shown at the left.

If, as implied by your screen shot, you are making a single entry onto a two row table, make these changes:

• Discard the Data table (this will immediately cause error triangles to display in B2 and B3 of the table "Chart")
• Replace the formula in B1 with the date to be shown on the chart, entered directly
• Replace the formula in B2 with the current value to be charted (150)
• Edit the formula in B3 to change my assumed target value (1500) to your actual target value (208)
• In the Chart Inspector, Axis tab, set the Value axis maximum to 208, and the number of steps to 2, 4, or 8 to give whole number markings along the axis.
• Click on the chart to select it, then use the mouse to drag the handle (small square) at the centre of the upper or lower boundary to adjust the height of the bar to proportions similar to what is shown in my post.

When done, your example should look similar to this:

Regards,

Barry

HI Lil,

You could create a horizontal bar chart like the one below:

Data is collected on the Data chart.

The most recent values (which are assumed to be the largest values, as they are current totals) are transferred to the Chart table. and shown on horizontal stacked bar chart.

Formulas:

Data: None. All data is entered.

Chart:

B2: MAX(Data::B)

B3: 1500-B2

(1500 is the goal value, representing 100% of the goal having been reached.)

If you want this to also be the maximum value to be shown by the bar, change the formula in B2 to:

B2: MIN(MAX(Data::B2,1500)

To create the chart:

Select cells B2 and B3 of Chart (table)

Click Charts button and choose the 2D horizontal bar chart with 2-colour bars.

IF you get a chart with two separate bars, both the same colour:

• Click on the chart to select it.
• Click the Edit Data References
• Look to the bottom left of the document window and change
  "Plot Columns as Series" to
  "Plot Rows as Series" using the stepper arrows in the box with that text.

Click the left part of the bar, then choose the Style tab in the Format Inspector and change the Fill colour to your choice. I chose "Spring" from the pencil crayons set.

Click the right part of the bar and change the fill colour to the colour you want to display the 'yet to be accomplished' part of the bar. I chose Mercury to make that bar visible here. You may want to use white to show only the part of the bar showing progress to date.

Regards,

Barry