How to Create a Dynamic Chart with Drop down List in Excel?
Last Updated :
12 Sep, 2022
The Dynamic Charts are the chart that gets updated itself when the range of underline data changes. In these types, of charts the dynamic range is used as the source data of the chart. So, as the data changes the dynamic range gets updated instantly which further updates the chart according to the new data range. These charts are very useful when we have a very large dataset and we need to perform a comparative analysis of that dataset. For example, in analyzing the revenue generated by different products of the company over a year. In this tutorial, we will look into a Dynamic chart with a drop-down list which will get updated itself, when we change the data of the drop-down list.
Making Dynamic Chart with Dropdown List
Now we are going to create a dynamic chart with a drop-down list for the revenue generated by different apps over a period of six months. (assume revenue in Cr.)
Step 1: Create Dataset
In this step, we will be inserting random revenue generated by various apps of google into our excel sheet. Below is the screenshot of the random data that we will use for the dynamic chart.
Step 2: Insert a drop-down list
In this step, we will insert a drop-down list. For this go to A separate cell > Data > Data Tools > Data Validations and select the data validation.
After clicking on the Data Validation button, it will give a popup that asks about validation criteria. For validation criteria, we need to add the following things
- Allow: List
- Source: Add all the month’s names by selecting them in a range.
After adding the validation criteria we need to click on the OK button. This will create a drop-down list in the selected cell(Here, Cell A8) with the data value of all six months.
Before moving further, we will highlight the selected cell(A8) with different colors in order to easily make its position visible. For this Select your cell(Here, cell A8) > Home > Cell Style and we will be choosing an orange color(You can choose whatever color you want).
Step 3: Create a data preparation table
In this step, we will prepare a separate table that is used to retrieve the data from the dataset using the drop-down list. This table will show the data underlying the drop-down list item and we will use this table to generate our dynamic chart. For this first, we need to copy all the app’s names to a different new cell(Here Cell J2-J9). Below is the screenshot attached for this.
Now, we need to find out which month is getting selected in the drop-down list. For we will use a different cell(Here, K1) and give this cell a reference to the drop-down list cell(Here, A8).
This operation will create a reference between the two cells(Here, Cell A8 and K1). So, the value of cell K1 will be updated according to the value selected in the drop-down list cell A8.
Step 4: Importing data into the preparation table
In this step, we will import the revenue data of each app into our preparation table. For this, we will use the index match formula. The formula for index matching is given below(You have to update the cell value in the formula according to your own dataset).
=INDEX($B$2:$H$6,MATCH(J2,$A$2:$A$6,0),MATCH($K$1,$B$1:$H$1,0))
Note: In above formula the dollar($) sign is used to fix the dataset, that can be done using F4 key. Just select your range of data(Here, the complete revenue dataset table) and press F4 key.
Below is the screenshot attached.
This will fetch a particular app data in the entire dataset and store that value in our preparation table. Now, we have to use the same formula for our remaining apps. For this we just need to double click on that particular cell it will auto-fill for the remaining rows.
Step 5: Creating a chart using the preparation table
We will prepare the dynamic chart using our preparation table in this step. For this Select table > Insert > Chats > Column chat. Below is the screenshot attached for this.
This will insert a chart that will show data according to the month selected in the drop-down list.

Similar Reads
Excel Dynamic Chart Linked with a Drop-down List
Dynamic Chart using drop-down list is very helpful when we deal with tons of grouped data and perform comparative analysis. For example, an E-commerce site sells different types of products. They can create a drop-down list for every product and in the chart, they can see the sales details in the la
4 min read
How to Create a Dynamic Pie Chart in Excel?
In Excel, Pie-chart is a graphical representation of different sections or sectors of a circle based on the proportion, it holds from the complete quantity. Pie-charts are generally categorized into two types: Static Pie-chart: A pie-chart created with static or fixed input values is known to be a s
3 min read
How to Create a Drop-Down List in Excel: 2 Easy Methods
How to Build Drop Down Menu in Excel: Quick StepsOpen MS Excel Spreadsheet >> Enter List Items Select Cell >> Go to Data Validation Choose List Option Set the Source >>Click OKHave you ever typed the same data repeatedly in Excel, only to make typos or inconsistencies? A drop-down
9 min read
How to Create Dynamic Chart Titles In Excel?
Excel is a tool that is generally used by accounting professionals for financial data analysis but can be used for different purposes. It can be used for data visualization, data analysis, and data management, which uses spreadsheets for managing, storing, and visualizing large volumes of data. Cell
2 min read
How to Make a Dynamic Dependent Drop-Down List in Excel
Dynamic Drop Down List in Excel 365: Quick StepsPrepare Your DataConvert the List into an Excel TableCreate the Drop-Down List Using Data ValidationTest the Dynamic Drop-Down ListCreating dynamic dependent drop-down lists in Excel is a powerful way to improve data entry accuracy and user experience,
5 min read
How to Create a Dynamic Chart Range in Excel?
A Dynamic chart range is the range of a data set which automatically updates on any modifications in the original data set. It is beneficial because at some point in time we need to add or delete data from the original data set. So, we want a method to automatically update the chart on performing an
5 min read
How to Edit, Copy and Delete Drop Down List in Excel
Excel is a versatile tool used globally for various data management tasks, including the use of drop-down lists to simplify data entry and ensure consistency. However, there might be times when you need to modify these lists to keep up with changes in data or requirements. These essential techniques
11 min read
How to Create a Dependent Drop Down List in Excel
Dependent Down Lists allow you to validate the data and make the data entry and data filtering very smooth and time-saving. Dependent Down Lists increase the chances of fewer errors in one's worksheet. The prerequisites for learning Dependent Drop Down List are Create from Selection and Drop Down Li
9 min read
How to Create a Pareto Chart in Excel (Static And Dynamic)?
A Pareto Chart is a type of chart that contains both, a line chart and a bar chart where the cumulative total is represented by the line chart. They are generally used to find the defects to prioritize, in order to observe the greatest overall improvement. The chart is named for the Pareto principle
3 min read
Compare Data in an Excel Chart using Drop Down Lists
An Excel chart is a graphical representation of a set of data that can be used for analyzing the data easily. A drop-down list allows the user to choose a specific item or element from a list. Here, we will compare and analyze data using an Excel chart with the help of a drop-down list. We will use
6 min read