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Numeric Data Columns

When you select numeric data columns (Continuous, Integer, or Count), each column header becomes a bar name and the values in that column are aggregated into the bar height. All numeric columns appear together in a single chart.

Goal

Compare total sales across three quarters, with each quarter's column becoming one bar.

Sample Data

Download BarChart_NumericDataColumns.xlsx

Excel Protected View

When you open downloaded files, Excel displays a Protected View warning. You must click Enable Editing before you can use Quantum XL with the file.

Excel Protected View warning

Alternatively, you can copy the sample data from the table below and paste it directly into a new Excel workbook.

Q1 Sales Q2 Sales Q3 Sales
1250 1380 1520
980 1150 1300
1100 1290 1410
1340 1450 1600
1050 1200 1350
1180 1320 1480
1420 1510 1650
990 1080 1220
1275 1400 1550
1310 1360 1490

Each column contains 10 sales figures for one quarter. Quantum XL will aggregate each column into a single bar using the selected function (Sum by default).

Steps

  1. Launch the analysis

    From the Excel ribbon, select QXL Stat Tools → Analysis Tools → Bar Chart.

  2. Select your data

    Select cells A1:C11 (the header row plus all 10 data rows across all three columns).

  3. Configure the analysis

    In the Bar Chart dialog:

    • Data Columns: "Q1 Sales", "Q2 Sales", and "Q3 Sales" should all be checked

    The Function defaults to Sum for numeric data. You can change it to Mean, Median, Min, Max, or Standard Deviation in the Options tab. Click Finish to generate the chart.

Result

Quantum XL creates a single chart with three bars — one for each quarter. The bar heights show the sum of all sales in each column:

  • Q1 Sales: 11,895
  • Q2 Sales: 13,140
  • Q3 Sales: 14,570

The chart clearly shows sales increasing from Q1 to Q3. To see averages instead of totals, change the Function to Mean in the Options tab.