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Editor · Recipes

Make a consulting-grade waterfall.

Polish a messy waterfall into a consulting slide: set column types, brand the fills, and connect net income to the prior-year bar with a level arrow.

Step 1: Open the waterfall in the editor

Open a waterfall chart so the editor is active. This works the same in Hub, Embed, Google Slides, and PowerPoint.

Step 2: Left-click a column

Left-click a column on the chart. The column toolbar opens with Column Type and Fill.

Step 3: Left-click the Column Type

Left-click Start for the opening total and the prior-year comparison bar on the right, Contribution for moves, or Total for subtotals and the final result. The bar updates immediately.

Step 4: Left-click Fill and pick a color

Left-click Fill, then Left-click a color. Use one fill for the start, another for decreases, a neutral fill for totals, and a distinct fill for the right-hand comparison bar.

Step 5: Repeat for the remaining columns

Work left to right. Left-click each column, set its Column Type, then set its Fill.

Step 6: Right-click the chart background

Right-click an empty area of the chart background. Avoid bars and labels. The chart context menu opens.

Step 7: Left-click Add level arrow

Left-click Add level arrow. Chartbuddy draws a level arrow on the chart.

Step 8: Left-click the level arrow

Left-click the level arrow to select it. Endpoint handles appear.

Step 9: Drag the endpoints into place

Left-click and drag the end handle to the prior-year bar on the right, then drag the start handle to the current net column so the gap is obvious.

Watch the short clip above for the full click path.

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