Dynamic chart range using INDIRECT: That function is not valid (despite range highlighted)

Question

I\'m trying to create a chart with a range built dynamically using the INDIRECT function. Excel does recognize the range I am creating using INDIRECT

Answer 1

I use OFFSET to create a defined name formula so that I may define all the ranges for the data, allowing me to have a starting a ending date (or the beginning and ending position of any data set).

For a simple graph, I define the name CategoryLabels as follows:

= OFFSET($A$5;  (InicitialMonth-1);  0;  LastMonth - (InitialMonth-1))

and DataCars as follows:

= OFFSET($B$5;  (InicitialMonth-1);  0;  LastMonth - (InitialMonth-1))

You will have to define as many names as Series you want to include, following the same procedure. In this simple case, I only included Car sales.

Initial Month and Last Month are Range Names defined for single cells used to indicate which months of the graph will be included (from starting to ending months).

Remember, as explained by Sean Cheshire and others, that to use the names for the chart values, the name of the spreadsheet must be included.