Waterfall chart
A waterfall chart is a movement visualization chart, used very frequently in the finance domain to show cash flow or asset value movement from a period start to a period end. It is easy to read and can be the best way to present insights that involve showing a period start value, value changes, and a period end value.
Figure 8.40 is an example of a waterfall chart, showing a company’s annual cash flow position inclusive of monthly movements:
Figure 8.40 – Waterfall chart to show cash flow movements
One thing that you need to set every time you create a waterfall chart is the opening and closing bars differently from the movement bars. It is very easy to do. Just click twice on the opening or closing bar, right-click, pick Format Data Point, and then tick Set as total. See Figure 8.41 for an illustration of the steps:
Figure 8.41 – Setting the opening and closing bars in a waterfall chart...
