Cumulative formatting provides a powerful way to visualize the progression of certain metrics over time, allowing you to see how values build up cumulatively.
How Cumulative Formatting Works
Let’s break this down with an example of tracking the number of closed tasks over the past several months, grouped by month:
1) Tracking Progress Over Time:
When you format the Count column as "Cumulative," it shows the total count up to and including each month. This allows you to see how many tasks have been closed not just in that particular month, but in all previous months combined.
2) Setting Up Cumulative Formatting:
To apply this formatting, click on the count column and select "Formatting options."
Enable the "Cumulative" option to change how the data is displayed.
You can also enable the "Show chart and table" option for better clarity of your data.
3) Visualizing with a Chart:
Once cumulative formatting is enabled, the chart will display a cumulative total for each month. For example, in April, the value will reflect the total number of tasks closed from December through April, giving you a clear view of your progress.
Tip: you can adjust the chart style in the upper right.
Example in Practice
Consider you’re tracking closed tasks on a monthly basis over several years:
Without cumulative formatting: Each month displays only the tasks closed during that specific month. For example, in April 2023, you would see only the tasks closed in April 2023.
With cumulative formatting: The data for each month shows the total number of tasks closed from the start of the first tracked month up to the current month. For example, the chart below will display the cumulative total of all tasks closed by April 2023 (and beyond), helping you see how your completed tasks accumulate over time. This allows for a clearer understanding of long-term progress and trends on a monthly scale.
