Create a diagram from Excel data

With the SankeyArt add-in for Excel, you can turn cells in your spreadsheet into a Sankey diagram. The diagram stays linked to the cells, so it changes when your numbers change.

You need the add-in installed and a SankeyArt subscription with a free diagram slot. See Install the Excel or PowerPoint add-in.

Prepare your data#

Put your flows in 3 or 4 columns, one row per flow:

• From and To are the names of the nodes. Rows with the same name meet at that node.
• Amount is the size of the flow. It must be a number, not text.
• Comparison is optional. Use it for last year's amount to show year-over-year changes, see Year-over-year comparison.
• Don't select a header row. The add-in asks you to leave it out.
• Select up to 1,000 rows, in one continuous block of cells.

For more on how rows turn into a diagram, see Input data structure. You can also start from our Excel template for the add-in.

Create the diagram#

1. Open the SankeyArt add-in.
2. Select Create from my Excel data.
3. In your spreadsheet, select the cells with your data.
4. Check the preview in Draft from your selection.
5. Select Create and refine.

The diagram opens in the editor, where you can change its labels, colors and layout. See Labels and number formats and Colors, fonts and branding.

You can also create a diagram from your data from these places:

• In Saved diagrams: Create new > From my Excel data.
• In the editor: File > New > From data in this spreadsheet.

If your selection can't be used#

If something is wrong with the cells, the add-in shows This selection can't be used yet and lists what to fix, for example:

• You selected too few or too many columns. Use From, To, Amount and optionally Comparison. If your data is a wider table, rearrange it so that each row describes one flow.
• A row looks like a header. Leave it out of the selection.
• An amount is stored as text. Convert it to a number, then select the cells again.
• Some rows are empty. Select only the rows with your data.
• You selected several separate ranges. Select one continuous block of cells.

Fix the cells and select them again. Create and refine works once the selection is fine.

Update the diagram#

Change the values in the linked cells. The diagram updates with them.

In the add-in, the Data editor shows which cells the diagram uses, for example Sheet1!A1:D12. You edit the data in the spreadsheet, not in the add-in.

If you change a cell while the add-in is open, Excel may show Cell editing detected. Press Enter to finish editing the cell, then select Reload diagram.

Use other cells#

1. In the Data editor, select the cell address, for example Sheet1!A1:D12.
2. Select the new cells in your spreadsheet.
3. Select Apply.

To go back to the cells you used before, select the address next to Previous source.

Show only the diagram#

When you're done editing, select Present to show only the diagram. The shortcut is Ctrl+Alt+P on Windows and ⌥⌘P on a Mac. Press Esc to go back to the editor.

To use the same diagram in a presentation, see Insert and update diagrams in PowerPoint.