Ampler Charts lets you switch what a CAGR or difference decorator shows — a percentage or an absolute value — and add a custom number format.
Quick answer: Left-click a CAGR or level-difference label, click Label content, and select % or Absolute; type inside the label to add a custom format such as a $.
How to use it
Switch a decorator between percentage and absolute.
- Left-click on a CAGR or level-difference label.
- Click Label content and select either % or Absolute.
- To add a custom number format, click inside the text of the label and type, for example a $.
The decorator then shows the change as a percentage or as an absolute value, in the format you choose.
When to use it
Show the difference as a percentage when the relative change is the message, or absolute when the size of the change matters — and match the format (currency, decimals) to the rest of the exhibit.
How consultants use it
How a change is expressed shapes how it’s read — a percentage and an absolute tell different stories. Three habits apply:
- Relative or absolute: the decorator shows a % for relative change or an absolute for size
- Framed for the message: the expression is chosen to match the point being made
- Consistent format: currency and decimals match the chart’s other labels
Switching a decorator’s content frames a change the way the message needs.
Tips & best practices
- Use % for relative change, absolute for magnitude — or both where it helps.
- Match the number format to the chart’s other labels.
- Keep the choice consistent across comparable charts.
Availability
Part of Ampler Charts, included in Ampler for PowerPoint and the Ampler Suite, on Windows desktop PowerPoint.
Frequently asked questions
How do you show a chart difference as a percentage instead of a value?
Left-click the CAGR or difference label in Ampler Charts, click Label content, and select % (or Absolute for a value).
Can a chart decorator show both percentage and absolute?
You choose per decorator via Label content — % for relative change or Absolute for the value — and can add a custom format by typing in the label.
Should a difference be shown as a percentage or absolute?
Use a percentage when the relative change is the point, and an absolute when the size of the change matters.
How do you add a currency sign to a decorator label?
Click inside the label text and type the format, for example a $ prefix.