--- title: "Waterfall charts" description: "Build waterfalls, calculate totals, move connectors, and upgrade classic charts" --- A waterfall explains how a starting value changes through positive and negative steps. Use it for cash flow, costs, budget movements, and subtotals. A waterfall shows the steps between opening and closing values ## Insert and edit a waterfall Choose a waterfall from **Charts** in the **Grunt** ribbon. Double-click the inserted chart to open its Data Editor. You can also [connect the chart to Excel](/powerpoint-add-in/user/charts#connect-a-chart-to-excel). Edit waterfall categories and values in the Data Editor ## Calculate totals with S and s In the Data Editor: - Capital `S` calculates a total across all series. - Lowercase `s` calculates a total for an individual series, which is useful in a stacked waterfall. Use a build-down waterfall when you want to start with a total and show deductions reducing it. A build-down waterfall starts with a total and shows deductions Add multiple series and use per-series totals to create a stacked waterfall. A stacked waterfall separates each step into multiple components ## Connectors and pre-calculated totals Connectors show how the calculation progresses between columns. If Excel already supplies a numeric total, Grunt may initially treat it as another change. Click the connector leading to the total and drag its anchor from the bottom of the total column to the top. This makes the connection meet the column's net value instead of adding it as another step. Move the incoming connector to the top of a pre-calculated total ## Add a reference column To show a budget or benchmark alongside the waterfall, enter its value, select its connector, and press `Delete`. The column becomes a separate reference instead of contributing to the running calculation. A disconnected reference column sits beside the waterfall ## Create a floating subtotal Move existing connector anchors to define the subtotal. Right-click the chart and choose **Add Connector** if you need another connection. Check the connector at the subtotal's base so that the subtotal is not counted again in the final total. Move and add connectors to create a floating subtotal Floating sums display absolute totals. For example, a subtotal of `25` displays as `25`, even when the segment represents a negative change. This also prevents that sum label from receiving negative-number color formatting. To start over, right-click the chart and choose **Reset Connectors**. ## Upgrade classic waterfall charts Waterfalls created before Grunt `2025.2` can be upgraded to Advanced Waterfall from the edge menu. Upgrade when you need movable connectors; you do not have to upgrade every old chart. 1. Select a classic waterfall and click the upgrade control in the edge menu. 2. Choose to upgrade that chart first. 3. Review its totals, connectors, excluded segments, and styling before upgrading more charts. The upgrade dialog offers one-chart or all-chart conversion ### Replace force-to-baseline behavior Advanced Waterfall uses connector positions instead of the classic force-to-baseline button. For hardcoded or Excel-provided totals, move the incoming connector to the top of the total column. Hover over a connector to reveal its movable anchor Snap the anchor to the total column's net value ### Review excluded series The classic exclude-from-sum behavior is also controlled through connectors after upgrading. Move the connectors for each segment that should stay outside the total, such as an uncertain projection. Connector positions can exclude an individual segment from the running sum Check borders and connector dash styles after conversion: default colors and some dash patterns can differ from the classic chart. Watch [the waterfall tutorial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3im8lAw4H2o) for a video walkthrough. For stable plot dimensions, see [Fixed chart area](/powerpoint-add-in/user/fixed-chart-area).