There's a better way to handle this, and it doesn't involve manually trimming your data range every week. The core issue here is that traditional spreadsheet tools treat empty cells as zeros, and zeros pull your cumulative line graph down to the floor. That's not a data problem, it's a tool limitation.
You've set up your quarterly spending chart the right way: one row per week, cumulative values that grow as the quarter progresses. The empty cells for future weeks aren't mistakes. They're placeholders. But your chart software doesn't know that. It sees a blank cell and assumes the value is zero, so your line drops off a cliff after the last real data point. That forces you to manually adjust the chart range each week, which defeats the purpose of a living dashboard. You want to set it once and let it grow.
What you need is a chart that respects missing data as *missing*, not as zero. In most spreadsheet applications, you can handle this by using a dynamic named range that expands as new data is entered, or by using the `NA()` function in blank cells, many chart engines will skip `#N/A` values entirely rather than plotting them as zero. Some newer AI-native tools already do this automatically, because they understand intent: if you haven't entered data yet, the chart should wait for you, not guess. That's the direction the industry should be moving.
This isn't about learning a workaround. It's about expecting your tools to work the way you think. You shouldn't have to fight a line graph to show only what's real. The solution exists, and it's becoming more accessible. Start by checking whether your current spreadsheet supports `NA()` handling or dynamic ranges. If it doesn't, consider trying a tool that treats your data as a narrative, not a grid of forced values. Your chart should show your quarter as it actually is, half finished, with room to grow.