Incorrect x values in Excel 97

  • Thread starter Thread starter steve
  • Start date Start date
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steve

I am attempting to chart some series data using excel 97
(SR2). I have exported data (date, values) from an oracle
database. I have plotted the data as a line type chart.
When I attempt to plot several pieces of point data, the
chart places the data in 1991 instead of 2003.
The x axis is the date and the y axis is the data. The
excell field type for the x data is custom.

Anyone know why excel wants to ignore the date on the
point data?
 
I am attempting to chart some series data using excel 97
(SR2). I have exported data (date, values) from an oracle
database. I have plotted the data as a line type chart.
When I attempt to plot several pieces of point data, the
chart places the data in 1991 instead of 2003.
The x axis is the date and the y axis is the data. The
excell field type for the x data is custom.
Click to expand...

I am a little confused by this sentence:
When I attempt to plot several pieces of point data, the
chart places the data in 1991 instead of 2003.
Click to expand...

Are you adding more series? Or more points to a series?

You might try changing the x axis to a time scale type rather than
custom. Or you might try changing the chart type to an XY scatter chart
rather than a line chart.
 
My goal is to add three discreet points. When I set the
chart up, I treated the three points as three series.

Basically, I have base historical data that I am trying to
use as a comparison reference for 3 individual points of
data.

The data is locational, that is, each data series is taken
at a different location. The historical data ranges from
3/1/91 to 9/23/03 and the data points were taken on
9/24/03. Excel plots the data point at 3/1/91 and not
9/24/03. I set the x axis range to 10/1/03, so there
shouldn't be any problems here.

The historical series data is stream chemical data taken
at several fixed locations and the point data is
individual measurements taken between the historical fixed
location.
 
My goal is to add three discreet points. When I set the
chart up, I treated the three points as three series.

Basically, I have base historical data that I am trying to
use as a comparison reference for 3 individual points of
data.

The data is locational, that is, each data series is taken
at a different location. The historical data ranges from
3/1/91 to 9/23/03 and the data points were taken on
9/24/03. Excel plots the data point at 3/1/91 and not
9/24/03. I set the x axis range to 10/1/03, so there
shouldn't be any problems here.
Click to expand...

I think you should first try to change your x axis to time scale. Select
the chart, go to the menu and click Chart | Chart options | Axes tab |
select the Time-Scale radio button.

That was the simplest solution, but I don't have a lot of confidence it
will work. I can't tell for sure because I don't know how your data is
arranged.

The solution that probably will work is to convert your chart to an XY
scatter chart rather than a line chart. Select the chart, go to Chart |
Chart type | XY Scatter chart.

At this point, the chart will probably still look the same. You will
probably need to change the source data. Select the chart, Chart | Source
data | Series tab | X Values box. The three additional series should have
x values that correspond to the y values. So for example, if one of your
added series has data values in C10:C12 and the corresponding dates are in
A10:A12, you should change the X Values to refer to A10:A12 and the Y
Values refer to C10:C12.
 
Yes, changing the plot to XY scatter, remove marker and
add custom line gave me the effect I wanted.

I had originally attempted to change to XY scatter but
excel still had the dates set to 1991. I deleted the
points, changed to xy scatter, and added the points back
to plot. Excel placed the data where it should be.

Thanks
 
Will -

I'm glad the scatter chart gave you what you wanted. In order for the
line chart to have put your point at 2003, you would have needed blank
cells in the unused categories up to 2003, and include these blank cells
in the series' data range. Excel uses the first series' X values for
all the series that use a category axis instead of a value axis,
regardless of what you think you're telling Excel to do. Like this:

A B
1991 15
1992
1993
1995
1998
2000
2002
2003 20

Select all three columns and make your chart: you'll get a single point
from Series A at 1991, and another single point for Series B at 2003.
If you skip years as I did above (1994, 1996, etc. are missing), they
will not be included if Excel draws a category type category axis, but
they will if Excel draws a time-scale type category axis.

- Jon
 
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