Time-Line Chart

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Guest

I'm trying to create a "time-line" chart on both sides of the X axis.

For example, item '1' lasts (3) seconds long and is 'positive' (above X
axis). Item '2' lasts (2) seconds and is 'negative' (below X axis). Item
'3' lasts (5) seconds and is 'positive'. Every time I graph this the lengths
of the items are graphed vertically instead of horizontally. Any suggestions?

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Thanks,

Zack
 
Hi, Zack,

Try using a bar chart as the chart type. (Note: If you
don't want your timelines to look as fat as typical bars,
make them thinner by increasing the 'Gap Width' in
Format, Data Series, Options).

There are several ways you could do this, but the reason
I suggest a bar chart is that the x and y axes are
swapped in a bar chart -- so that the horizontal axis is
actually your value axis. Basically, a bar chart will sit
the data you have now on its side, so to speak, so that
it looks like what you want.


More detail on how to set this up below, but just in case
you'd like some explanatory info on the way the axes are
working ... For charts like columns, bars, and lines -
the Y-axis is the value axis and the x-axis is the
category axis (the category axis would be the time-
scale). But, you're setting up your data with your
durations as the values -- so they're plotted on the y
(value) axis (that's why they appear vertical). There are
chart types that will give you a value axis for both the
x and y axes (scatter charts), but that's going to be a
more complex solution that I think you need.

If you use the data just like you have it set up now, but
create a bar chart -- I suspect it will easily give you
exactly what you're looking for. When you create the
chart -- you'll want each item (sounds like you already
have it this way) to be its own data series. If your data
looks something like this:

item 1 3
item 2 -2
item 3 5

Then, you'll want to select the option for 'Series in
Rows' in step 2 of the chart wizard "Chart Source Data".
Typing your duration values as positive or negative
numbers is all you need to do to get them to show up
above or below the horizontal axis with a bar chart.

That should do the trick.

Hope it helps!

Stephanie Krieger
author of Microsoft Office Document Designer
email: MODD _ 2003 at msn
blog: arouet.net


-----Original Message-----
I'm trying to create a "time-line" chart on both sides of the X axis.

For example, item '1' lasts (3) seconds long and is 'positive' (above X
axis). Item '2' lasts (2) seconds and is 'negative' (below X axis). Item
'3' lasts (5) seconds and is 'positive'. Every time I graph this the lengths
of the items are graphed vertically instead of
Click to expand...
horizontally. Any suggestions?
 
Stephanie,

Thanks so much for the timely assistance - I'm going to try out your advice
later tonight.

Zack
 
Stephanie,

I tried this and it still didn't work out. I think I need a combination
between a scatter chart & a bar chart.

When I format the chart type as 'scatter' it looks very close to what I want
.... there's just no bar thickness. I've again shown what I'm looking for -
please note that the axis is horizontal (when I select bar chart the axis is
always vertical).

I'll try to be specific one more time.

What is shown below is three tasks of differing length (bar width) and they
also differ (some being positive, some negative).

Task one lasts (3) seconds (thus 3 * wide) and is positive. Task two STARTS
at time (4) (after task 1) and lasts (2) seconds (thus 2 * wide) and is
negative ... below the horizontal axis. Task three STARTS after task two
(task 1 (3) plus task 2 abs (2) = 5) and lasts (5) seconds (thus 5 * wide).

*** *****
_________________

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Don't know if this makes it any clearer - could you try one more time with
some assistance?

Zack
 
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