Excel chart source data y-values can only accept 7 data pts?

[progprog]

I have a x-y scatter chart whose y-values are scattered within a table. When
I enter the source data y or x values by selecting a cell, then hitting Ctrl,
then selecting the next cell, etc., it only accepts up to 7 cells (data pts).
When I try and enter the 8th value, the whole Source Data, Series, "Y Values"
or "X Values" field clears. It seems to be able to accept only 7 values.

Am I doing something wrong? I thought I had done it this way many times in
the past, but only see the problem now.

 

[Jon Peltier]

You're not doing something necessarily wrong, but you are doing something
inefficient, which is not having your data in a continuous range of cells
that can be selected all at once. The text that describes the range becomes
too long. Here is how long the text is to identify five unconnected cells:

='Long Worksheet Name'!$A$3,'Long Worksheet Name'!$B$6,'Long Worksheet
Name'!$A$10,'Long Worksheet Name'!$B$14,'Long Worksheet Name'!$A$19

Here's how long it is to identify 30000 connected cells (the limit for a
series in Excel):

='Long Worksheet Name'!$A$3:$A$30002

Excel chokes when the text in one of the value entry boxes exceeds around
255 characters.

- Jon

 

[progprog]

So I need to find a shortcut way of writing the text string for disconnected
cells. I wish I could leave out the path name in that text string and just
use commas and the cell address. Or create new linked tables that has the
same data in connected cells (one for each parameter searched for). My temp.
work around for 8 cells was to abbreviate the tab name!

 

[Jon Peltier]

IMO the most robust option is to create the linked table, and use a single
range, not a multiple area range, for X and for Y.

- Jon