Line graph w/ recent data

[bflorox]

I have a 2 column ss. One column is a date and time stamp, the other is a
number value. I want a Line graph that automatically plots the 20 (or
whatever) most-recent entries as soon as the entry is made. Can this be
done? Thanks.

 

[Jon Peltier]

If it's date and time, you should make an XY chart.

You can make a dynamic chart of the last N values:
http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Charts/DynamicLast12.html

- Jon

 

[bflorox]

Perfect! Thanks. Now...

I have four similar pieces of equipment I would like to monitor the same
way. For operator convenience, I would like to do this through one ss with a
named tab for each piece of equipment. Will this work if I just change the
Dynamic Name references or will I have to add new names for each tab? AND...

I don't care about scale so I prefer this to be a line chart, not XY.
However, the Y values are an automatic date and time stamp. The line chart
only recognizes the date portion, ignoring the time, so I end up with
multiple points on the same day. Is this avoidable in a line chart or do I
have to go with XY?

Thanks.

 

[Jon Peltier]

It sounds like more work, but in the long run it's easier to define new
names for each worksheet.

To avoid the clumping of data at midnight of each day, you can either use an
XY chart, which will space the data proportionally, or you can convert the X
axis to a category type (not a date-time type). In Excel 2003 and earlier,
do this through Chart menu > Chart Options > Axes, and select Category
instead of Automatic. In Excel 2007, select the axis, press Ctrl+1 to format
it, and on the initial screen of the dialog, change from Automatic to Text
Axis.

- Jon