Need to select non-adjacent cells with regular interval

[rickhoff]

This sounds like a similar problem to "select every 70th cell", and I think
a macro is the solution, but I can't figure out how to write it. I need to
select every 4th or 5th cell in a column, compile the values from them into
either a vertical or horizontal series, and plot that series.

I use excel for a large modeling spreadsheet, where the columns represent
displacement and the rows are time, but it takes several rows to track all of
the events in one time interval. When done, I can select any row and plot
those values and get a visualization of distribution over distance at a fixed
time. But
what I really want is to visualize at a fixed distance (a selected column),
how distribution changes with time. To do this, I have to select every 4th
or 5th cell in that column (depending on the particular model version) and
plot those values.
The ideal solution would be a macro where the desired column (distance) is
requested as an input and then the plot is displayed.

I have never worked with macros, so perhaps some general help and a
reference to a tutorial (if one exists) would be the best bet. TIA.

 

[Max]

.. select every 4th or 5th cell in that column

If source data is in A1 down,
to extract every 4th cell in that column

Put this in any starting cell desired, say in E2:
=INDEX(A:A,ROWS($1:1)*4-3)
Copy down as far as required

To extract every 5th cell in that column, use:
=INDEX(A:A,ROWS($1:1)*5-4)

And so on. Adapt to suit.

 

[Herbert Seidenberg]

Use Pivot Table.
No formulas needed.
Charts created automatically.
http://www.freefilehosting.net/download/3b401

 

[giangphan23]

If source data is in A1 down,
to extract every 4th cell in that column

Put this in any starting cell desired, say in E2:
=INDEX(A:A,ROWS($1:1)*4-3)
Copy down as far as required

To extract every 5th cell in that column, use:
=INDEX(A:A,ROWS($1:1)*5-4)

And so on. Adapt to suit.

Great!