scatter plot in new version of Excel

[Julie Heldt]

I used to make scatter plots where my first data column would be my y axis
and the second data column would be my x axis. I would make them and they
would be sideways. Then I would go into view source data or something and
manually type in the column letters I wanted for x and y.

Now I tried the same thing and got the same sideways graph. I tried the
button that said switch x and y, but that made a disaster where each point
had its own data series. I tried to edit the source data, but somehow Excel
kept switching it back every time I typed anything or just put in new random
letters. So I went ahead and moved the data columns so the x column was
first and made a new graph, but somehow Excel had decided that the graph was
going to be forever sideways. Please I am about to go insane if I haven't
already.

 

[Bernard Liengme]

Excel always assumes the left column is the x-value range

Right click the chart; select Source Data
On the dialog box; click the Edit icon
Use this next dialog to make the x-values your second column and the
y-values your first column
OR
Use Cut and Paste to move y-values to the right
Make chart
Use Cut and paste to put y-values back into first column

best wishes

 

[Jon Peltier]

The button you clicked was to switch rows and columns, not to switch X and
Y.

An easier way to fix it than editing the range in the dialogs, is to select
the series in the chart, then drag the colored highlights in the worksheet.
Drag one down a row (so the two do not coincide while dragging them about),
drag the other across, then drag the first over and up. Quick and painless.

Did you ever notice that the first column is always assumed to be X? If you
start arranging your own data this way, you'll never have this problem
again.

- Jon
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Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
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