Specifying axis points

[Kelly]

Is it possible to specify which axis points I want to
display in Excel? My problem is that I am charting a line
graph and would like to display the zero point just
slightly above the x axis. However, when I set my x axis
to -.25 all of my y axis points adjust to this point (.75,
1.75, 2.75). Is there a way to readjust these or to set
the y axis to whole numbers? I would like to see 1, 2, 3,
ect.
Thanks!

 

[Jon Peltier]

Kelly -

Make your chart the regular way, then hide the regular axis labels and
tick marks (double click on the axis, Patterns tab, use None options in
the right column).

Use the technique in this example to put labels and ticks exactly where
you need them:

http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Charts/ArbitraryAxis.html

- Jon

 

[Guest]

Thank you for the information! I'm having a little bit of
trouble following it though. When I graph my dummy axis,
instead of just graphing one series,
Excel treats each dummy point as a series (I end up having
to format and delete about 6 different points/series).
Can you explain to me how you were able to treat the
information as 1 series? Also, is this the only way to
readjust the axis points in Excel? It seems very
cumbersome.
Thanks again!

 

[Jon Peltier]

When you add the data to the chart, copy it and use Paste Special from
the Edit menu, and make sure you use the right by row/by column option.
Or use the Source Data command from the Chart menu, and on the Series
tab, add the series and select appropriate ranges for X and Y.

- Jon

 

[Kelly]

I seem to have tried all of this and I am still getting
multiple series'. On your example, what options did you
choose for the paste special function?
Thanks again.

 

[Jon Peltier]

Kelly -

I almost always put my series in columns. That means my X values are in
a column, and the Y values for each series are in their own column. I
often have a label atop the Y value columns as well. So I use Paste
Special with the Series in Columns, Categories in First Column (with the
Replace Existing Categories never checked), and Series Names in First
Row options.

- Jon

 

[Guest]

Thanks Jon, I found this and your site very helpful!