Unusual Chart Type?

[MWE]

I am running Excel2000. I wish to create a chart that does not seem t
be supported in Excel. The data consists of a table of dates an
“states” (let’s call them A, B, C, D and E). One column is dates an
the next is states. Dates will be in order. A given date could hav
any state. So the first col might be {03-Apr, 04-Apr, 05-Apr, 06-Apr
07-Apr, 08-Apr, …} while the second might be {A,B,D,B,B,E, …}. I wis
to plot this data with the state on the Y axis and the date on the
axis. I need an X-Y plot, not cols or bars. This is easy if th
states are numbers. But I cannot find a way to do this if the state
are alpha. Alternatively, I could plot the data using numbers fo
states, eg., 1=A, 2=B, etc) and then change the Y axis labels – if
knew how to do that. Ultimately I wish to do this under VBA control.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank

 

[Tushar Mehta]

You have the right idea. Replace the A..E with numbers 1..5.

To create labels along the y axis, create a dummy series that consists
of (0,1), (0,2),...(0,5). 'Remove' the default y-axis labels (double-
click the axis, then from the Patterns tab set the parameters to
'None'). Now, use Rob Bovey's XY Chartlabeler (www.appspro.com) or
John Walkenbach's ChartTools (www.j-walk.com) to add labels to this
dummy series.

To create sharp transitions, see the 'Step Chart' page of my web site.

--
Regards,

Tushar Mehta
www.tushar-mehta.com
Excel, PowerPoint, and VBA add-ins, tutorials
Custom MS Office productivity solutions

 

[MWE]

Tushar: thank you for your reply. I was able to find, download an
installl Rob Bovey's XYChartlabeler addin. I played around with it an
it seems pretty useful. However, I must be missing something because
do not understand what the dummy series does and cannot make th
XYChartlabeler operate on the correct axis.
1. I created the dummy series as two cols of 5 elements each, th
first with all zeros, the 2nd with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
2. using the method you outlined I eliminated the Y axis labels in th
target chart, i.e., the one with real data (X=dates; Y=States)
3. but all I can do using Rob Bovey's XYChartlabeler tool is chang
the labels on the X axis (Dates). I want to change the labels on the
axis (States)

I must be doing something wrong

MWE

 

[Jon Peltier]

You didn't delete the Y axis, did you? You need to keep it, but hide the
labels and tick marks (double click on the axis, and click on the
Patterns tab). The dummy series lines up along the Y axis; the data
labels on the points serve as substitute axis labels.

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

 

[MWE]

Thanks: what was not clear was that I needed to add the dummy series t
the "top" of the actual data and then edit the labels for the dummie
series points. I did that using VBA instead of the XYChartlabele
addin and things are fine.

Thanks.