X Axis Change from 97 to 2K

[kee]

My boss was using Excel 97 and just got a new computer with Excel 2K.

When he tried to make a chart of Temperature readings in Excel 2K, the
x axis turned out totally black. Take a look at these pictures to see
what is going on. Please look at the date on the x axis. Both charts
were created with the same data and same options.

The first was created in Excel 97:

http://home.comcast.net/~keebird/excel_97.jpg


The second was created in Excel 2K:

http://home.comcast.net/~keebird/excel_2k.jpg


Here is the data that was used for both charts:

http://home.comcast.net/~keebird/data.jpg


We have tried all of the settings (especially Format Axis/Scale Tab)
and can't figure it out.

Anybody know how to fix this or even why this is happening?

Thanks,

keebird

P.S. We tried it in Excel XP and it was the same as Excel 2K.

 

[Jon Peltier]

Keebird -

Yeah, Microsoft, uh, improved the way date-and-time double-wide-range
axis labels worked on line charts. But here's how to fix it:

Insert a column between B and C, and in C3 type the formula =A3+B3. Use
a custom number format of mm/dd hh:mm:ss, and drag the cell down to fill
the column as far as you need. Leave cell C2 blank. Recreate your
chart using C2:H30, and before you panic, right click on the chart,
select Chart Options from the pop up menu, click on Axes, and change the
Category axis to type Category (not Automatic or Time Scale, since Time
Scale is really Date Scale).

You might have to play with the alignment of the axis labels, manually
setting it to 0°.

- Jon

 

[kee]

Thanks Jon,

That works great!

KeeBird

Keebird -

Yeah, Microsoft, uh, improved the way date-and-time double-wide-range
axis labels worked on line charts. But here's how to fix it:

Insert a column between B and C, and in C3 type the formula =A3+B3. Use
a custom number format of mm/dd hh:mm:ss, and drag the cell down to fill
the column as far as you need. Leave cell C2 blank. Recreate your
chart using C2:H30, and before you panic, right click on the chart,
select Chart Options from the pop up menu, click on Axes, and change the
Category axis to type Category (not Automatic or Time Scale, since Time
Scale is really Date Scale).

You might have to play with the alignment of the axis labels, manually
setting it to 0°.

- Jon

 

[Jon Peltier]

Glad to help.

- Jon

Thanks Jon,

That works great!

KeeBird