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Excel surface charts

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    Excel surface charts

    Hello, I am trying to make an Excel surface chart that looks like this:

    rsz_image.png

    However, I have problems doing so because series names (Blue-Eyed Women and Brown-Eyed women in this case) always turn out the same as the categories in the dependent measure (Cheating probability in this case). Can anyone help me plot this chart? And also let me know if I'm using the wrong chart type. And if this can't be done in Excel please point me to somewhere else. Thanks.
    Attached Images Attached Images

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    Re: Excel surface charts

    I'm sure we can help you, but it is difficult without more details.

    Basic instructions for creating a surface chart in Excel: https://support.office.com/en-us/art...rs=en-US&ad=US

    I find that a lot of charting questions really end up being about how the data is arranged in the spreadsheet. Make sure your data is laid out like the example in the help file.

    It would help us help you if you would upload a sample spreadsheet. You might also include any failed attempts at creating the chart.
    Last edited by MrShorty; 05-29-2015 at 02:22 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by shg
    Mathematics is the native language of the natural world. Just trying to become literate.

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    Re: Excel surface charts

    Hello and thanks for replying,
    I find it hard to follow the example because whoever wrote the example didn't specify which rows and columns of the spreadsheet correspond to which axis on the chart.
    I will try to explain the design of my experiment in order to give you more details so you can help me make the chart.
    In my experiment I have three independent variables and one dependent variable. The independent variables are: eye color of the subject, eye color of the partner and eye color of a potential one-time lover. Each independent variable has two levels, blue and brown. The dependent variable is cheating probability.
    I need my dependent variable to be on the z axis, while eye color of the partner and eye color of a potential one time lover need to be on the x and y axes. The first independent variable, eye color of the subject, must be represented by two quadrilaterals, one for blue-eyed women and one for brown-eyed women.
    I hope I gave enough information for you to help me. Just ask me to give any more info if needed.

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    Re: Excel surface charts

    Looking at MS's example data:

    1) The bold data in column A (A2:A10) is going along the "seconds" axis (shall we call this the "x" axis?)
    2) The bold data in row 1 (B1:F1 is the data along the "temperature" axis -- let's call it "y".
    3) The z data is in the B2:F10 range.

    So, the first step will be to arrange your data similarly: Put the "eye colors" you want on the x axis going down the left column of your desired data range. The second set of "eye colors" for the y axis go across the top of your desired data range. The z values corresponding to each pair of eye colors will go inside of the table. From there, you should be able to select the entire range, and insert a surface chart.

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    Re: Excel surface charts

    And where should I put the third set of eye colors?

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    Re: Excel surface charts

    Surface charts will show 3D data (x,y,z). It sounds like you have 4D data (x,y,m,z). As difficult as it is to represent 3D data on a 2D screen/paper, 4D data is almost impossible. I am not sure if Excel will support a second "data series" on a surface chart. From my limited attempts, Excel does not readily allow multiple data sets on the same chart.

    It would be easy enough to make multiple charts: one each for (x,y,z), (x,m,z), (y,m,z).

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    Re: Excel surface charts

    I understand. I thought this data could be charted in Excel since it's easy enough to be drawn by hand. I'll try to find other software to do this then. Multiple charts are not a good solution for me because they cannot show the interaction between all variables at once.
    I greatly appreciate your help.

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    Re: Excel surface charts

    If you made a list of dalliances ...

    Row\Col
    A
    B
    C
    1
    Cheater
    Partner
    Lover
    2
    Brown Blue Brown
    3
    Blue Blue Blue
    4
    Blue Brown Blue
    5
    Blue Blue Blue
    6
    Blue Blue Blue
    7
    Brown Blue Brown
    8
    Brown Brown Brown
    9
    Brown Blue Blue
    10
    Blue Blue Brown
    11
    Blue Brown Blue
    12
    Blue Brown Brown
    13
    Blue Brown Blue
    14
    Brown Blue Brown
    15
    Brown Brown Brown
    16
    Blue Brown Brown
    17
    Blue Blue Blue
    18
    Brown Blue Brown
    19
    Brown Brown Brown
    20
    Blue Blue Blue
    21


    Then you could tabulate the relative frequency of each combination ...

    Row\Col
    E
    F
    G
    H
    I
    1
    Cheater
    Partner
    Lover
    2
    Blue Blue Blue
    0.07
    H2: =COUNTIFS($A$2:$A$101, E2, $B$2:$B$101, F2, $C$2:$C$101, G2) / ROWS($A$2:$C$101)
    3
    Blue Blue Brown
    0.10
    4
    Blue Brown Blue
    0.18
    5
    Blue Brown Brown
    0.12
    6
    Brown Blue Blue
    0.14
    7
    Brown Blue Brown
    0.19
    8
    Brown Brown Blue
    0.14
    9
    Brown Brown Brown
    0.05


    Which reduces to plotting the eight corners of a cube in some easy-to-absorb fashion. There is no "surface."
    Entia non sunt multiplicanda sine necessitate

  9. #9
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    Re: Excel surface charts

    This could be useful information for guys to know who to hit on in a bar ...

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