Using dates for both X and Y axis

**lwdataresearch** · 02-26-2013, 08:15 PM

I am looking to create a chart where the X and Y axes are both dates. I'm working with university data and trying to correlate the date a student requested information (inquired) with the date they applied.
For instance, in the attached example pivot example pivot.xlsx, there were 6 students who inquired for information in February of 2009 and applied in March of 2009. I'm envisioning a scatterplot with application dates along the X axis and inquiry dates along the Y axis and dots for each student falling into those two date brackets. But I'm open to any chart that will let me plot large sets of data by two dates.
The only way I've been able to semi-successfully display the data is to create a clustered column chart and use the column of application dates (from the raw data instead of the pivot table) as the Category (X) axis labels, and the column of raw inquiry dates as the Y values. This creates a chart in which each student is displayed as an individual column and the bar reaches to the corresponding date.
But when I'm working with large amounts of data and thousands of students, all of the columns overlap until they are indistinguishable. Is there a better way to go about this?

Let me know if I can further explain or clarify my dilemma. I appreciate any advice.

**Steve=True** · 02-26-2013, 11:23 PM

Hi LWDATARESEARCH,

Welcome to the forums.

XY Scatter Charts don't seem to work like you would think they would in Excel. I typically create an XY chart and then fix the data series to the real XY's that I want to show. Excel makes a weird choice for you and it won't match your data (typically)

Here is a sample file and instructions.

2 Dates Scatter Plot.xlsx

Let me know if it works for you.

Steve=True

**lwdataresearch** · 02-27-2013, 01:35 PM

Well, that was just too simple!
I was trying to create a chart and then alter the XY data, and just couldn't quite get it to use the right info in the right places. Thanks so much! I appreciate the help!

**Steve=True** · 02-27-2013, 08:38 PM

Glad it worked for you. You are quite welcome!!!!

Thanks for the feedback.

Steve=True

**belair** · 07-28-2021, 02:45 PM

I'm trying to accomplish the same thing, but the attached excel file is no longer available it seems. Any help?

**FDibbins** · 07-29-2021, 02:05 AM

Originally Posted by belair

I'm trying to accomplish the same thing, but the attached excel file is no longer available it seems. Any help?

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