Thread: Axis size/scale

I would like to see microsoft allow the size and scale of axis to be defined
by the user such that two plots can be scaled to be exactly comparable.
Currently you can change the scale so scales are comparble, you can also set
the size of the overall plot BUT you cannot size the plot area.

Chris,

I've been able to scale the plot areas to be comparable via the use of VBA.
If you can post a specific example, that might help others better understand
your concern.

----
Regards,
John Mansfield
http://www.pdbook.com

"Chris" wrote:

> I would like to see microsoft allow the size and scale of axis to be defined
> by the user such that two plots can be scaled to be exactly comparable.
> Currently you can change the scale so scales are comparble, you can also set
> the size of the overall plot BUT you cannot size the plot area.

There's an ancient add-in on my web site that might help:

http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Charts/...l#AlignChtDims

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

John Mansfield wrote:

> Chris,
>
> I've been able to scale the plot areas to be comparable via the use of VBA.
> If you can post a specific example, that might help others better understand
> your concern.
>
> ----
> Regards,
> John Mansfield
> http://www.pdbook.com
>
> "Chris" wrote:
>
>
>>I would like to see microsoft allow the size and scale of axis to be defined
>>by the user such that two plots can be scaled to be exactly comparable.
>>Currently you can change the scale so scales are comparble, you can also set
>>the size of the overall plot BUT you cannot size the plot area.

John,

An example of what I want to do is:
If I have two charts showing equivalent data for two different test
conditions, both with x axis running from 0 to 100. One plot may have y
values from 0 -100 the other 0-10. When I plot the data I can generate two
plots with x-axis 0-100 and y-axis 0-100. I can size the outer box to be
equal so if the same data was plotted two identical plots would be produced.
BUT if I for example have different legends the size of the tight box around
the plot is different therefore different plots are produced.

The end outcome I want is two (or more) plots with ?mm=1unit in x or y. I am
not worried about what ? is as long as it can be made consistant for a series
of plots.

It would also be usful to be able to centre the plots within the chart area.

What I have tried with Jon's suggestion is ploting two straight line x-y
scatter plots of 1-10 in both x and y. One plot just points one just a line,
I changed 1 legend to "a" and left 1 as "series 1" then aligned the two plots
one on top of the other so the line should join the dots. This does not work
unless the legends are the same and the plot types are the same.

Thanks for the help

Chris

"John Mansfield" wrote:

> Chris,
>
> I've been able to scale the plot areas to be comparable via the use of VBA.
> If you can post a specific example, that might help others better understand
> your concern.
>
> ----
> Regards,
> John Mansfield
> http://www.pdbook.com
>
> "Chris" wrote:
>
> > I would like to see microsoft allow the size and scale of axis to be defined
> > by the user such that two plots can be scaled to be exactly comparable.
> > Currently you can change the scale so scales are comparble, you can also set
> > the size of the overall plot BUT you cannot size the plot area.

Chris -

Here's how to make it work. Format the charts completely, except for
their sizes. Run my procedure. If it doesn't completely line up the plot
areas, rerun it. This should be sufficient to align the plot areas.

Funny thing about VBA for charts, sometimes you need to run it twice.
Often I insert a loop into the code to handle this automatically.

Why do you want to line one chart on top of another? Usually you can get
the effects you want with all the series in a single chart, making your
own custom chart type:

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

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

Chris wrote:
> John,
>
> An example of what I want to do is:
> If I have two charts showing equivalent data for two different test
> conditions, both with x axis running from 0 to 100. One plot may have y
> values from 0 -100 the other 0-10. When I plot the data I can generate two
> plots with x-axis 0-100 and y-axis 0-100. I can size the outer box to be
> equal so if the same data was plotted two identical plots would be produced.
> BUT if I for example have different legends the size of the tight box around
> the plot is different therefore different plots are produced.
>
> The end outcome I want is two (or more) plots with ?mm=1unit in x or y. I am
> not worried about what ? is as long as it can be made consistant for a series
> of plots.
>
> It would also be usful to be able to centre the plots within the chart area.
>
> What I have tried with Jon's suggestion is ploting two straight line x-y
> scatter plots of 1-10 in both x and y. One plot just points one just a line,
> I changed 1 legend to "a" and left 1 as "series 1" then aligned the two plots
> one on top of the other so the line should join the dots. This does not work
> unless the legends are the same and the plot types are the same.
>
> Thanks for the help
>
> Chris
>
> "John Mansfield" wrote:
>
>
>>Chris,
>>
>>I've been able to scale the plot areas to be comparable via the use of VBA.
>>If you can post a specific example, that might help others better understand
>>your concern.
>>
>>----
>>Regards,
>>John Mansfield
>>http://www.pdbook.com
>>
>>"Chris" wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I would like to see microsoft allow the size and scale of axis to be defined
>>>by the user such that two plots can be scaled to be exactly comparable.
>>>Currently you can change the scale so scales are comparble, you can also set
>>>the size of the overall plot BUT you cannot size the plot area.

I do n't want to align plots on top of each other it was just to ensure that
the process was working. Ordinarily I will be ploting them side by side
Thanks again
Chris

"Jon Peltier" wrote:

> Chris -
>
> Here's how to make it work. Format the charts completely, except for
> their sizes. Run my procedure. If it doesn't completely line up the plot
> areas, rerun it. This should be sufficient to align the plot areas.
>
> Funny thing about VBA for charts, sometimes you need to run it twice.
> Often I insert a loop into the code to handle this automatically.
>
> Why do you want to line one chart on top of another? Usually you can get
> the effects you want with all the series in a single chart, making your
> own custom chart type:
>
> http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Charts/ComboCharts.html
>
> - Jon
> -------
> Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
> Peltier Technical Services
> Tutorials and Custom Solutions
> http://PeltierTech.com/
> _______
>
> Chris wrote:
> > John,
> >
> > An example of what I want to do is:
> > If I have two charts showing equivalent data for two different test
> > conditions, both with x axis running from 0 to 100. One plot may have y
> > values from 0 -100 the other 0-10. When I plot the data I can generate two
> > plots with x-axis 0-100 and y-axis 0-100. I can size the outer box to be
> > equal so if the same data was plotted two identical plots would be produced.
> > BUT if I for example have different legends the size of the tight box around
> > the plot is different therefore different plots are produced.
> >
> > The end outcome I want is two (or more) plots with ?mm=1unit in x or y. I am
> > not worried about what ? is as long as it can be made consistant for a series
> > of plots.
> >
> > It would also be usful to be able to centre the plots within the chart area.
> >
> > What I have tried with Jon's suggestion is ploting two straight line x-y
> > scatter plots of 1-10 in both x and y. One plot just points one just a line,
> > I changed 1 legend to "a" and left 1 as "series 1" then aligned the two plots
> > one on top of the other so the line should join the dots. This does not work
> > unless the legends are the same and the plot types are the same.
> >
> > Thanks for the help
> >
> > Chris
> >
> > "John Mansfield" wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Chris,
> >>
> >>I've been able to scale the plot areas to be comparable via the use of VBA.
> >>If you can post a specific example, that might help others better understand
> >>your concern.
> >>
> >>----
> >>Regards,
> >>John Mansfield
> >>http://www.pdbook.com
> >>
> >>"Chris" wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>I would like to see microsoft allow the size and scale of axis to be defined
> >>>by the user such that two plots can be scaled to be exactly comparable.
> >>>Currently you can change the scale so scales are comparble, you can also set
> >>>the size of the overall plot BUT you cannot size the plot area.
>

Jon
I have just tried as you suggested, it works most of the time now
thanks
Chris

"Jon Peltier" wrote:

> Chris -
>
> Here's how to make it work. Format the charts completely, except for
> their sizes. Run my procedure. If it doesn't completely line up the plot
> areas, rerun it. This should be sufficient to align the plot areas.
>
> Funny thing about VBA for charts, sometimes you need to run it twice.
> Often I insert a loop into the code to handle this automatically.
>
> Why do you want to line one chart on top of another? Usually you can get
> the effects you want with all the series in a single chart, making your
> own custom chart type:
>
> http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Charts/ComboCharts.html
>
> - Jon
> -------
> Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
> Peltier Technical Services
> Tutorials and Custom Solutions
> http://PeltierTech.com/
> _______
>
> Chris wrote:
> > John,
> >
> > An example of what I want to do is:
> > If I have two charts showing equivalent data for two different test
> > conditions, both with x axis running from 0 to 100. One plot may have y
> > values from 0 -100 the other 0-10. When I plot the data I can generate two
> > plots with x-axis 0-100 and y-axis 0-100. I can size the outer box to be
> > equal so if the same data was plotted two identical plots would be produced.
> > BUT if I for example have different legends the size of the tight box around
> > the plot is different therefore different plots are produced.
> >
> > The end outcome I want is two (or more) plots with ?mm=1unit in x or y. I am
> > not worried about what ? is as long as it can be made consistant for a series
> > of plots.
> >
> > It would also be usful to be able to centre the plots within the chart area.
> >
> > What I have tried with Jon's suggestion is ploting two straight line x-y
> > scatter plots of 1-10 in both x and y. One plot just points one just a line,
> > I changed 1 legend to "a" and left 1 as "series 1" then aligned the two plots
> > one on top of the other so the line should join the dots. This does not work
> > unless the legends are the same and the plot types are the same.
> >
> > Thanks for the help
> >
> > Chris
> >
> > "John Mansfield" wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Chris,
> >>
> >>I've been able to scale the plot areas to be comparable via the use of VBA.
> >>If you can post a specific example, that might help others better understand
> >>your concern.
> >>
> >>----
> >>Regards,
> >>John Mansfield
> >>http://www.pdbook.com
> >>
> >>"Chris" wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>I would like to see microsoft allow the size and scale of axis to be defined
> >>>by the user such that two plots can be scaled to be exactly comparable.
> >>>Currently you can change the scale so scales are comparble, you can also set
> >>>the size of the overall plot BUT you cannot size the plot area.
>