Thread: Correctly Indexing Axes

To make a chart, I generally create a table of values in 2 columns, with the independent variable on the left and the outputs on the right. Then, to make a chart, I select both columns & use the chart wizard. Recently, for reasons I don't understand, my file has begun using the row numbers on the far left as the index for the horizontal axis, and then plotting two curves -- one which is the correct output curve I wanted, and one from the values that were supposed to be my input values. Does anyone know why this happens, and how I can make it clear to excel that I want the left column to serve as the input values? (This is also important because my inputs are rarely integers and don't generally increase by increments of one.)

Thanks!

It sounds like you are using an XY scatter plot, and this can sometimes happen when you allow Excel to think for itself. The usual reason is that some of the data in the X column is perceived by Excel to be text rather than numeric. Since Excel isn't sure what to do with text data in the X range, it substitutes its own X range (1,2,3,...).

When working through the chart wizard, Step 2 has two tabs. If you click on the "series" tab, you can see what Excel has chosen for the default ranges, and modify them if needed.

Also, make sure all of your data is numeric and not text.

Hmm...that doesn't seem to be the problem. The data in the left column is all definitely numberic. And it looks like the only thing I can change under the series tab is which cells it's using to graph a particular dependent variable. I don't see anywhere to specy the values of the dependent variable.

I'm attaching the file (it's sheet 3) -- maybe that will help.

OK, I figured it out -- I'm using the wrong kind of graph. I wanted to use basically an x-y plane, and what looks like an x-y plane on the excel chart menu isn't really. It actually DOES look for text input for the x-axis. I actually did have to choose scatterplot, and then choose the one where data points are connected with a line.

All is well now! Thanks!