Scatter will not use given x-values in plotting data

**TechCredit** · 06-12-2014, 01:58 PM

I'm trying to make a scatter plot from two columns of data; the first, a series of decimals between 0 and 1, the second, a series of percentages between -40 and 140%. Essentially, I'm charting a performance (%) vs. a 'batting average' (decimal between 0 and 1).

However, when I plot these data points, the x-values the chart takes are, I suppose, the relative position of the data within the column (i.e., 5, 9, 32) as opposed to the actual values (.33, .71, .92, etc). I've tried manually selecting the data, copying only the values into different cells...nothing seems to help. Each time, I get points like (11, 61%) instead of the desired (.48, 61%).

Anybody have any clever ideas?

Thanks!

**MrShorty** · 06-12-2014, 02:01 PM

When Excel fails to understand what I intended to do upon chart creation, I use the "select data" dialog (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ex...980.aspx?CTT=1) to fix the series' definitions to what I really want. Sometimes Excel just isn't all that smart.

If you are really worried about what is happening upon creation, check your selection for text values (or empty strings) or anything that cannot be interpreted as a number.

**TechCredit** · 06-12-2014, 02:17 PM

I had been attempting manual selection via the select data dialog...didn't seem to be helping. But your second selection turned out to be the solution--in one of the columns, a "-" was causing problems. Converted it to zero and no problems now. Thanks!