Excel Charting Problem: Vertical Axis Values vs. Secondary Data Series Values

**axla** · 04-14-2015, 02:58 PM

I have a simple "Stacked Line with Markers" Chart Type with three columns of data; Month, Preventable Incidents and Non-Preventable Incidents. The chart looks at 6 months of data and charts the Preventable and Non-Preventable incidents. I have the months along the horizontal axis (Column A: A2:A7) with the Number of Collisions on the Vertical Axis. The Preventable Incident values are in Column B: B2:B7 and the Non-Preventable Incident values are in Column C: C2:C7.

The Preventable values data points on the chart correspond correctly to the Vertical Axis labels, but the Non-Preventable data points are skewed higher and do not correspond correctly to the Vertical Axis labels. I would greatly appreciate some help in understanding why this is the case and is there a way to have both data series plot correctly to the values in the Vertical Axis labels. Thanks in advance.

Aaron

**greatjobtoday** · 04-14-2015, 03:18 PM

You should be able to simply change the chart type to a regular line chart with markers... it sounds like you don't want them stacked.

**axla** · 04-14-2015, 03:25 PM

Thank you. Typical Problem. "User Error", didn't realize the chart type I was using was causing the problem. Do you know what the purpose of the "stacked" charts is in presenting data? Thanks again, appreciate the help.

**MrShorty** · 04-14-2015, 04:21 PM

One might use a stacked chart when you want to show how "preventable incidents" and "non-preventable incidents" add up to the "total incidents". In a stacked chart, "preventable" can be "stacked" on top of "non-preventable" to show how much of the total incidents is from preventable incidents and how many from non-preventable. It allows you to visualize all three numbers without the need for the 3rd data series.