Line chart with time (mm:ss) on Y axis, and date on X axis

**Epitome_Inc** · 05-28-2015, 01:30 PM

I'm trying to create a simple (or so I thought) line chart so I can track my progress as I get back in to cycling. I ride the same route to and from work and want to see how I'm improving. I have the following data:
-Date
-Time (how long did the ride take me?)
-Average Speed

I'd like to create one chart showing two lines (one for my time from home to work, the other for work to home). It should have the ride time on the Y axis and the dates of my rides on the X axis. I've created plenty of charts before, but this one doesn't want to work. Here's what I have so far:Biking Tracker.xlsx

Then I want to create a similar chart tracking my average speed, using my speed as the Y axis.

I've tried changing the formatting of the source data and tinkering around with the resulting chart settings, but I can't seem to make any progress. Help! Thanks in advance!

**MrShorty** · 05-28-2015, 02:23 PM

You did not include any of your "failed" attempts at creating the chart. I sometimes think these "failed" attempts would help us understand your requirements and difficulties.

When I tried to create a line chart from the data, Excel gave me two separate data series plotted against a generic count (1,2,3,...) axis. I find that Excel often does this at chart creation. When Excel does not correctly interpret our desired "horizontal x data" and "vertical y data" ranges, then we often need to go into the "select data" dialog (chart tools -> design tab) and specifically instruct Excel how we want the data plotted. Since MS got rid of the "chart wizard" in 2007, there is not opportunity to fix Excel's mistakes before the chart is created, so we must fix them after the chart is created.

If my guess is correct, this is your problem, and the solution is to go into the "select data" dialog and specify that you want to use colum A as the horizontal category axis data and column B as the vertical y value axis data.

**Epitome_Inc** · 05-28-2015, 02:36 PM

Yes, thank you MrShorty. That was the solution. After your suggestion I stuck with the "select data" dialog and was able to get it working. Much appreciated!