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Manually specify date ranges in charts - Excel asks for datevalues?

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    Manually specify date ranges in charts - Excel asks for datevalues?

    Hello, I think I miss out of something really simple here.

    I am trying to create a custom made time line. The idea is to have dates on the X-axis and have the several items to appear in the chart. This works well.

    I have also manually adjusted the X-axis so that a meaningful range is arranged, i.e. the X-axis starts with 1/1/2012 rather than the first item (say, 1/6/2012).

    However, the divisions and subdivision are not meaningful. I would want the X-axis to be divided on - say - every 6 months. The X-axis alternatives for "main units" and "sub units" are quoted in numbers (i.e., the date values) rather in actual dates. This is surprising, as I have clearly marked the X-axis "number category" as "date", with Western European "type". I do not understand this.

    When I entered the X-axis start date, I did this by entering a date. Excel however immediately converted this to a date value.

    The funny thing is that I am quite sure that I have made other such charts with dates on X axis, where "main units" and "sub units" are quoted with actual dates.

    I must be doing something clearly wrong. But what? Any help appreciated.


    Thks & rgds from Oslo, Norway

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    Re: Manually specify date ranges in charts - Excel asks for datevalues?

    It sounds like you are using an XY scatter chart for these data. The behavior you want sounds like a date axis, which is available for line charts (and other charts that use a "category" axis). These two tutorials will talk about the different axis types in more detail.
    https://peltiertech.com/Excel/Charts...ValueAxis.html
    https://peltiertech.com/line-charts-vs-xy-charts/

    Don't ask me why Microsoft has not programmed Excel to be able to use a date axis on a scatter chart, because I don't know that answer.
    Quote Originally Posted by shg
    Mathematics is the native language of the natural world. Just trying to become literate.

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    Re: Manually specify date ranges in charts - Excel asks for datevalues?

    My gosh. You are right, I use a XY scatter chart.

    Is there a way to bypass this?

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    Re: Manually specify date ranges in charts - Excel asks for datevalues?

    My first guess would be to change from a scatter to a line chart type. Part of understanding why that may or may not be an appropriate approach would depend on your reasons for using a scatter chart. Have you tried changing the chart type to a line chart? Did that work? Why or why not?

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    Re: Manually specify date ranges in charts - Excel asks for datevalues?

    Sorry for my tardy reply.

    The reason I would want to use a XY scatter chart is to be able to display several concurrent incidents "stacked" on top of each other. Although there are some shortcomings the way I do it, notably the "date" issue described, this is the easiest way for me to produce the timeline I want.

    Therefore, I mark this topic as "solved", but keep on putting up suggestions.

    Anyway, thank you for your help!

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    Re: Manually specify date ranges in charts - Excel asks for datevalues?

    I'm not sure what you mean by "stacking" incidents on top of each other. My experience with line charts with a date axis is that they readily allow you to have multiple entries for each date, and multiple series can have a value for each date, so I am still not sure why a line chart would not work for you.

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