Simple way to do a Backtracking Linechart?

**#DIV/0!** · 06-20-2019, 12:40 AM

Hello everyone, I am curious if there is a simple way to backtrack a line in Excel on a standard linechart.

See image below ( data points below are not necessary to copy, just showing an example of what I'm trying to do )

btlc.png

Also, it would be nice to go completely vertical at some points - for example on the horizontal axis point 5-6 it would be nice if point 6 started at 1.5 and went up to 10 instead of horizontal point 5.

For those curious as to the why of this - I need this as a graphical overlay onto another project where I show a path based on decisions made, so the chart will eventually be formatted to be transparent with only the line visible and grouped to a different graphic that has the same originating data so that the overall graphic can be dynamic based on slider/slicer/filters/etc.

Currently I am doing this using 3 separate lines that are broken up and overlap at the ends/beginnings to give the visual appearance of a single line, but this method prevents me from going completely vertical on one horizontal point. I guess a workaround to this would be to move my horizontal point something tiny like .000001 and keep the intervals at solid numbers which would give the appearance of a straight line going up - but I want to avoid doing that and am seeking an overall simpler process ( if it exists )

**MrShorty** · 06-20-2019, 12:49 AM

Assuming I understand what you are trying to do, which I'm not sure of, my first question is what is constraining you to using a line chart and not use an XY scatter chart. The things I see you describe (like vertical line segments or segments that go "backwards" along the x axis (such as the 5,5 to 3,1 segment) are very simple on a scatter chart.