Graph problems

[totalltohang]

Can someone help

I am trying to devise a trend spreadsheet for use by me personally to identify trends.

I have collated a number of call problem profiles which I have added as a data validation table(all in text)

I am now trying to produce a graph of the data and show which has the biggest trend, however the graph does not want to show any data. Obviously its because its text and not a number.

Can someone help?

David

[jamesyoung79]

The graph needs numeric data. If the comments are reoccurring, as in the same ones appear multiple times you could make a small chart that assigns numbers to the text. You would also have to limit the text fields to the comments listed.

[totalltohang]

Sorry to ask the obvious, however if I had a cell saying "Application Error" how do I assign it a number (would i just go "=1" ?

Forgive the denceness of the question.

[jamesyoung79]

Sorry Let me clarify myself... say application error, not found, and OK appear as the text..


.............A..................B...
1| application error 1
2| not found 2
3| OK 3

if you have a chart like that set up you could use an hlookup in a separate area that you want to graph that looks up the number associated to the comments in the other chart and graphs the numerical version. But unfortunitly this will only be useful if there is a finite number of comments other wise you'll have to update the lookup and reference chart every time a new one comes up.

[Smurfy]

Alternatively if you're looking for trends you could have a small table which you add to each month/week etc.

e.g.

A B c D
Category Jan(or w/c 1/1) Feb march
Application Error 1 3 9
OK 6 9 5
Etc

You would then be able to produce a graph from this and would be able to predict trends etc