How to align one column/row of data with the border lines of other columns?

I'm trying to make a printable chart for manually graphing things, where the intersecting border lines represent the whole number values of the X and Y axes of the chart.

Basically, I want the X and Y axis numbers on the left and bottom of the chart to line up with the grid-lines instead of with the cells themselves. I've tried using the Alignment features, but while they will offset, justify, and angle the numbers, it still keeps them in line with the cells.

I did a quick mockup in Paint of what I'm looking to do.

graph.jpg

I suppose I could accomplish this by selectively merging cells and coloring the borders accordingly, but I'm trying to find a simple way to just offset a column/row. Can this be done?

Thanks!

Hi Ben,

Thanks for writing! At your suggestion I've tried a few variations of the graphs and charts tools, and while some of the attempts have come close, I'm not quite getting what I'm after. I think that part of the problem is that I have no actual data in my chart, so I keep ending up with variations of blank charts with random key symbols, incorrect labels, and such. The other part of the problem, I'm sure, is that I've not really ever used the charts and graphs features in Excel, so I'm really not good at manipulating the settings.

I'm just trying to print the axis markings and grid lines so I can manually fill things in with a pen on the printed paper, and I totally understand that this isn't what Excel is for. I was just hoping there was a simple one-click thing like with Freeze Panes that would offset a column or row.

In the end, I just went with merging two cells in the x/y axes for each label, and then drawing the lines on the unmerged cells between each in the grid area. Took a bit of time to get right, but it works.

grid.JPG

Thanks for your suggestion though, it has motivated me to look more into the charts & graphs features of Excel.

Have a good one!