Excel Graph Issue

Hello to All.

I am new to this forum.

I have a query relating to Microsoft Excel - graph (XY Scatter type).

My Y-axis had negative values of 'depth' i.e. they run from the numerical value of '0' to '9' cm in water. Assume the units are arbitary from now. Refer to the attached image 'excelq' (JPG).

The X-axis across shows the position of a detector measuring 'dose' - lets assume the units are arbitarary.

The requirement of the task was to display the x-axis as a 'positive' value even though it is linked to the 'negative' cell range. So, what I did was I used the 'Format Axis' (right click on Y-axis) > 'number' tab > selected 'positive value' given in red. This gave me positive y-values. Pretty simple eh?!

Question: As you can see, the Y-axis values are actually in 'red' font and are not negative values ('-') as displayed. I achieved my goal in part.

The problem is, how do I change the 'red' font (Y-axis) to be 'black'? (note the '0' value is black of course and the X-axis was left alone - it is Number > General).

This may look like simple to solve - but I have tried to solve it and not got to teh bottom of it. I am still optimistic about the solution. Microsoft must have a solution!

I really need a work around to this. It is doing my head in (you know what its like!). There must be some wiz out there who knows exactly what im talking about and can solve it in seconds!

Thanks in advance & look forward to solutions (!).

Kind regards

Usman
England, UK

Originally Posted by uzymedphys

Hello to All.

I am new to this forum.

I have a query relating to Microsoft Excel - graph (XY Scatter type).

My Y-axis had negative values of 'depth' i.e. they run from the numerical value of '0' to '9' cm in water. Assume the units are arbitary from now. Refer to the attached image 'excelq' (JPG).

The X-axis across shows the position of a detector measuring 'dose' - lets assume the units are arbitarary.

The requirement of the task was to display the x-axis as a 'positive' value even though it is linked to the 'negative' cell range. So, what I did was I used the 'Format Axis' (right click on Y-axis) > 'number' tab > selected 'positive value' given in red. This gave me positive y-values. Pretty simple eh?!

Question: As you can see, the Y-axis values are actually in 'red' font and are not negative values ('-') as displayed. I achieved my goal in part.

The problem is, how do I change the 'red' font (Y-axis) to be 'black'? (note the '0' value is black of course and the X-axis was left alone - it is Number > General).

This may look like simple to solve - but I have tried to solve it and not got to teh bottom of it. I am still optimistic about the solution. Microsoft must have a solution!

I really need a work around to this. It is doing my head in (you know what its like!). There must be some wiz out there who knows exactly what im talking about and can solve it in seconds!

Thanks in advance & look forward to solutions (!).

Kind regards

Usman
England, UK

Hi Usman,

Try this, right click on the Y axis, Format Axis > Number > Custom

#0;[Black]-#0

if need be, set the font to black as well

oldchippy

Hi,

Take a look at Andy's solutions :

http://www.andypope.info/charts/Invertneg.htm

Hi oldchippy

Thanks for your message.

I tried using '#0;[Black]-#0' but again although the font is now black, the axis is negative (instead of being positive). Remember that the y-axis values are referenced to 'negative' cells.

My aim is to have a positive Y-axis and the axis fonts in black.

Hope this helps.

Usman

Originally Posted by oldchippy

Hi Usman,

Try this, right click on the Y axis, Format Axis > Number > Custom

#0;[Black]-#0

if need be, set the font to black as well

oldchippy

How about?

#0;[Black]+#0

oldchippy

See the "Create or delete a custom number format" entry in the Excel Help.

I would suggest simply "#;#;0"

Note however that this restricts you to integer values.

I always find these number formats a bit counter-intuitive,
but with a bit of trial and error you should be able to patch something together that matches your requirements.

If it were me, I would probably have added another column (remember, memory is cheap these days) =-B1 then used that column to prepare the plot.