Having a problem trying to format data in a chart from columns to lines

**Starbucks Junkie** · 03-19-2009, 07:07 AM

Dear all,

I have created a combination chart, with sales volumes as columns and a Sales Uplift percentage as a line, on a combination chart with two axis'.

Now my issue is that I want to add a previous years uplift % data, when I attempt to do this, last years data get represented correctly as a line on the secondary axis, but the previous line data now converts to a column and is displayed on the primary axis, this causes the data to disappear due to the range of the primary axis.

My question is how can I add the additional data into the chart, have it displayed as a line on the secondary axis whilst keeping the original data and format and axis' integrity?

**Andy Pope** · 03-19-2009, 07:27 AM

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**Andy Pope** · 03-19-2009, 07:29 AM

Rather than use the built-in combination chart type construct your own.

Start by creating a column chart with both data sets.
Select the Sales uplift series and change the chart type to Line.
Move the series to the secondary axis.

You can now add additional series which will automatically appear on the secondary axis as line chart.

**Starbucks Junkie** · 03-19-2009, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by Andy Pope

Rather than use the built-in combination chart type construct your own.

Start by creating a column chart with both data sets.
Select the Sales uplift series and change the chart type to Line.
Move the series to the secondary axis.

You can now add additional series which will automatically appear on the secondary axis as line chart.

Apologies for the incorrect title, I thought it alluded to my type of problem... sorry.

I have done what you have said, unfortunately I cannot select the uplift data as it is not visible on the chart due to the range requirements of the volume data, which is in hundreds of thousands, whereby the uplift data in percentages is less than a hundred.

Any ideas on how I can select the data on the chart that is not visible?

**Starbucks Junkie** · 03-19-2009, 07:59 AM

I have solved this problem by amending the details that you told me, so thank you very much.

I created a Line chart first, added my third data series in as a line, moved both Uplift data series to the secondary axis, and then converted the first data series, the volume sales, into a column via the chart type option.

Fantastic.

What a great forum...

**Andy Pope** · 03-19-2009, 08:11 AM

Couple of ways to select chart items that are not clickable.

Use the Up/Down cursor keys to cycle through the main charting elements, such as plot area, legend, chart title and series.
Left/Right cursor take you through minor elements such as points in a series, legend entries.

Display the Chart toolbar and use the dropdown selection,