Excel 2007 : Adding dates to horizontal axis

[ExcelH]

Hi,

I'm trying to graph dates (5/14/2009 etc) on the x-axis and dissolved oxygen levels on the y-axis. I can't seem to figure out how to add the exact dates in my data to the horizontal axis in Excel 2007. Dates are displayed on the x-axis, but their not the dates in my data. Their close to the dates in the data, but not the exact dates. Is there any way to get the horizontal axis to display the exact dates in the data?

Thank for any help in advance.

[protonLeah]

Are you using a scatter chart?

[teylyn]

Good point, Ben.

ExcelH, if you want the exact dates, you need to use a line chart or column chart, which will take the dates as individual categories. For a line chart you will need to select to chart the X axis as categories.

An XY scatter chart will space the data points on a time line with appropriate spaces between the data items, so that Feb-1 and Feb2 are closer together than Feb-2 and Apr-1.

With a category axis, you will get these three dates in evenly spaced segments.

[ExcelH]

At first I was using an XY scatter, then I changed to a line. When I changed to a line graph I could set the date it started at, but the rest of the dates still do not correspond to my data. How do I chart the X-axis as categories?

Thanks!

[teylyn]

Click the chart, then go Chart - Chart Options - Axes tab and set the X axis to Category.

[ExcelH]

Teyln,

I'm using Excel 2007 and I don't see Chart - Chart Options - Axes tab and set the X axis to Category. When I click on the x-axis and click on Layout under "Chart Tools" and look at "Current Selection" Horizontal Category Axis is selected. So it must already be a category axis. Is there some other setting I could check?

[teylyn]

ExcelH, you've just registered for this forum and were asked to state your Excel version. This question is asked for a reason. It helps us not to send you off on a wild goose chase for things that differ between versions. So, if you normally use XL03 and only this post was about XL07, you could have pointed that out.

Or, if you use XL07 per default, please adjust your profile.

In Excel 2007 open the format Axis dialog for the X axis and select Axis Type = Text axis

hth

[ExcelH]

Teylyn,

I thought I added Excel 07 when I registered, but I will check that. In my first post I also said I was working in Excel 07. I apologize for the confusion. I didn't realize it.

[ExcelH]

I change my profile, I didn't even realize it said 03 in my information. My apologies again.

I changed the horizontal axis to text and it bunched all the dates to left where the x and y axis meet. I tried to get them to span out across the axis and coincide with the tick marks, but I didn't find anything that worked.

Thanks for all your help.

[teylyn]

can you post the file?

[ExcelH]

Yes, please see attached.

[teylyn]

Set the Axis to Text axis and below that, make sure that Vertical axis crosses at: is set to automatic. That should do the trick. See attached

[ExcelH]

Teylyn,

I can't thank you enough. It's finally working.

I noticed some posts have a solved next to it? Do I add that?

[teylyn]

If you are satisfied with the solution(s) provided, please mark your thread as Solved.

How to mark a thread Solved
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