Excel 2007 : Plotting Line Graph with Values

**mommajayne** · 06-10-2010, 07:29 PM

Not as good at Excel as I would like to be. Had to do a line graph for work, my boss wants the values to be shown at the markers. Problem is you can't read the graph, it just a big mess, with all these values overlapping. I can't figure out how to space it and still have the information he wants visible showing. I have tried various ways of messing with the y axis to spread things out some, but no luck. Can anyone give me a hand.

**Palmetto** · 06-10-2010, 08:03 PM

Perhaps this link will be of help: Chart Formatting Techniques and Tricks

Sounds like you could be trying to plot too many values (there is a practical limit), but since we don't have access to your workbooks no one can say, exactly, what the issue is. You could upload it for someone to take a look at.

**mommajayne** · 06-11-2010, 09:19 AM

I had thought about that, but was also told this is how my boss wants the report.

**romperstomper** · 06-11-2010, 10:17 AM

You could do something like this? I added a new set of data that the chart actually plots, which omits any points that are the same as the points on both sides. That way you have fewer data labels.

**Raveydavey** · 06-11-2010, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by mommajayne

I had thought about that, but was also told this is how my boss wants the report.

Try reducing the values to only 2 decimal points (ie to the cent) that will shorten them, then align them to the top of the data point, then change the angle of text to 270deg... that seems to fit ok...