Specify which data goes on which axis in a chart

[B. Kling]

Hey, short notice beforehand, I use Excel 2003, so please don't try and solve this with any features specific to Excel 2007, 2008 or 2010.

So, I'm trying to make a barchart in Excel. Here is the data I want to use:

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/5038/dataexcel1.png

I want column A to go on the X axis, and the corresponding data in column B to go on the Y axis. Instead, I get this rubbish:

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4634/dataexcel2.png

How do I fix it?

[Andy Pope]

Because Excel thinks both columns are values it assumes you want 2 series plotted on a automatic category axis.

Simplest thing to do would be to insert a row at the top and place the series name in B1, leave A1 empty. This will allow excel to better guess your data layout.

If you can not change the data layout then select only the values in column B, create the chart and then use the Source data dialog to select the Category range in column A.