line graph question

**Peter C** · 01-14-2012, 02:50 PM

Hi,

I am graphing 2 lines on the same x,y axis.

My problem is that I don't have data for the first few years for one series i.e.

Forecast
yr 1 --
yr 2 --
yr 3 --
yr 4 $120,000
yr 5 $125,650

The attached Excel file includes a line graph made by the publisher. My goal is to be able to replicate it.

When I chart it, my chart includes the double dashes (--) as zero.

My only way around this so far has been to change the colour of the segments to white to hide them. This solution isn't great because Excel still reads the dashes as zero which messes up the y-axis interval.

Is there a proper way to deal with this?

Thanks,
Peter

**martindwilson** · 01-14-2012, 03:12 PM

try putting =na() instead of the --

**scottylad2** · 01-14-2012, 03:19 PM

Put this in H3 and drag Down =IF(ISNUMBER(G3),G3,NA()) and take your chart data from column H, also you can go into the format Axis dialogou and set your min value to what you want, say 100,000 and your output will match your desired sample

**jpr73** · 01-14-2012, 07:23 PM

Hi,
See attached the desired line graph with all the different format
The trick is :
- select the "Forecast" line
- select the first point at year 4
- format the data point > color of the line > no feature
Hope this helps
Best regards