Dumb charting question

I cannot seem to get the charting function to present a
simple graph of Y as a function of X. I'm charting spring
force as a function of compressed length. X compression
results in Y force. Excel seems to want to make both X
and Y into series to be graphed. What am I missing? Want
length along x-axis, force along y-axis. Simple, huh?
Apparently too simple for either Excel or me!
Help! Thanks.

Twirly -

Put the X data into a column (any column) and put the Y data into any
column, but best to put it in the column immediately to the right of the
X data. Select the range, start the chart wizard, and make an XY Scatter
chart (NOT a Line chart). The first column will be used for your X
values, and any other columns for Y values. A Line chart tries to guess
at X, and treats X as category labels, not as numerical values; and if
the first column is numerical and not a date, Excel will just assume you
are just plotting Y values without any category labels.

Here's everything you always wanted to know about Scatter and Line charts:

http://peltiertech.com/Excel/ChartsH...ValueAxis.html
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/P...cle.asp?ID=190

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services
http://PeltierTech.com/Excel/Charts/
_______

twirly wrote:

I cannot seem to get the charting function to present a
simple graph of Y as a function of X. I'm charting spring
force as a function of compressed length. X compression
results in Y force. Excel seems to want to make both X
and Y into series to be graphed. What am I missing? Want
length along x-axis, force along y-axis. Simple, huh?
Apparently too simple for either Excel or me!
Help! Thanks.

Thanks! The key was understanding the difference between
line charts and scatter diagrams. Apparently then Excel
will assume some numerical scale property for scatter
charts that it does not for line charts. Thanks.

-----Original Message-----
Twirly -

Put the X data into a column (any column) and put the Y
data into any
column, but best to put it in the column immediately to
the right of the
X data. Select the range, start the chart wizard, and
make an XY Scatter
chart (NOT a Line chart). The first column will be used
for your X
values, and any other columns for Y values. A Line chart
tries to guess
at X, and treats X as category labels, not as numerical
values; and if
the first column is numerical and not a date, Excel will
just assume you
are just plotting Y values without any category labels.

Here's everything you always wanted to know about Scatter
and Line charts:


http://peltiertech.com/Excel/ChartsH...sValueAxis.htm
l

http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/P...PMArticle.asp?
ID=190

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services
http://PeltierTech.com/Excel/Charts/
_______

twirly wrote:

I cannot seem to get the charting function to present a
simple graph of Y as a function of X. I'm charting
spring
force as a function of compressed length. X
compression
results in Y force. Excel seems to want to make both X
and Y into series to be graphed. What am I missing?
Want
length along x-axis, force along y-axis. Simple, huh?
Apparently too simple for either Excel or me!
Help! Thanks.

.

That's exactly it. The problem is that for such an easy concept, it's
very hard for users to discover on their own.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services
http://PeltierTech.com/Excel/Charts/
_______

wrote:

Thanks! The key was understanding the difference between
line charts and scatter diagrams. Apparently then Excel
will assume some numerical scale property for scatter
charts that it does not for line charts. Thanks.


-----Original Message-----
Twirly -

Put the X data into a column (any column) and put the Y

data into any

column, but best to put it in the column immediately to

the right of the

X data. Select the range, start the chart wizard, and

make an XY Scatter

chart (NOT a Line chart). The first column will be used

for your X

values, and any other columns for Y values. A Line chart

tries to guess

at X, and treats X as category labels, not as numerical

values; and if

the first column is numerical and not a date, Excel will

just assume you

are just plotting Y values without any category labels.

Here's everything you always wanted to know about Scatter

and Line charts:



http://peltiertech.com/Excel/ChartsH...sValueAxis.htm
l



http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/P...PMArticle.asp?
ID=190

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services
http://PeltierTech.com/Excel/Charts/
_______

twirly wrote:


I cannot seem to get the charting function to present a
simple graph of Y as a function of X. I'm charting

spring

force as a function of compressed length. X

compression

results in Y force. Excel seems to want to make both X
and Y into series to be graphed. What am I missing?

Want

length along x-axis, force along y-axis. Simple, huh?
Apparently too simple for either Excel or me!
Help! Thanks.

.