Excel should allow multiple X and Y scales for...

I am trying to create a chart which has several data series in it. The data
series have widely varied ranges, and I need multiple X-scales, stacked on
top of each other to properly display the data.

This is a pretty common task in the Oceanographic community, as we typically
have data plots which show various parameters (salinity, temperature,
turbidity, etc) vs. depth, where depth is plotted on the Y-axis (values in
reverse order) and the other parameters are on the X-axis. the other data
series appear as multiple overlayed plots, each with a different X-axis
scale.

The only thing I can find in Excel is the ability to add a secondary Y-axis.
There needs to be a way to add scales (axes) for each data series if
necessary, in both X and Y, as well as have multiple series share the same
scale (the way they do now).

The appropriate chart would be a XY Scatter chart. Also, while XL does
have a secondary x-axis capability, I don't see how you can have more
than two x-axis for a single y-axis. Below are a few options that
should at the very least get you pointed in right direction.

To plot the depth on the y-axis and whatever else on the x-axis, the
easiest way would be to put the depth to the right of the whatever
(duplicate the column if necessary). Now, plot the whatever column and
the depth column in a XY Scatter chart. Select the next whatever and
the depth column and copy. Select the chart, then Edit | Paste
Special... In the dialog box, check the option for 'the first column
contains x values'.

Double-click one of the 2 series plotted on the chart. From the axis
tab select secondary axis. This will move the series to the secondary
axis. Now, with the chart selected, select Chart | Chart Options... |
Axes tab | check 'Secondary x axis' Now, hide the secondary y-axis by
double-clicking on it and from the Patterns tab set all the options to
None.

An alternative would be to use a separate chart for each series a la
Stacked Charts
http://www.tushar-mehta.com/excel/ne...rts/index.html
except that you would not hide any of the x-axis.

A variant of the Stacked Charts would be to put the charts side-by-side
and to hide the y-axis for all subsequent charts (whereas in the
tutorial I hide the x-axis for all subsequent charts).

--
Regards,

Tushar Mehta
www.tushar-mehta.com
Multi-disciplinary business expertise
+ Technology skills
= Optimal solution to your business problem
Recipient Microsoft MVP award 2000-2004

In article ,
says...
I am trying to create a chart which has several data series in it. The data
series have widely varied ranges, and I need multiple X-scales, stacked on
top of each other to properly display the data.

This is a pretty common task in the Oceanographic community, as we typically
have data plots which show various parameters (salinity, temperature,
turbidity, etc) vs. depth, where depth is plotted on the Y-axis (values in
reverse order) and the other parameters are on the X-axis. the other data
series appear as multiple overlayed plots, each with a different X-axis
scale.

The only thing I can find in Excel is the ability to add a secondary Y-axis.
There needs to be a way to add scales (axes) for each data series if
necessary, in both X and Y, as well as have multiple series share the same
scale (the way they do now).

Here are some examples of what you are looking for. Once you know how to fake an
axis, you can visualize all kinds of possibilities.

http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Charts/StackedCharts.html

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
http://PeltierTech.com/
_______

lfrey wrote:

I am trying to create a chart which has several data series in it. The data
series have widely varied ranges, and I need multiple X-scales, stacked on
top of each other to properly display the data.

This is a pretty common task in the Oceanographic community, as we typically
have data plots which show various parameters (salinity, temperature,
turbidity, etc) vs. depth, where depth is plotted on the Y-axis (values in
reverse order) and the other parameters are on the X-axis. the other data
series appear as multiple overlayed plots, each with a different X-axis
scale.

The only thing I can find in Excel is the ability to add a secondary Y-axis.
There needs to be a way to add scales (axes) for each data series if
necessary, in both X and Y, as well as have multiple series share the same
scale (the way they do now).