Chart in time phase

[jzis]

I need to develop a line chart which includes 2 columns of data. Say for
instance the data looks as follows:
5 6
15 9
20 12
50 25

Columns with the 5 and the 6 are for March.
Columns with the 15 and the 9 are for February.
So as we go up, the month increases.

When I make my graph, the 5 and the 6 are first plotted points, the 15 and
the 9 are the second, etc. In other words, it is plotting March, February,
January, instead of January, February, March.

How can I make the chart plot in a logical time phased manner? That is,
Jan, Feb, Mar, etc?

Thanks.
jzis

 

[Luke M]

Instead of plain text "January, February, etc" use dates, i.e. 1/1, 2/1, 3/1
(which you could format to dispay as just months, which is custom format
mmmm). You should now be able to choose your chart and XL can rearrange the
numbers it sees now for the months into the correct order.

 

[jzis]

Thank you for your reply, Luke.
My data however is already formatted

April 18 $25
April 25 $12
May 2 $86
etc... etc...

Excel currently reads and thus charts my chart top to bottom. I would like
it charted top to bottom, so that the chart is plotted left to right (time
phased)

Thanks.
jzis

 

[Luke M]

Are your labels inputted as text, or dates? Dates should be working correctly
(at least it does in my workbook) so I'll assume you just have text that
reads "April 18". This is causing XL to think you have "Category" labels, and
you want "Number" labels. You can quickly convert these to date/number format
with a helper column containing:
=DATEVALUE(A1)
you can then base your chart off this helper column