Widening Columns in Chart

[Hoosierquilt]

Help. I am creating a chart that shows quantity (in whole numbers) for
several different data sets per week in columns. The x axis is supposed to
be in weekly intervals. If I do not include the cells with the weeks listed
in my x axis labels field in the "Source Data", my columns look great - nice
and wide, easy to see. Once I select my cells with my dates in them, the
columns get very skinny. I tried changing the gap and the overlap, with no
success. Help! How can I get my columns to look nice and wide, and still
have my weeks listed in my x axis??

 

[Jon Peltier]

The time scale axis has no Weeks setting. If Excel recognizes your dates as
dates, it will use Days instead, so for each weekly data point you will have
one column and six spaces, hence your thin columns. Change the time scale
axis to a regular category axis by going to Chart menu > Chart Options >
Axes, and selecting Category under Category (X) Axis.

- Jon

 

[Hoosierquilt]

BRILLIANT. That did it, Jon, egads, why didn't **I** think of that. I chose
all the other selections. Who would of guessed it (not me). Okay, another
question on the same damned chart: I am trying to plot some differing data
(ergo, a secondary axis, that much I know). My first data points as I
mentioned are whole numbers (I run a call center, and I'm looking at total
incoming calls, total outbound calls, and Ave. answer time in seconds). So,
the third data set is in seconds, not whole numbers. I've got my secondary Y
axis selected, chosen a line graph, set the secondary y axis in seconds, and
I've captured all my weeks worth of ave. answer times in seconds over the
weeks, but all the data points read as zero. The nice little pink line is
laying flat on the x axis. When I float my mouse over the data points, they
all read as zero. How do I get my nice little line to follow the secondary y
axis on the right side of the chart?

 

[Jon Peltier]

These points read zero, but they're not zero?

To get a series onto secondary axes (and to add secondary axes if they
aren't yet present) you double click the series, and on the Axis tab, choose
Secondary.

How are your seconds defined in the worksheet? Are they times, formatted
something like hh:mm:ss or mm:ss or ? Your secondary axis should be
formatted the same. If the axis is formatted as whole numbers, the seconds
would appear as zeros, since one second is 0.000011574 days (i.e., 86,400
seconds per day).

- Jon

 

[Hoosierquilt]

That's correct, the values are in seconds, such as :02, :03, :04, etc. up to
about :08 seconds (we're quick to answer our phones).

I have the secondary axis checked, and my seconds are defined as time in
seconds in the cells (Time=13:30:55). The problem is in defining the
secondary axis in seconds. When I open up the "Format Axis" box, the values
in the "Scale" tab are numeric. I have the "Number" tab set to Time (13:30
or 13:30:55, it doesn't seem to make a difference), but it's the "Scale" tab
that defines the increments, and that's a number, not a time value. Any other
suggestions??

These points read zero, but they're not zero?

To get a series onto secondary axes (and to add secondary axes if they
aren't yet present) you double click the series, and on the Axis tab, choose
Secondary.

How are your seconds defined in the worksheet? Are they times, formatted
something like hh:mm:ss or mm:ss or ? Your secondary axis should be
formatted the same. If the axis is formatted as whole numbers, the seconds
would appear as zeros, since one second is 0.000011574 days (i.e., 86,400
seconds per day).

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

BRILLIANT. That did it, Jon, egads, why didn't **I** think of that. I
chose
all the other selections. Who would of guessed it (not me). Okay,
another
question on the same damned chart: I am trying to plot some differing
data
(ergo, a secondary axis, that much I know). My first data points as I
mentioned are whole numbers (I run a call center, and I'm looking at total
incoming calls, total outbound calls, and Ave. answer time in seconds).
So,
the third data set is in seconds, not whole numbers. I've got my
secondary Y
axis selected, chosen a line graph, set the secondary y axis in seconds,
and
I've captured all my weeks worth of ave. answer times in seconds over the
weeks, but all the data points read as zero. The nice little pink line is
laying flat on the x axis. When I float my mouse over the data points,
they
all read as zero. How do I get my nice little line to follow the
secondary y
axis on the right side of the chart?

 

[Jon Peltier]

If you're not using Excel 2007, you can enter the axis scale parameters in
convenient formats, like 0:00:10 for ten seconds or 1:00 for one hour. When
you revisit the dialog, Excel will have converted the time values into their
decimal equivalents. Excel 2007's dialogs unfortunately do not recognize
entries with these formats.

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

That's correct, the values are in seconds, such as :02, :03, :04, etc. up
to
about :08 seconds (we're quick to answer our phones).

I have the secondary axis checked, and my seconds are defined as time in
seconds in the cells (Time=13:30:55). The problem is in defining the
secondary axis in seconds. When I open up the "Format Axis" box, the
values
in the "Scale" tab are numeric. I have the "Number" tab set to Time
(13:30
or 13:30:55, it doesn't seem to make a difference), but it's the "Scale"
tab
that defines the increments, and that's a number, not a time value. Any
other
suggestions??

These points read zero, but they're not zero?

To get a series onto secondary axes (and to add secondary axes if they
aren't yet present) you double click the series, and on the Axis tab,
choose
Secondary.

How are your seconds defined in the worksheet? Are they times, formatted
something like hh:mm:ss or mm:ss or ? Your secondary axis should be
formatted the same. If the axis is formatted as whole numbers, the
seconds
would appear as zeros, since one second is 0.000011574 days (i.e., 86,400
seconds per day).

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

BRILLIANT. That did it, Jon, egads, why didn't **I** think of that. I
chose
all the other selections. Who would of guessed it (not me). Okay,
another
question on the same damned chart: I am trying to plot some differing
data
(ergo, a secondary axis, that much I know). My first data points as I
mentioned are whole numbers (I run a call center, and I'm looking at
total
incoming calls, total outbound calls, and Ave. answer time in seconds).
So,
the third data set is in seconds, not whole numbers. I've got my
secondary Y
axis selected, chosen a line graph, set the secondary y axis in
seconds,
and
I've captured all my weeks worth of ave. answer times in seconds over
the
weeks, but all the data points read as zero. The nice little pink line
is
laying flat on the x axis. When I float my mouse over the data points,
they
all read as zero. How do I get my nice little line to follow the
secondary y
axis on the right side of the chart?

:

The time scale axis has no Weeks setting. If Excel recognizes your
dates
as
dates, it will use Days instead, so for each weekly data point you
will
have
one column and six spaces, hence your thin columns. Change the time
scale
axis to a regular category axis by going to Chart menu > Chart Options

Axes, and selecting Category under Category (X) Axis.

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


message
Help. I am creating a chart that shows quantity (in whole numbers)
for
several different data sets per week in columns. The x axis is
supposed
to
be in weekly intervals. If I do not include the cells with the
weeks
listed
in my x axis labels field in the "Source Data", my columns look
great -
nice
and wide, easy to see. Once I select my cells with my dates in
them,
the
columns get very skinny. I tried changing the gap and the overlap,
with
no
success. Help! How can I get my columns to look nice and wide, and
still
have my weeks listed in my x axis??

 

[Hoosierquilt]

Nope, Exel 2003. Okay, I have two issues: Getting the scale values typed in
correctly, so the secondary x axis will read, ":00, :01, :02... to :08, AND
formatting the cells with the correct number/time selection (still showing as
zeros). In trying to define the scale values for the secondary x axis, I
entered 0:00:10 as the max value, and 0:00:01 for both the major and minor
unit. Not sure what to place checks by, as MS Exel is slim in their
explanation of how the scale values work, very frustrating. So, Jon, if you
would extend your patience to one last reply, if you can help me define the
numeric values in my cells properly, and set the scale values on the
secondary x axis with me, I think I could actually get this stupid chart to
demonstrate what I want. Thanks!

Patty

If you're not using Excel 2007, you can enter the axis scale parameters in
convenient formats, like 0:00:10 for ten seconds or 1:00 for one hour. When
you revisit the dialog, Excel will have converted the time values into their
decimal equivalents. Excel 2007's dialogs unfortunately do not recognize
entries with these formats.

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

That's correct, the values are in seconds, such as :02, :03, :04, etc. up
to
about :08 seconds (we're quick to answer our phones).

I have the secondary axis checked, and my seconds are defined as time in
seconds in the cells (Time=13:30:55). The problem is in defining the
secondary axis in seconds. When I open up the "Format Axis" box, the
values
in the "Scale" tab are numeric. I have the "Number" tab set to Time
(13:30
or 13:30:55, it doesn't seem to make a difference), but it's the "Scale"
tab
that defines the increments, and that's a number, not a time value. Any
other
suggestions??

These points read zero, but they're not zero?

To get a series onto secondary axes (and to add secondary axes if they
aren't yet present) you double click the series, and on the Axis tab,
choose
Secondary.

How are your seconds defined in the worksheet? Are they times, formatted
something like hh:mm:ss or mm:ss or ? Your secondary axis should be
formatted the same. If the axis is formatted as whole numbers, the
seconds
would appear as zeros, since one second is 0.000011574 days (i.e., 86,400
seconds per day).

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


BRILLIANT. That did it, Jon, egads, why didn't **I** think of that. I
chose
all the other selections. Who would of guessed it (not me). Okay,
another
question on the same damned chart: I am trying to plot some differing
data
(ergo, a secondary axis, that much I know). My first data points as I
mentioned are whole numbers (I run a call center, and I'm looking at
total
incoming calls, total outbound calls, and Ave. answer time in seconds).
So,
the third data set is in seconds, not whole numbers. I've got my
secondary Y
axis selected, chosen a line graph, set the secondary y axis in
seconds,
and
I've captured all my weeks worth of ave. answer times in seconds over
the
weeks, but all the data points read as zero. The nice little pink line
is
laying flat on the x axis. When I float my mouse over the data points,
they
all read as zero. How do I get my nice little line to follow the
secondary y
axis on the right side of the chart?

:

The time scale axis has no Weeks setting. If Excel recognizes your
dates
as
dates, it will use Days instead, so for each weekly data point you
will
have
one column and six spaces, hence your thin columns. Change the time
scale
axis to a regular category axis by going to Chart menu > Chart Options

Axes, and selecting Category under Category (X) Axis.

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


message
Help. I am creating a chart that shows quantity (in whole numbers)
for
several different data sets per week in columns. The x axis is
supposed
to
be in weekly intervals. If I do not include the cells with the
weeks
listed
in my x axis labels field in the "Source Data", my columns look
great -
nice
and wide, easy to see. Once I select my cells with my dates in
them,
the
columns get very skinny. I tried changing the gap and the overlap,
with
no
success. Help! How can I get my columns to look nice and wide, and
still
have my weeks listed in my x axis??

 

[Jon Peltier]

If you check the boxes marked Auto, Excel will automatically determine your
axis parameters. Notice if you enter a value in one of the boxes, the box
unchecks itself. So don't check any boxes where you've entered values.

Your number format should be :ss

What do the cells look like? (Paste a sample of the values in a reply.)
Format the cells so Horizontal Alignment is General: are the values left or
right aligned within the cells. If left aligned, then they are text and must
be converted. To convert, copy a blank cell, select the cells to be
converted, go to Edit menu > Paste Special, and choose Operation: Add. If
this doesn't convert the values, then you have work to do.

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

Nope, Exel 2003. Okay, I have two issues: Getting the scale values typed
in
correctly, so the secondary x axis will read, ":00, :01, :02... to :08,
AND
formatting the cells with the correct number/time selection (still showing
as
zeros). In trying to define the scale values for the secondary x axis, I
entered 0:00:10 as the max value, and 0:00:01 for both the major and minor
unit. Not sure what to place checks by, as MS Exel is slim in their
explanation of how the scale values work, very frustrating. So, Jon, if
you
would extend your patience to one last reply, if you can help me define
the
numeric values in my cells properly, and set the scale values on the
secondary x axis with me, I think I could actually get this stupid chart
to
demonstrate what I want. Thanks!

Patty

If you're not using Excel 2007, you can enter the axis scale parameters
in
convenient formats, like 0:00:10 for ten seconds or 1:00 for one hour.
When
you revisit the dialog, Excel will have converted the time values into
their
decimal equivalents. Excel 2007's dialogs unfortunately do not recognize
entries with these formats.

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

That's correct, the values are in seconds, such as :02, :03, :04, etc.
up
to
about :08 seconds (we're quick to answer our phones).

I have the secondary axis checked, and my seconds are defined as time
in
seconds in the cells (Time=13:30:55). The problem is in defining the
secondary axis in seconds. When I open up the "Format Axis" box, the
values
in the "Scale" tab are numeric. I have the "Number" tab set to Time
(13:30
or 13:30:55, it doesn't seem to make a difference), but it's the
"Scale"
tab
that defines the increments, and that's a number, not a time value. Any
other
suggestions??

:

These points read zero, but they're not zero?

To get a series onto secondary axes (and to add secondary axes if they
aren't yet present) you double click the series, and on the Axis tab,
choose
Secondary.

How are your seconds defined in the worksheet? Are they times,
formatted
something like hh:mm:ss or mm:ss or ? Your secondary axis should be
formatted the same. If the axis is formatted as whole numbers, the
seconds
would appear as zeros, since one second is 0.000011574 days (i.e.,
86,400
seconds per day).

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


message
BRILLIANT. That did it, Jon, egads, why didn't **I** think of that.
I
chose
all the other selections. Who would of guessed it (not me). Okay,
another
question on the same damned chart: I am trying to plot some
differing
data
(ergo, a secondary axis, that much I know). My first data points
as I
mentioned are whole numbers (I run a call center, and I'm looking at
total
incoming calls, total outbound calls, and Ave. answer time in
seconds).
So,
the third data set is in seconds, not whole numbers. I've got my
secondary Y
axis selected, chosen a line graph, set the secondary y axis in
seconds,
and
I've captured all my weeks worth of ave. answer times in seconds
over
the
weeks, but all the data points read as zero. The nice little pink
line
is
laying flat on the x axis. When I float my mouse over the data
points,
they
all read as zero. How do I get my nice little line to follow the
secondary y
axis on the right side of the chart?

:

The time scale axis has no Weeks setting. If Excel recognizes your
dates
as
dates, it will use Days instead, so for each weekly data point you
will
have
one column and six spaces, hence your thin columns. Change the time
scale
axis to a regular category axis by going to Chart menu > Chart
Options

Axes, and selecting Category under Category (X) Axis.

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


message
Help. I am creating a chart that shows quantity (in whole
numbers)
for
several different data sets per week in columns. The x axis is
supposed
to
be in weekly intervals. If I do not include the cells with the
weeks
listed
in my x axis labels field in the "Source Data", my columns look
great -
nice
and wide, easy to see. Once I select my cells with my dates in
them,
the
columns get very skinny. I tried changing the gap and the
overlap,
with
no
success. Help! How can I get my columns to look nice and wide,
and
still
have my weeks listed in my x axis??