X-Axis Scale Options Missing

I have a basic line chart with 4 series on it. I want to change the range
displayed on the x-axis (as I have done on numerous charts before). I right
clicked the axis and selected 'Scale' tab, but to my surprise the menu was
missing selections. Instead of options to display 'maximum' and 'minimum'
values, I instead have a menu with options to select where the Y axis
crosses, the number of categories between tick marks. Nothing about maximum
or minimum values.

What gives??

Arun -

Use an XY (Scatter) chart type, not a Line chart type.

That is, select the chart, and change the chart type from Line to XY
(Scatter).

- Mike Middleton
http://www.DecisionToolworks.com
Decision Analysis Add-ins for Excel


"Arun" <Arun@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4355D1A4-D59A-4C01-828A-55BC3B530E17@microsoft.com...
>I have a basic line chart with 4 series on it. I want to change the range
> displayed on the x-axis (as I have done on numerous charts before). I
> right
> clicked the axis and selected 'Scale' tab, but to my surprise the menu was
> missing selections. Instead of options to display 'maximum' and 'minimum'
> values, I instead have a menu with options to select where the Y axis
> crosses, the number of categories between tick marks. Nothing about
> maximum
> or minimum values.
>
> What gives??

That works, but... can you tell me why the line chart isn't working? I have
one right in the same file and have no issue modifying the x-axis scale. I
even tried copying it and changing the data references.

"Mike Middleton" wrote:

> Arun -
>
> Use an XY (Scatter) chart type, not a Line chart type.
>
> That is, select the chart, and change the chart type from Line to XY
> (Scatter).
>
> - Mike Middleton
> http://www.DecisionToolworks.com
> Decision Analysis Add-ins for Excel
>
>
> "Arun" <Arun@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:4355D1A4-D59A-4C01-828A-55BC3B530E17@microsoft.com...
> >I have a basic line chart with 4 series on it. I want to change the range
> > displayed on the x-axis (as I have done on numerous charts before). I
> > right
> > clicked the axis and selected 'Scale' tab, but to my surprise the menu was
> > missing selections. Instead of options to display 'maximum' and 'minimum'
> > values, I instead have a menu with options to select where the Y axis
> > crosses, the number of categories between tick marks. Nothing about
> > maximum
> > or minimum values.
> >
> > What gives??
>
>
>

On Sun, 11 Nov 2007, in microsoft.public.excel.charting,
Arun <Arun@discussions.microsoft.com> said:

>That works, but... can you tell me why the line chart isn't working? I have
>one right in the same file and have no issue modifying the x-axis scale. I
>even tried copying it and changing the data references.

Microsoft are all messed up when it comes to talking about charts. They
call a graph of interval against category a "line" chart. even though
the data may be in markers, lines, or lines *and* markers. And then they
talk about a graph of interval against interval a "scatter" chart, even
though it could just as easily be presented with lines.

Have you checked that the thing you call a "line" chart really is one? I
bet you'll find it's a "scatter" chart that happens to be formatted
using lines.

Way back in the dark ages, Lotus produced a basic and primitive graphing
facility in their spreadsheet. Microsoft knocked it off almost feature
for feature and called it "charting", and it hasn't really advanced
since then. The trouble is that they reproduced Lotus 123's bad design
features as well as the good ones, when a truly logical design would
have actually resulted in a quality improvement over their competitor.

But 'twas ever thus with MS. They never choose design quality when sheer
market dominance will suit their purpose just as well. I have this
fantasy that one day someone will design a graph utility based on known
principles of good visual display practice. One of those principles is
the "nominal, ordinal, interval" nomenclature devised by Stanley Stevens
in the 1940s, and I'd like to see a program where you could choose those
features of graph X and Y axes independently of the bogus "chart type"
nomenclature of line, scatter, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Level_of_measurement

For now, just remember that "line" isn't about lines, it's about
category x-axis, and scatter isn't about markers, it's about interval
x-axis. Either type can have lines or markers or both.

--
Del Cotter
NB Personal replies to this post will send email to del@branta.demon.co.uk,
which goes to a spam folder-- please send your email to del3 instead.

Love the response Del. I'm not the only one who sees this.

"Del Cotter" wrote:

> On Sun, 11 Nov 2007, in microsoft.public.excel.charting,
> Arun <Arun@discussions.microsoft.com> said:
>
> >That works, but... can you tell me why the line chart isn't working? I have
> >one right in the same file and have no issue modifying the x-axis scale. I
> >even tried copying it and changing the data references.
>
> Microsoft are all messed up when it comes to talking about charts. They
> call a graph of interval against category a "line" chart. even though
> the data may be in markers, lines, or lines *and* markers. And then they
> talk about a graph of interval against interval a "scatter" chart, even
> though it could just as easily be presented with lines.
>
> Have you checked that the thing you call a "line" chart really is one? I
> bet you'll find it's a "scatter" chart that happens to be formatted
> using lines.
>
> Way back in the dark ages, Lotus produced a basic and primitive graphing
> facility in their spreadsheet. Microsoft knocked it off almost feature
> for feature and called it "charting", and it hasn't really advanced
> since then. The trouble is that they reproduced Lotus 123's bad design
> features as well as the good ones, when a truly logical design would
> have actually resulted in a quality improvement over their competitor.
>
> But 'twas ever thus with MS. They never choose design quality when sheer
> market dominance will suit their purpose just as well. I have this
> fantasy that one day someone will design a graph utility based on known
> principles of good visual display practice. One of those principles is
> the "nominal, ordinal, interval" nomenclature devised by Stanley Stevens
> in the 1940s, and I'd like to see a program where you could choose those
> features of graph X and Y axes independently of the bogus "chart type"
> nomenclature of line, scatter, etc.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Level_of_measurement
>
> For now, just remember that "line" isn't about lines, it's about
> category x-axis, and scatter isn't about markers, it's about interval
> x-axis. Either type can have lines or markers or both.
>
> --
> Del Cotter
> NB Personal replies to this post will send email to del@branta.demon.co.uk,
> which goes to a spam folder-- please send your email to del3 instead.
>