error bars

[Guest]

In excel 2007 I want to compare to series in bar graphs. I want to put error
bars on the graph. The series values are averages of multiple numbers and
standard deviations and standard errors of means are easily calculated. When
go to format selection, select my series and then click on the layout tab,
I see the "Error bars" control, but it is faded out as if it is inactive.

How do I activate this function so that I can add error bars to my graph?
Does the data have to be entered in a specific manner in order to generate
error bars?

 

[Guest]

Hi,

I created a bar chart in xl2007. I can click anywhere on the chart and I get
the chart Tools (3 extra ribbons) displayed (Design, Layout and Format).

I click on Layout ribbon and I see Error Bars in the Analysis block.

I click on Error Bars and I get a drop down with the 5 options (None, Error
bars with standard error, Error bars with percentage, Error bars with
standard deviation and More Error bar options.

Clicking on More error bar options allows the series to be selected and
after selecting the series, all the error bar display options come up.

Is the above what you are doing? Because if it is then I am afraid I do not
know what the problem is.

Regards,

OssieMac

 

[Andy Pope]

Hi,

Make sure the chart is not of the 3d sub type.

Cheers
Andy

 

[Jon Peltier]

Good advice whether or not error bars are an issue.

- Jon

 

[Guest]

Thanks so much. I guess the problem is the 3D subtype. Why can't we put
error bars in this subtype?

 

[Andy Pope]

I guess because they never added the feature, which is probably a good thing
due to the distorting effect of using 3d.

Cheers
Andy