Setting x axis scale to time with variable intervals

[Guest]

I want to chart observations made at random intervals throughout the day on
an area chart. If i use x-y scatter, the x-axis spacing is correct (points
are proportional to the time), but i can't get an area chart. If I use the
area chart, the observations are all spaced equally along the x axis.

Does anyone know how to make the x-axis plot time for normal charts?

 

[Jon Peltier]

The XY Scatter chart is what I call a "normal" chart, because the X and
Y axes are both numerical. That's my scientific background coming out.

Other types of charts, such as column, line, and area, have a value axis
(Y) and a category axis (X) which ignores any apparent numerical values
in its data. You can get a pseudo-numerical axis if you select a
time-scale axis rather than a category axis (Chart menu - Chart Options
- Axes tab), but it only does dates (whole numbers), not times
(fractional numbers).

Your best option is to think about why you need the area chart
formatting, and to see whether you can convince yourself to use a
scatter chart. If after all of this, you still must use an area chart
type, read the following web page, which explains how to apply area
chart formatting in a scatter chart.

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

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