Can I use non-numeric x axis data in excel charts?

[JOHN PERKINS 31]

I need to show numeric data on the y-axis versus categories, not numbers, on
the x-axis in a scatterdiagram (in other words there will be several
different y-axis data poits for each x-axis category) . How do I do this in
an excel scatter graph?

 

[Jon Peltier]

That's generally a line chart, but if the same category appears multiple
times in a series, it's not what you want.

You can assign numerical values to the categories (1, 2, 3), plot the Y
values against these assigned values, then add a dummy axis with the
category labels:
http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Charts/ArbitraryAxis.html

- Jon

 

[Del Cotter]

I need to show numeric data on the y-axis versus categories, not numbers, on
the x-axis in a scatterdiagram (in other words there will be several
different y-axis data poits for each x-axis category) . How do I do this in
an excel scatter graph?

Make a dummy category x-axis by creating a range with evenly-spaced
x-values, and y-values all zero. This will create a row of data points
along the bottom. Then give them data labels (any type will do).

Then change the data labels to read your required categories. You can
either do this by manually editing them or by using one of the useful
free add-ins for chart labeling.

For dummy axes google "excel dummy axis" or "excel arbitrary axis", and
for automatic data labels try google "excel chart labeling"

Or, you could choose a Line Chart type, and just let the chart use up to
256 series. You can make the series look all the same by formatting the
first one to your liking, then using a cursor key and F4 to quickly step
through all the series repeating the same format change.