Chart display problem when changing axis minimum/maximum

[Peter]

I encounter this problem both in Excel 2003 and Excel 2007:

I created a simple scatter chart with lines, with only two datapoints:

x y
0 0
1 1

This gives a correct chart with a straight line through {0,0} and {1,1}.

The problem occurs when I change the axis minimum of both axes to 0.999.

Excel should display a chart with a straight line through {0.999,0.999} and
{1,1}. But it does not. The line is crossing the x-axis somewhere around
0.9994 (different exact value in both Excel versions).

Can I solve this problem with changing Excel settings or would this be
caused by a bug in the software?

 

[Jon Peltier]

I tried this in 2003 SP3, and it worked as one would expect. Have you
applied all service packs to your Office installations?

- Jon

 

[EricG]

I was able to re-create your issue. I'm running 2003 (11.8307.8221) SP3. I
did find that by manipulating the aspect ratio of the plot area to be sqaure,
I could force the line through the (0.999,0.999) point! If the plot area is
wider than it is tall, then the line moves to the right on the x-axis. If
the plot area is taller than it is wide, the line crawls up the y-axis.

That's either a bug or a feature, but it certainly isn't normal!

Eric

 

[Peter T]

I replicate the problem in Excel 2000, 2003 and 2007. The slightly different
values in each version where the line crosses the X axis also seem to depend
on the maximum value of the axis, and whether or not there are
lengend/titles, precision of the numberformat and no doubt other things.
Curious, I can't immediately think of a workaround, other than the obvious
don't apply such minimums!

Regards,
Peter T

 

[Peter T]

Yes Eric, I also replicate your observations with different aspect ratios,
square looks right!

Regards,
Peter T

 

[Jon Peltier]

Apparently the default aspect ratios I tested with are not affected by
this problem. Good thing Eric and Peter T looked a bit more closely.

- Jon