Chart with Timeline Using Week1, Week2, etc.

  • Thread starter Thread starter DOUG ECKERT
  • Start date Start date
D

DOUG ECKERT

I am trying to convert a Gantt chart with a timeline into a horizontal 3-D
bar chart. the field labels contain "Apr Wk1, Apr Wk2" and so on, extending
through September. The resulting chart is a mess. 'Any suggestions?

DOUG
 
First, use a 2D chart. All the extra shapes and colors needed to make a 2D
chart look like 3D simply adds a ton of clutter to begin with, before you
even get problems with the data itself.

Second, use real dates for your values. Excel doesn't know how to plot text
like "Apr Wk 1" on a value axis.

To get labels like "Apr Wk 1", add a fake axis using an XY series as in
these examples:
http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Charts/ChartIndex.html#AxisScales

- Jon
 
Jon: I figured the dates part out on my own and substituted the dates of
each Monday from Apr through Sep. Then, I built the chart instructions -
VERY laboriously, I might add. The result shows the dates in the Y-axis, no
data on the chart and no labels on the X-Axis. (The X-axis shows just
numbers, like 0, 0.5, 1.0 and so on). I turned this over to a co-worker who
is much smarter than I am, but I have not heard from him all day, so there is
a good chance he has been stumped, too. Part of the problem, I believe, is
that the data cells do not contain data as such. Rather, they have status
updates for employee positions, "ASSIGNED AND AVAILABLE, ASSIGNED AND
UN-AVAILABLE and POSITION UN-FILLED". I tried a pivot table too, but, as in
the basic chart, the department labels from Column 1 were missing, (i.e., the
X-axis labels). So, any constructive advice is welcome.

(The user requested a horizontal, 3-D chart showning a timeline. The first
column lists departments and the field headings display (now) the Mondays of
each week. The data shows when staff members are available to work and when
positions will become vacant. It made a very nice, color-coded MS Excel
spreadsheet - but, the bar chart is not working out so well.

Thanks for your time and wise counsel.

Sincerely,
DOUG
 
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