Excel should allow multiple X and Y scales for...

[Guest]

I am trying to create a chart which has several data series in it. The data
series have widely varied ranges, and I need multiple X-scales, stacked on
top of each other to properly display the data.

This is a pretty common task in the Oceanographic community, as we typically
have data plots which show various parameters (salinity, temperature,
turbidity, etc) vs. depth, where depth is plotted on the Y-axis (values in
reverse order) and the other parameters are on the X-axis. the other data
series appear as multiple overlayed plots, each with a different X-axis
scale.

The only thing I can find in Excel is the ability to add a secondary Y-axis.
There needs to be a way to add scales (axes) for each data series if
necessary, in both X and Y, as well as have multiple series share the same
scale (the way they do now).

 

[Tushar Mehta]

The appropriate chart would be a XY Scatter chart. Also, while XL does
have a secondary x-axis capability, I don't see how you can have more
than two x-axis for a single y-axis. Below are a few options that
should at the very least get you pointed in right direction.

To plot the depth on the y-axis and whatever else on the x-axis, the
easiest way would be to put the depth to the right of the whatever
(duplicate the column if necessary). Now, plot the whatever column and
the depth column in a XY Scatter chart. Select the next whatever and
the depth column and copy. Select the chart, then Edit | Paste
Special... In the dialog box, check the option for 'the first column
contains x values'.

Double-click one of the 2 series plotted on the chart. From the axis
tab select secondary axis. This will move the series to the secondary
axis. Now, with the chart selected, select Chart | Chart Options... |
Axes tab | check 'Secondary x axis' Now, hide the secondary y-axis by
double-clicking on it and from the Patterns tab set all the options to
None.

An alternative would be to use a separate chart for each series a la
Stacked Charts
http://www.tushar-mehta.com/excel/newsgroups/stacked_charts/index.html
except that you would not hide any of the x-axis.

A variant of the Stacked Charts would be to put the charts side-by-side
and to hide the y-axis for all subsequent charts (whereas in the
tutorial I hide the x-axis for all subsequent charts).

--
Regards,

Tushar Mehta
www.tushar-mehta.com
Multi-disciplinary business expertise
+ Technology skills
= Optimal solution to your business problem
Recipient Microsoft MVP award 2000-2004

 

[Jon Peltier]

Here are some examples of what you are looking for. Once you know how to fake an
axis, you can visualize all kinds of possibilities.

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

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