How to set this up for a chart?

[Ed from AZ]

We're comparing some new fixtures for our work vehicles to see how
many miles they will last. Each fixture has several components. When
we need to replace one, we record the odometer reading of the vehicle.

How would I set this up to have a comparison chart? Let's say four
vehicles. Each fixture was installed at a different odometer reading,
but that was the "zero" for that vehicle. I have the odometer at
replacement.

Maybe the bottom scale as a mileage value higher than my total miles
for any one vehicle, and the vertical scale as number of failures.
But what would be best to show that Item A on Vehicle 1 had five
failures at 100 miles, while Item B on Vehicle 2 had only one failure
at 75 miles and two at 130 miles? How do I set up the data for this?

Ed

 

[Earl Kiosterud]

I'd use a column or bar chart. In the sheet, item in column A, install date in B, fail date
in C. In D put:
=C2 - B2 and format for general. Select columns A and D and make a column chart. Items
will be on the category (x) axis. The taller the column, the longer it lasted.

If you'll have several of each item, and want some kind of summary data charted (shortest
and longest life, or average life), it'll take a little more.

 

[Ed from AZ]

Hi, Earl. Thanks for helping me with this. Let me see if I can be a
bit more clear. I'm tracking how many miles each component of each
fixture rode on the vehicle before failure. I want to show how many
components failed at a comparison of how many miles operated per
vehicle. (Did that make sense??)

Right now, I have created some helper columns from my main chart to
give me the mileage at each failure. So I have:
Veh 1 Veh 2
64.7
65.7
65.7

74.5
74.5
74.5
74.5
74.5
74.5

75.8
75.8
78.4
88.0
88.2
88.2
95.5
95.5
95.5
95.5
95.5
95.5
95.5
95.5
95.5

I'm thinking Miles Accumulated across the bottom, and Qty Failures on
the vertical. What I think I want to show is one line for Veh 1 that
begins at the 0,0 corner, goes up to the "1" mark at 65.7, up to the
"4" mark at 74.5, and so forth. Alongside would be the second series
line for Veh 2 at the "1" mark at 64.7, the "2" at 74.5, "5" at 74.5,
and so forth.

Granted, I rarely do charts. So I'm not even sure if this is the best
way to show the comparison, and how to make it so if it is the best
display. If you can help me get this a bit further, I will greatly
appreciate it.

Ed

 

[Ed from AZ]

An engineer took pity on my fumbles and showed me how to set it up.
-- Like data in columns with no blank rows.
-- How to set which is X-axis and which is Y-axis.
-- We used a scatter chart with lines.

Very cool stuff, this is! Thanks for the boost - you got me to where
the other guy could help me.

Ed