How to show 5 data series on one chart

[stefrano]

Hello,

Here are the data that I have:
- a category that will be my X axis
- a percentage that will be my Y axis. I have a percentage value per
category per year.
- 3 company names
- 2 years (2004 and 2009)

What I want to show is the following:
For each company, I would like to plot a solid colored line representing the
different % for each category for 2004 and a dotted colored (same) line
representing different % for each category for 2009.

As a result I would get three sets of lines, three different colors, and
within each set a solid and a dotted line.

I currently have my table organized as follows:
Company1 Company2 Company3
2004 2009 2004 2009 2004 2009
Category-a 10% 15% 5% 3% ETC.
Category-b
Category-c

I hope I have put enough information for you to help me out.
Thanks in advance
Stephanie

 

[SamW]

Hi Stephano,

If you create a line chart from your data as it is now (just select the
whole table including the first line with company names), you will get what
you are describing e.g.:

A Series for each company's 2004 score and each companies 2009 score.
A X-Axis with Category1,2,3 on it.

Once you have this it is just a case of changing the line colors and styles
for the different series.

If what you want is to have the X-Axis broken down by company as well as
category then you need the following type of table (or you have to manually
build the series's):
2004 2009 2004 2009 2004 2009
Company A Cat1 23% 38%
Cat2 82% 83%
Cat3 21% 10%
Company B Cat1 76% 40%
Cat2 39% 90%
Cat3 76% 14%
Company C Cat1 33% 49%
Cat2 82% 59%
Cat3 12% 73%

This will break down your category axis by company, which is harder for
people to compare company vs company but it means its a bit easier to see the
performance of the individual companies.

Thanks
SAm

 

[stefrano]

Hi SamW

Thank you very much for your answer.
I am testing your suggestions as I speak.
I am running into a new problem now: if I change the chart style to scatter,
I loose all the categories on the X axis and they're replaced by numbers. Do
you know how to fix that?
I feel I have checked everything and I just can't find a solution.

Thank you
Stephanie

 

[Jon Peltier]

XY (Scatter) charts do not allow non-numeric labels across either axis.
Doesn't a line chart work?

- Jon