Line Graph x-axis trouble

[Guest]

I have a data set of scietific data similar to [TestScore] vs. [Age].

Using the chart wizard to make a line graph, the y-axis (test score) is
perfectly spaced by 5 points, or 2 points, or whatever I set it to be.

The trouble is the x-axis. I have my query grouped by age so I can average
the test scores by age. Instead of an evenly spaced axis from, for
example, 0-100, ages that are not represented in the study are not included
in the axis. My axis looks like 10-12-13-27-28-29-30-32-36-40, for example.

I read another help request where it was suggested one link the query to a
table of all possible values, but those null values would translate to a
score of "0" on the Y axis, which I don't want either.

Any ideas, please?
Thanks so much for your help in advance.

 

[Rob Parker]

Try changing the graph type to an x-y graph, rather than a line graph.
This will plot each different x-value as a separate point. If you want to
force particular min and max values for the axis, make sure you enter them
in the format axis dialog, rather than leaving them as auto. If you want
grouped data on the x-axis scale (eg, 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, etc), you'll have
to change the query which you're using as your data source to give you that.

Rob

 

[Guest]

This looks like exactly what I want.
However, when I use scatter, I get an x-axis of 0 - 2 with all data stacked
on "1". Each age is shown as a separate color square in a vertical line.
The legend identifies which color is which age.
(And before I finish the wizard I hit the "preview" button and I see a
normal scatter like I am expecting.)
Any ideas?

 

[Rob Parker]

This is, IIRC, a pretty standard hiccup when you use the chart wizard. But
it's easy to fix! In design mode, double-click on your chart object, and it
will open in the Graph applet - the menus change to those of the Graph
applet. Simply select Data, then Series in Columns, and your chart should
look considerably different. If you've only got one data set, you can also
turn of the legend while you're here, since it's superfluous.

Rob

PS. Sorry for the delay in responding - I browse these newsgroups about once
a day, and I suspect we're on opposite sides of the world.

 

[Guest]

Thank you so much - that was it. I really appreciate the help.

(Crazy MS Help, of course, never mentioned that their wizard defaults to the
opposite of what most people want. It's solution for the problem is to
suggest I selected a line graph instead of a scatter. Why am I surprised?)

Robin