Multiple series on a line graph

[R Kumana]

I'm having a problem setting up a graph on Excel 2002.

I have four series of population data.

I want to display the first series, historical data from
1900-2000.

Then I want to display three series of projected data from
2000-2100.

The problem is, I can't modify the x-axis range for the
projected series. I set up the projected series so they
include the historical data, but now all the series' plot
on top of each other for the first half of the data and it
looks like hell. Is there another, neater way to do this?

 

[Jon Peltier]

Instead of a Line chart, make an XY Scatter chart. You can format them
to look the same. The difference is on how X values are used.

In a Line chart, the X values for the first series are treated as simple
category labels, equally spaced along the X axis regardless of any
numeric values, and the labels for the first series are applied to all
series.

In an XY Scatter chart, each series has its own X values, and the points
are horizontally spaced according to their numeric values.

- Jon

 

[Tushar Mehta]

You can use a Line Chart if you reorganize your data a bit. Suppose
the years are in column G, starting with G1. Extend this column to
contain all values from 1900 to 2100. In H, put the historical data
(1900-2000). Leave the rows corresponding to the projected years
blank. In column I, put the first set of projected data starting with
the row that contains 2001 in column G. [The top 100 rows in col. I
will be empty.] Do the same for the other 2 projected series, say, in
columns J and K.

Now, plot G:K. To convey an impression of continuity, duplicate the
2000 data in all four columns.

--
Regards,

Tushar Mehta, MS MVP -- Excel
www.tushar-mehta.com
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