subject: Scatter Graph and Time Scale [print this page] Scatter Graph and Time Scale Scatter Graph and Time Scale
Adjusting time scale on x-axis in standard line chart could be a headache. It is kind of a trial and error process to make the time scale fit in, distribute the labels properly and last date being shown correctly at the end of x-axis. In most cases the last tick mark will not place at the end of the axis too.
Besides the traditional way, we could also use scatter chart to create a line graph, in order to make the timescale absolute accurate. Lets begin!
* Use data to create a XY (Scatter) chart in PowerPoint and select the lower right chart options to make it a line only graph without any markers
* When the chart is created we need the "General" codes of start and end date for use with some simple calculations. Simply right click on start date on datasheet, press "Number" (or Ctrl 1) then go to "General" tab to get the code. Repeat the process until you have both codes extracted
* Now depends on how many labels of date (x) you want to show on x-axis. Use the value obtained from first date minus last date, and then divides the value using x. In this tutorial which is 40178 - 38383 6 = 299.1667, as we want 6 labels being shown on timescale, simple as that
* Go to format x-axis and select "Scale", insert first date general code (38383) to Minimum, last date general code (40178) to Maximum, and the quotient to Major Unit (299.1667)
