Monday, October 6, 2008

Add or remove a secondary axis in a chart (Excel)


When the values in a 2-D chart vary widely from data series to data series, or when you have mixed types of data (for example, price and volume), you can plot one or more data series on a secondary vertical (value) axis. The scale of the secondary vertical axis reflects the values for the associated data series.
Formatted combination chart
After you add a secondary vertical axis to a 2-D chart, you can also add a secondary horizontal (category) axis, which may be useful in an xy (scatter) chart or bubble chart.
To help distinguish the data that is plotted along the secondary axis, you can change the chart type for just one data series. For example, you could change one data series to a line chart.
 IMPORTANT   To complete the following procedures, you must have an existing 2-D chart. Secondary axes are not supported in 3-D charts. For more information about how to create a chart, see Create a chart.
What do you want to do?


Add a secondary vertical axis

You can plot data on a secondary vertical axis one data series at a time. To plot more than one data series on the secondary vertical axis, repeat this procedure for each data series that you want to display on the secondary vertical axis.
  1. In a chart, click the data series that you want to plot on a secondary vertical axis, or do the following to select the data series from a list of chart elements:
    1. Click the chart.
      This displays the Chart Tools, adding the DesignLayout, andFormat tabs.
    2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow in the Chart Elements box, and then click the data series that you want to plot along a secondary vertical axis.
    3. Excel Ribbon Image
  2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.
    The Format Data Series dialog box is displayed.
     NOTE   If a different dialog box is displayed, repeat step 1 and make sure that you select a data series in the chart.
  3. On the Series Options tab, under Plot Series On, click Secondary Axis and then click Close.
    A secondary vertical axis is displayed in the chart.
  4. To change the display of the secondary vertical axis, do the following:
    1. On the Layout tab, in the Axes group, click Axes.
    2. Click Secondary Vertical Axis, and then click the display option that you want.
  5. To change the axis options of the secondary vertical axis, do the following:
    1. Right-click the secondary vertical axis, and then click Format Axis.
    2. Under Axis Options, select the options that you want to use.
 TIP   To help distinguish the secondary axis, you can change the chart type for just one data series. For example, you can change one data series to a line chart. For more information, see Present your data in a combination chart.

Add a secondary horizontal axis

To complete this procedure, you must have a chart that displays a secondary vertical axis. To add a secondary vertical axis, see Add a secondary vertical axis.
  1. Click a chart that displays a secondary vertical axis.
    This displays the Chart Tools, adding the DesignLayout, and Format tabs.
  2. On the Layout tab, in the Axes group, click Axes.
    Excel Ribbon Image
  3. Click Secondary Horizontal Axis, and then click the display option that you want.

Change the chart type of a data series

  1. In a chart, click the data series that you want to change, or do the following to select the data series from a list of chart elements:
    1. Click the chart.
      This displays the Chart Tools, adding the DesignLayout, andFormat tabs.
    2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow in the Chart Elements box, and then click the data series that you want to change.
      Excel Ribbon Image
  2. On the Design tab, in the Type group, click Change Chart Type.
    Excel Ribbon Image
  3. Click a chart type in the first box, and then click the chart subtype that you want to use in the second box.

Remove a secondary axis

  1. Click the chart that displays the secondary axis that you want to remove.
    This displays the Chart Tools, adding the DesignLayout, and Format tabs.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • On the Layout tab, in the Axes group, click Axes, click Secondary Vertical Axis or Secondary Horizontal Axis, and then click None.
      Excel Ribbon Image
    • Click the secondary axis that you want to delete, and then press DELETE.
    • Right-click the secondary axis, and then click Delete.
     TIP   You can also remove secondary axes immediately after you add them by clicking Undo Button image on the Quick Access Toolbar, or by pressing CTRL+Z.

No comments:

Post a Comment