How to make a simple graph in excel? 1

[jsteph]

Hi all,
I'm trying to use the graph wizard in excel to graph what I feel is a simple set of data. I'm choosing a line graph.

There are 3 columns of data--YrMo (Year-Month), Plant, and production volume, here's an example:

YrMo    Plant    Volume
200801    100       563
200801    101       450
200801    102       700
200802    100       601
200802    101       470
200802    102       725

What Excel does is put a flat line with the X axis as 1 through 6--I'm assuming one point for each row??

Now I don't expect excel to read my mind and know which field's value I want to use as the X axis--but I'd at least expect it to use one of the actual three fields I do have--and not just a random row number.

Is there another way to tell excel to choose the first column as the X-axis(YrMo) so I see timeline across the bottom, then I want different lines/colors for each plant, and then the Y axis is the Volume.

I've never done graphing in Excel before and I know this should be simple but I can't get the graph to show up in this way.
Thanks,
--Jim

 

[AnotherHiggins]

Actually, Excel would come a lot closer to being able to 'read your mind' [!]if you had actual dates in column A[/!]!

I'd suggest that you change the data in column A to dates. So, for example, in A2 you would type in 1/1/2008. Then format the column as Custom > yyyymm.

But Excel still won't produce exactly what you want through the Chart Wizard....

What you want is easily obtained with a Pivot Chart.
[ul]
[li]Go to Data > Pivot Data and Pivot Chart Report[/li]
[li]In the bottom section, choose Pivot chart report (with Pivot Table report)[/li]
[li]Press [/b]Next[/b][/li]
[li]Confirm that the correct data range is selected[/li]
[li]Press [/b]Next[/b][/li]
[li]Press [/b]Layout[/b][/li]
[li]Drag YrMo into Row[/li]
[li]Drag Plant into Column[/li]
[li]Drag Volume into Data[/li]
[li]Press OK[/li]
[li]Press Finish[/li]
[/ul]

[tt][blue]-John[/blue][/tt]
[tab][red]The plural of anecdote is not data[/red]

Help us help you. Please read FAQ 181-2886 before posting.

 

[jsteph]

anotherhiggins,
Thanks! Pivot chart is what I was looking for,
--Jim

 

[AnotherHiggins]

Wow. That was a lot o botched tags in a single post. I'm tired. And I have a load of work to get done over the weekend....

Oh well, I'm glad it was helpful.


[tt][blue]-John[/blue][/tt]
[tab][red]The plural of anecdote is not data[/red]

Help us help you. Please read FAQ 181-2886 before posting.