Microsoft Excel changing x axis for XY scatter plot?

Question

I am trying to create an Excel 2007 XY scatter plot graph. My y values are simple numbers, but my x values need to be specific.

Excel won't let me change the numbers from 10, 20, 30 etc. I need them to be 1095+00 (origin), 1095+10, 1095+20, 1095+30 etc until 1096. How can I do this?

Col A has values such as 1095+25, 1095+40 etc. I thought when I went to graph it would take those values into account for the x axis but it did not and I cannot figure out how to change the values.

Any help would be great!

Answer 1

Right-click on your x axis and select format axis. From there you can change the maximum and minimum values of the axis, so you can make it start from 1095 if you want. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I think you need to put the values 1095, 1105, etc. in the x column.  I don't believe Excel will simplify arithmetic expressions before it graphs the cell contents...or if you put the values in as formulas (=1095+00), perhaps it will.

Also depending on what your data shows, try a line graph where the horizontal values will be left as is.  (Though an x won't be paired with a y as is XY scatter.)

Try the link below and note: "The x-axis of a Scatter chart can only be a value axis. This means that only numeric data is displayed on this axis. To display this numeric data with greater flexibility, you can change the scaling options on this axis."