When I first started using Excel 2007, I had the same problem: could not
type a date into the boxes setting the axis scale. The solution is to type
the serial number of the date. On the worksheet enter the required date in
the normal way; format the cell General so that you see a 5-digit number
like 40123. Enter this value into the Format Axis box.
I do not use dates that much but I now find that I can enter a date into the
scale boxes. I cannot recall when this changed. Do you have the second
service pack (SP2) installed?
best wishes
--
Bernard Liengme
Microsoft Excel MVP
http://people.stfx.ca/bliengme

"David" wrote in message
...
I have a line chart with a (horizontal) date axis along the bottom.
Currently I have data from Sep-2002 to Sep-2009. All of this data is
shown
on the chart and the axes also go from Sep-2002 to Sep-2009.

My problem is that I want to set the maximum of the date axis to an
earlier
date (say Jun-2008) hence hiding the later part of the data (without
deleting
the original data). But Excel 2007 will not let me do this (apparently).

I have selected the axes and fixed the "maximum" date at an earlier date
(like Jun-2008). Surprisingly, Excel leaves the axis exactly the same (it
still ends at Sep-09) but all the date labels beyond Jun-2008 have
disappeared. Weird!

The other weird thing is that if I try and fix the "minimum" date then it
works as I want it to. For example, I can fix the "minimum" to Sep-03 and
Excel will hide the first year of data. But for some reason it won't give
me
the same level of control over the maximum!?!

Any suggestions?

Usually I can find a work-around for these sorts of things, but I am
really
stumped so would appreciate insight from the experts.

p.s. I should note that I am using a line graph with a secondary vertical
axis. I think this may be part of the problem. It seems that if I
eliminate
the data on the secondary vertical axis then Excel gives me back control
over
"maximum" dates.