Chart and text box issues
 

Couple of questions: 1st, I have a chart comparing returning traffic for
jan-sep for 2006 and 2007. I would like the month columns to be right next
to each other. For example, Jan 2006 & 2007 right next to each other and
then a space and then Feb 2006 & 2007 right next to each other. Right now
there is a space between every single column.
2nd, I have used data labels to identify the # of returning traffic for each
month for both 2006 & 2007. I have included a text box at the bottom of the
chart to label the months Jan - Sep. however they don't line up with their
respective column. They may look perfect on print preview, but when I print
they are out of line and if I move it then someone choosing to forgo printing
and just look at the computer screen, will see it all messed up. Any
suggestions?

Chart and text box issues
 

Arrange your data like this:

2006 2007
Jan
Feb
Mar
etc.

leave the top left cell blank, and fill in values below the year labels and
to the right of the month labels. Select the data, including the year and
month labels and the blank cell, and make a clustered column chart.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
_______


"cempire5" wrote in message
...
Couple of questions: 1st, I have a chart comparing returning traffic for
jan-sep for 2006 and 2007. I would like the month columns to be right
next
to each other. For example, Jan 2006 & 2007 right next to each other and
then a space and then Feb 2006 & 2007 right next to each other. Right now
there is a space between every single column.
2nd, I have used data labels to identify the # of returning traffic for
each
month for both 2006 & 2007. I have included a text box at the bottom of
the
chart to label the months Jan - Sep. however they don't line up with their
respective column. They may look perfect on print preview, but when I
print
they are out of line and if I move it then someone choosing to forgo
printing
and just look at the computer screen, will see it all messed up. Any
suggestions?

Chart and text box issues
 

To add to John... if you choose "Chart Options" and "Show Data Table",
as opposed to using a text box, this might help with the disconnect in
the labels. If there is still space between the data table and the
chart, select "Axis" in chart options and make sure "Category" is
selected under the primary axis.
Hope this helps!
Rita



cempire5 wrote:

Couple of questions: 1st, I have a chart comparing returning traffic for
jan-sep for 2006 and 2007. I would like the month columns to be right next
to each other. For example, Jan 2006 & 2007 right next to each other and
then a space and then Feb 2006 & 2007 right next to each other. Right now
there is a space between every single column.
2nd, I have used data labels to identify the # of returning traffic for each
month for both 2006 & 2007. I have included a text box at the bottom of the
chart to label the months Jan - Sep. however they don't line up with their
respective column. They may look perfect on print preview, but when I print
they are out of line and if I move it then someone choosing to forgo printing
and just look at the computer screen, will see it all messed up. Any
suggestions?

Chart and text box issues
 

Thanks Jon,
I rearranged my data source per your suggestion below and it worked! I did,
however, add a column entitled "Variance" which is the percentage variance
between the two years. I was amazed at how the chart just appeared exactly
how I envisioned with one exception. Some of the Variance columns don't
appear because the percentage is so small compared to others. Can you
suggest a way that would allow all the columns to show, even if the
percentages are in the negative?

"Jon Peltier" wrote:

Arrange your data like this:

2006 2007
Jan
Feb
Mar
etc.

leave the top left cell blank, and fill in values below the year labels and
to the right of the month labels. Select the data, including the year and
month labels and the blank cell, and make a clustered column chart.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
_______


"cempire5" wrote in message
...
Couple of questions: 1st, I have a chart comparing returning traffic for
jan-sep for 2006 and 2007. I would like the month columns to be right
next
to each other. For example, Jan 2006 & 2007 right next to each other and
then a space and then Feb 2006 & 2007 right next to each other. Right now
there is a space between every single column.
2nd, I have used data labels to identify the # of returning traffic for
each
month for both 2006 & 2007. I have included a text box at the bottom of
the
chart to label the months Jan - Sep. however they don't line up with their
respective column. They may look perfect on print preview, but when I
print
they are out of line and if I move it then someone choosing to forgo
printing
and just look at the computer screen, will see it all messed up. Any
suggestions?

Chart and text box issues
 

You could plot the Variance on the secondary axis. Double click the series,
and on the Axis tab, choose Secondary.

I would also change the chart type of the Variance series to a line chart.
Select the series, go to Chart menu Chart Type, and choose another type.
This helps the reader understand that the information is different (not
values but percentages; not primary but secondary axis).

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
_______


"cempire5" wrote in message
...
Thanks Jon,
I rearranged my data source per your suggestion below and it worked! I
did,
however, add a column entitled "Variance" which is the percentage variance
between the two years. I was amazed at how the chart just appeared
exactly
how I envisioned with one exception. Some of the Variance columns don't
appear because the percentage is so small compared to others. Can you
suggest a way that would allow all the columns to show, even if the
percentages are in the negative?

"Jon Peltier" wrote:

Arrange your data like this:

2006 2007
Jan
Feb
Mar
etc.

leave the top left cell blank, and fill in values below the year labels
and
to the right of the month labels. Select the data, including the year and
month labels and the blank cell, and make a clustered column chart.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
_______


"cempire5" wrote in message
...
Couple of questions: 1st, I have a chart comparing returning traffic
for
jan-sep for 2006 and 2007. I would like the month columns to be right
next
to each other. For example, Jan 2006 & 2007 right next to each other
and
then a space and then Feb 2006 & 2007 right next to each other. Right
now
there is a space between every single column.
2nd, I have used data labels to identify the # of returning traffic for
each
month for both 2006 & 2007. I have included a text box at the bottom
of
the
chart to label the months Jan - Sep. however they don't line up with
their
respective column. They may look perfect on print preview, but when I
print
they are out of line and if I move it then someone choosing to forgo
printing
and just look at the computer screen, will see it all messed up. Any
suggestions?