category label spacing (x-axis generally)
 

Have a column chart in which the same label applies to two adjacent columns. Rather than have it redundantly redisplay the labels I adjusted the tick mark spacing to 2 so it only displays every other label.

The problem is how to shift the alignment of the category labels along the x-axis to the label appears somewhat centered under the two columns to which it applies?

Normally I might trick something like this by adjust the the relationship of the displayed font to its baseline (similar to subscript or superscript functions). While I find the ability to choose subscript or superscript functions there is no ability I've found so far to adjust the extent of offset they accomplish and at the presets, they don't move the type very far, they just make it smaller.

Any ideas or workarounds appreciated.

Brian

category label spacing (x-axis generally)
 

My obvious question is, why have two columns?

But barring that...

Assuming your raw data has column labels in column A.
Insert a column to left of A (labels are now in B)
Where you have the duplicate labels, move it to the first spot in the A
column, leave the cell below it blank
When the labels in column B resume, place a space in column A

Example:

<blank cell Label 1
<blank cell Label 2
Label 3 <blank cell
<blank cell <blank cell
<space Label 4
etc...

This will cause your chart to have a secondary set of labels

--
Best Regards,

Luke M
"arcibald tuttle" wrote in message
...

Have a column chart in which the same label applies to two adjacent
columns. Rather than have it redundantly redisplay the labels I
adjusted the tick mark spacing to 2 so it only displays every other
label.

The problem is how to shift the alignment of the category labels along
the x-axis to the label appears somewhat centered under the two columns
to which it applies?

Normally I might trick something like this by adjust the the
relationship of the displayed font to its baseline (similar to
subscript or superscript functions). While I find the ability to choose
subscript or superscript functions there is no ability I've found so far
to adjust the extent of offset they accomplish and at the presets, they
don't move the type very far, they just make it smaller.

Any ideas or workarounds appreciated.

Brian




--
arcibald tuttle

Luke,

thanks for the note. I don't see that I can post a worksheet or chartsheet so I have attached a .pdf of the graph in question.

The reason that I have two columns with a single label is that they are dual runs of different towns (in Rhode Island).

I'm not clear on what creating secondary labels will accomplish. If you look at the .jpg snip from the graph, what I'm hoping to do is simply to shift the x-axis category labels to the right about an eight of an inch relative to the plotted data, e.g. about 9 or 10 points for those familiar with typesetting measure. You'll notice from the graphic that the town names currently line up with the major vertical gridlines that appear at two column intervals. I need the labels to line up approximately with the center of the space between those vertical gridlines.

Also, under the <alignment format option for the axis, I have reduced the "offset" to 0 which brought the labels a little bit closer to the bottom of the graphed data, but I would prefer them even closer to make it easier to see which label applies to which set of columns. The large amount of white space between the end of the label and the bottom of the actual graph also contributes to difficulty in seeing which label attaches to which pair of columns.

The simplest option would be if you could select the category axis and just move it around a little like you can a legend (ideally you'd be able to hold an option or modifier key and use the areas to micro adjust but I'd take adjusting with the mouse if that were all I could get. I am running Excel 2004 on a Mac but I could do it in the Mac 2008 version (I prefer the simpler version unless I need a features of 2008).

Hope this graphic gives you an idea what I'm trying to do, and, if I have misunderstood your suggestion and it is aimed at doing what I desire don't hesitate to enlighten me a second time.

Best regards,

Brian