This sounds like a similar problem to "select every 70th cell", and I think
a macro is the solution, but I can't figure out how to write it. I need to
select every 4th or 5th cell in a column, compile the values from them into
either a vertical or horizontal series, and plot that series.

I use excel for a large modeling spreadsheet, where the columns represent
displacement and the rows are time, but it takes several rows to track all of
the events in one time interval. When done, I can select any row and plot
those values and get a visualization of distribution over distance at a fixed
time. But
what I really want is to visualize at a fixed distance (a selected column),
how distribution changes with time. To do this, I have to select every 4th
or 5th cell in that column (depending on the particular model version) and
plot those values.
The ideal solution would be a macro where the desired column (distance) is
requested as an input and then the plot is displayed.

I have never worked with macros, so perhaps some general help and a
reference to a tutorial (if one exists) would be the best bet. TIA.