Combination Chart

JMo · May 15th, 2002, 06:24 AM

Thank goodness for this board -- you guys have saved my arse more than...well, more than three times now, I think.

Here's my latest newbie quandry:

I have a worksheet with two pieces of information:

A: The number of shares of a given stock that were sold by an individual in each month over a two-year period. For example: Jan-99 (col. heading), 350,000. The shares sold figures range from 640 to 1,070,000.

B: The daily prices for the same stock over a the same two-year period. The stock price ranges from .26 (that's 26 cents) to $90.

Here's what I've been asked to do: Create a combination chart -- the shares sold in column format by month, with the stock price in line format on the same chart.

I've gotten as far as creating the chart with the two data series on it in the two formats...but I seem to have a problem. To my newbie eye, it appears that the scales of the data series are so radically different as to make the chart useless -- I keep getting the stock price as flat line running near the base of the columns. I even adjusted the stock price data by multiplying all the prices by 10,000 -- the line is still flat and across the base of the columns.

What am I doing wrong, or what do I need to do to make this chart work?

I'm not sure I'm explaining this well at all -- would anyone be willing to help me out with this? I'd be happy to send the info along if seeing it makes anything clearer...

Thanks so much in advance!!

Julia

Russell · May 15th, 2002, 06:37 AM

If I understand you correctly what you could do is select one of the data series on your chart, right click your mouse and select Format Data Series and from the Axes Tab select secondary axis.

Russell

crimlet · May 15th, 2002, 06:51 AM

I agree, or you could adjust the scale of the axis by using the same menu and adjusting the scale

JMo · May 15th, 2002, 06:55 AM

We're getting there...

Selecting the secondary scale did give me a line that would seem to have some relevance to the data...but I am not seeing an option to adjust the scale on my secondary axis....

Right now, I'm stil using the "adjusted" data (stock price *10k) to get the line to look right in comparison to the columns...if I'm able adjust the scale (with your help, of course), would that let me use the "real" stock prices and get the same appearance?

Ay carumba...

JMo · May 15th, 2002, 07:11 AM

Okay, my fault...got the reformatting of the secondary axis scale. Posted before I did my due diligence! Sorry 'bout that...

Still running into problems.

When I use the adjusted numbers (x*10,000) -- the line appears correct. BUT, when I use the "real" numbers, AND when I adjust the scale to be 1-100, the line changes to a flat line...

If I use the lower numbers, and adjust the scale appropriately, why wouldn't my line look just the like the line with the adjusted (higher) numbers with its higher scale???

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

May 15th, 2002, 06:24 AM	#1
JMo New Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 17	Thank goodness for this board -- you guys have saved my arse more than...well, more than three times now, I think. Here's my latest newbie quandry: I have a worksheet with two pieces of information: A: The number of shares of a given stock that were sold by an individual in each month over a two-year period. For example: Jan-99 (col. heading), 350,000. The shares sold figures range from 640 to 1,070,000. B: The daily prices for the same stock over a the same two-year period. The stock price ranges from .26 (that's 26 cents) to $90. Here's what I've been asked to do: Create a combination chart -- the shares sold in column format by month, with the stock price in line format on the same chart. I've gotten as far as creating the chart with the two data series on it in the two formats...but I seem to have a problem. To my newbie eye, it appears that the scales of the data series are so radically different as to make the chart useless -- I keep getting the stock price as flat line running near the base of the columns. I even adjusted the stock price data by multiplying all the prices by 10,000 -- the line is still flat and across the base of the columns. What am I doing wrong, or what do I need to do to make this chart work? I'm not sure I'm explaining this well at all -- would anyone be willing to help me out with this? I'd be happy to send the info along if seeing it makes anything clearer... Thanks so much in advance!! Julia

May 15th, 2002, 06:37 AM	#2
Russell New Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 39	If I understand you correctly what you could do is select one of the data series on your chart, right click your mouse and select Format Data Series and from the Axes Tab select secondary axis. Russell

May 15th, 2002, 06:51 AM	#3
crimlet Board Regular Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, England Posts: 135	I agree, or you could adjust the scale of the axis by using the same menu and adjusting the scale

May 15th, 2002, 06:55 AM	#4
JMo New Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 17	We're getting there... Selecting the secondary scale did give me a line that would seem to have some relevance to the data...but I am not seeing an option to adjust the scale on my secondary axis.... Right now, I'm stil using the "adjusted" data (stock price *10k) to get the line to look right in comparison to the columns...if I'm able adjust the scale (with your help, of course), would that let me use the "real" stock prices and get the same appearance? Ay carumba...

May 15th, 2002, 07:11 AM	#5
JMo New Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 17	Okay, my fault...got the reformatting of the secondary axis scale. Posted before I did my due diligence! Sorry 'bout that... Still running into problems. When I use the adjusted numbers (x*10,000) -- the line appears correct. BUT, when I use the "real" numbers, AND when I adjust the scale to be 1-100, the line changes to a flat line... If I use the lower numbers, and adjust the scale appropriately, why wouldn't my line look just the like the line with the adjusted (higher) numbers with its higher scale???