Problems with Area Graph

[UnExcel]

Hello there,
I am trying to plot two different data sets on an area graph. Both data sets have an x axis that include months. However, while one set of data would graph correctly (i.e correct y point for particular x point), the other data set seems to be shifting on the graph (i.e. wrong y data for that particular x point). I am not sure why this is happening. Please let me know if anyone has experienced this problem before. As an aside, graphing these data points on a line graph yield the correct picture. Perhaps this isn't possible on an area graph-- i find that hard to believe!
Thanks!

 

[Gerald Higgins]

Hi, welcome to the board. Are you using a stacked area chart ? Maybe you want a simple area chart instead.

 

[UnExcel]

Hi Gerald, thanks for the response! No, I am not using the stacked area graph at all. I tried two ways to get the area graphs to plot correctly. The first is plotting using the first area graph option which should just plot data in a straight forward manner-- x for months, y for data value at time x. The second thing I tried was to plot the graph in a line graph first-- this showed up correctly--- however when I changed the graph option thereafter, it goes back to plotting all over the place. As an example, the last data point reflected on the graph is for Feb-06-- but the data source is ordered from Jan06-Apr11. On top of that, on the graph that particular Feb 06 data point is reflecting a different value than the amount for that date from my data source people.
I am at a lost. Is my excel possesed by demons?

 

[Jon Peltier]

In an area chart, all series use the X values for the first series. This is the case with line charts as well.

You may need to insert interpolated values for each series for the dates that only the other series has data. A line chart will interpolate properly, but an area chart treats the missing in-between values as zeros.