tough scatter plot question

[jferri]

can someone please help me create a scatter plot with one series as dates. i know this sounds simple, but the graph is converting the date series to numbers, and then plotting them as 1900 dates. help would b much appreciated.

 

[Datsmart]

Are your dates true dates or text?
Can you change their look by formatting? If so, they are True Dates.
Please post a sample of your dates here.

 

[jferri]

they are real dates. for example, if you have two columns, a and b. in column a a series of 10 dates (assume a few of them are listed more than once) - also format column a for dates. column b has 10 values ranging from 1 to 10 - column b is formatted for numbers. if i create a xy scatter plot, and format the x axis to be dates, they plot all weird. it looks like the xy scatter plot converts the dates to numberic values, and then formats them back to the wrong dates.

 

[Datsmart]

Right click the X axis and choose "Format Axis".
Click on Numer Tab.
What format is being used in the Category field?
Does changing it help?

 

[jferri]

it is formatted as date.

 

[Datsmart]

Help me out here.
Define, "they plot all weird".

 

[jferri]

converts the first date in the series to 1, and increments them from there, so when it plots on the graph as a date it starts with 1/0/1900, and increases from there.

 

[Datsmart]

Try this:
Right click white chart area, choose "Chart Options"
On Axes Tab, under Category (X) axis
Click "Category" instead of "Automatic" or "Time-scale".