Jan 3, 2011 - (Do not enter a date for the kind of scaling you're trying to do here.) This is the. You can use Excel offsets to change the X axis zoom. Jun 11, 2018 - When creating a chart, you may want to adjust the default scaling that Excel applies to an axis. This is relatively easy to do by following the.
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Microsoft Excel is a powerful spreadsheet platform used to organize and interpret data. With Excel, you make calculations and analyze statistical data based on columns and rows of information. Excel is a useful tool for business owners, and generating charts in Excel makes the information easy to understand or share. Building a chart generates an x-axis and y-axis. You can adjust the range at any time.
How Excel Charts Work
A chart has an x-axis range and a y-axis range to show the correlation between two different data sets. The x-axis is the horizontal category line. Changes to the x-axis adjust the categories within this axis. You can also change the scale for the purpose of viewing a clean layout.
The y-axis is the vertical range, and it displays the value. Essentially, the y-axis shows the value relative to the corresponding category. The concept is simple, and it creates an easy-to-understand visual representation across one or more categories. You can use an unlimited number of categories to display data, but the chart may not fit your page if you do.
Running charts with four to six data sets is ideal for visual appeal. Creating multiple charts is easy, and you can display data using a variety of chart sizes and formats.
Changing the X-Axis Range
To change the x-axis range, first determine the type of change you want to make. You can change category labels, label position and placement, axis type, and the point where the x-axis and y-axis cross.
To begin making edits, double-click on the x-axis in the chart to activate the edit mode and open a set of editing options. Click Chart Tools followed by Design and Format. Click the arrow for the Horizontal Axis. You are now specifically editing the x-axis range from a formatting panel.
To change the order of categories, choose Axis Options and click Reverse. This is often done when using an x-axis based on a range of dates. You can view in chronological order by arranging the order here.
To change between date-based categories and text-based categories, click Axis Type. The text-based category labels are pre-made in your spreadsheet with the data. Change the corresponding column headings to ensure the categories are accurate.
To adjust the point where the x-axis and y-axis intersect, click on Axis Options. Change the maximum value to make the adjustment. You can also adjust the interval for tick marks in this section, which changes the spacing.
Typically, you make the changes and view the chart to see how the changes appear. If the chart requires additional changes, you must return to the editing mode. Several cycles of tweaking may be necessary before the x-axis spacing looks perfect.
Finalizing the Chart
Leave the chart in the standard format or add custom colors to the text and add graphics for additional visual appeal. The chart remains ready to customize while it is in Excel format, and you can easily make changes to labels and data that influence both axis ranges.
To use the chart in a presentation, however, consider saving the chart as a JPEG image file. This makes it final and easy to insert in PowerPoint or other media files. The photo format is compatible with most platforms. If you want to continue manipulating the chart during a presentation, however, leave everything in Excel format so you can make the changes in real time.
References (3)
About the Author
Zach Lazzari is a freelance writer with extensive experience in startups and digital advertising. He has a diverse background with a strong presence in the digital marketing world. Zach has developed and sold multiple successful web properties and manages marketing for multiple clients in the outdoor industry. He has published business content in Angling Trade Magazine and writes white papers and case studies for multiple corporate partners.
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Lazzari, Zach. 'How to Change the X-Axis Range in Excel Charts.' Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/change-xaxis-range-excel-charts-54520.html. 19 March 2019.
Lazzari, Zach. (2019, March 19). How to Change the X-Axis Range in Excel Charts. Small Business - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/change-xaxis-range-excel-charts-54520.html
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