Graph X-Axis - Using Dates

Question

I graph data that is charted against the dates the data was collected.  When customizing the X-Axis of a Scatter Graph, I enter the start date and the end date for the graph.  When I do this, the chart does not update/change.  It is only when I enter the Julian equivalent of the dates that the X-Axis updates to the expected date range.

Excel USED TO accept normal date input, and translate it to a Julian date. NOW you have to calculate what the Julian date is for a convential date format.

Anyway around this?

Answer 1

Which service pack did you run to fix the problem? 

Thank you.

Answer 2

Tushar -

This is not a problem to enter dates in the X axis of a line chart (or other chart type that uses a date type axis).

This IS a problem for a value axis, that is, any Y axis or the X axis in an XY chart.

This functionality was broken in Excel 2007, and despite complaints and bug reports, it remains broken in 2010.

• Jon

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Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP

Peltier Technical Services, Inc.

Peltier Tech Blog

Answer 3

I graph data that is charted against the dates the data was collected.  When customizing the X-Axis of a Scatter Graph, I enter the start date and the end date for the graph.  When I do this, the chart does not update/change.  It is only when I enter the Julian equivalent of the dates that the X-Axis updates to the expected date range.

Excel USED TO accept normal date input, and translate it to a Julian date. NOW you have to calculate what the Julian date is for a convential date format.

Anyway around this?

That was a problem with the initial version of 2007 but it was fixed with some service pack.  It is not a problem with 2010.  I just entered 12/1/2009 as the min. value and 3/31/2010 for the max. value for the x axis of a XY Scatter chart.  Excel accepted the values just fine.

Unfortunately, it converted the vaues to a number that is its own internal date representation so that the next time around, one doesn't know that I entered 12/1/2009 and 31/3/2010 but that's a separate issue.

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Tushar Mehta (Technology and Operations Consulting)

www.tushar-mehta.com (Excel and PowerPoint add-ins and tutorials)

Microsoft MVP Excel 2000-Present

Answer 4

It is not dependent on my data set, it is how EXCEL is functioning.  If you type a normal date format for the x-axis (m/d/y) the Excel program doesn't accept it, but closes out the dialog box (leaving you to think it accepted your input) and the graph doesn't change.

However, if you put the Julian date equivalent in the dialog, it updates the graph as expected.

Was trying to determine if other users were having the same problem and how they were dealing with it.

Answer 5

Please provide sample data... load the file on a common FTP like skydrive

BLACK BARRON

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