Formatting a single gridline in a graph

Question

I've created a excel document [mac 2011] to graph test results so that I can then paste the graph into my psychological reports. I want to format a single grid line, so that it is easy for parents to see where the average score is. I know that this is possible, because I've somehow done it in two of my graphs, but I can't figure out how I did it, after more than an hour of trying to figure it out. Frustrating to say the least.

As you can see, the grid line at 100 has been selected separately from the other grid lines in the graph. When I click on any of the other grid lines, all but this grid line are selected simultaneously. 

I know how to insert a line into the graph once I've pasted it into word, and align it with the average score. However, it would make my report writing go faster if I don't have to mess around with adding a line each time. 

So, the question really is- How do I make a single grid line in a graph function separately from the other grid lines, so that I can then change it's formatting separately from the other grid lines?

ANSWER: Right click on a gridline, and select format axis. Find the box that says "Horizontal line crosses at:" and enter the value of the gridline you want to format differently than the others [for example, 100 for the graph above]. It will now be selectable separately from the other gridlines, and so can be formatted separately from the other gridlines.

Answer 1

Oh my heck, as we say in Utah... I just figured it out.

I did a right click, and selected format axis. On the Horizontal axis crosses at box, I put in the value of the gridline I want to format differently. Now the gridline selects separately from the other gridlines.

Thanks for your efforts guys, it was through answering your questions that I rediscovered how to do this.

I can't mark my own post as the answer, can one of you do that?

Brian

Answer 2

"I don't think you can format a single grid line. You can only format all of them."

You can format a single grid line. That is exactly what I'm trying to do, and it is exactly what I somehow did on two of my graphs in my document. I just can't seem to do it again. On the screenshot I posted above, I have just one gridline selected, and I have formatted it separately from all the other gridlines. Would sending you the excel document be helpful?

"Maybe a traditional chart type isn't the best fit for your data visualization needs. Perhaps a combination of conditional

formatting and spark lines would be more useful in this case."

I'm not familiar with either conditional formatting or spark lines, I'll have to look into what these are. How would these things be more useful?

Answer 3

I suspect the graphs on which you formatted gridlines actually have graph lines that are on top of the grid lines and simply cover them. Grid lines are mathematically generated each time based on the low, high and increment values you choose for the chart. You can't format a single grid line because it is not an object that exists, it is a reference drawn on the screen that is variable.

The following tutorials were made using Excel for Windows. The same features are in Excel for Mac, but you will find the controls to do accomplish them are in different places in Excel's interface on the Mac.

Here is a tutorial about conditional formatting:

Highline Excel 2013 Class Video 40: Conditional Formatting Basic To Advanced 50 Examples

This tutorial is about spark lines:

Mr Excel & excelisfun Trick 21: Excel 2010 Sparklines (Amazing Cell Charts!!)

Answer 4

Questions:

Can you select other individual gridlines in that same chart?

Can you drag the selected gridline?

If you can drag it, what is revealed beneath it once it's moved?

Answer 5

Hey Jimmy... Don't be too hard on Joe for this one :-) It can easily occur when the same fundamental issue is posted more than once. Besides, there's plenty more to be addressed in many of his other Replies... This one was relatively harmless :-)