Chart with time as x-axis?

Try the scatter chart. It's the icon that looks like a shotgun blast.

I can't get mine to work. I have time on X axis, temperature (my BBQ Smoker!) on Y axis. I have tried everything. Nothing seems to work.

Any suggestions?

We may get the equation with durations, not wit date_time values.

Yvan KOENIG (Vallauris, FRANCE samedi 8 août 2009 15:11:33)

Not interested in the trend lines, but the actual scatter chart. I couldn't get them to work.

BioRich wrote:
Not interested in the trend lines, but the actual scatter chart. I couldn't get them to work.

Try to enter exactly what I entered, you must get the same chart.

Yvan KOENIG (Vallauris, FRANCE samedi 8 août 2009 16:50:26)

What use is that? The data I'm using is my own data, which spans over 2 days. Regardless of how it is formatted for display, it should work fine using a Scatter chart, which I haven't been able to get. Just duplicating what you have done, is useless.

As the tool behaves well with my set of datas on my machine, and doesn't with yours, we may guess that you something is wrong on your side !
If my set behaves well on your machine, we may guess that your set is wrongly built.
If my set behaves wrongly on your machine we may guess that something is wrong in the app (may be a corrupted preference).

You may send your table to my mailbox. I will be able to search if something is wrong in it.

Click my blue name to get my address.

Yvan KOENIG (Vallauris, FRANCE samedi 8 août 2009 18:53:45)

Here is my data set:

10:00 PM 100
12:00 AM 210
1:17 AM 190
2:00 AM 200
3:00 AM 220
4:00 AM 230
5:00 AM 250

All the times are in a column, with a proper date. Formatted to only display the time. Format shouldn't change the underlying date nor time.

Now, from what I see above, there is nothing wrong with that data set. My guess is that Numbers is wrong.

What preference would be along the lines of "don't display these items as entered"?

I will send it to you. You will probably say "you have to change the data as follows", which is simply wrong. Date/time is a proper data type. Scatter should recognise that.

He has no clue. He can't read.

No takers?

Is it so difficult to understand ?

DateTime values aren't numerical items and there use by the chart tool is difficult.
A time value is always restricted to the range 00:00:00 thru 23:59:59
As your first value is 10:00 PM it is charted as 22h in graph1
In Tableau 2, I took care to enter complete date_time values.
So, charting columns B and E, I get a result matching your needs.
In Tableau 3, I use the same date_time values but apply to column C a 24 hours time format which is more logical for charting. I charted columns C and E

In Tableau 4, in column D, I used a formula giving a true numerical value representing the data.
=24*(DATEDIF($C$2,C,"D")+TIMEVALUE(C))
and I charted columns D and E

In Tableau 5, I used durations, not date_time values.
As your entries are on two consecutive days, I was forced to use the day component.
I charted columns B and C.

As you see, the program does exactly what it is designed to do.
The problem is that you didn't understood what it is designed to do.
I hope that now, you understand.

Yvan KOENIG (Vallauris, FRANCE dimanche 9 août 2009 15:27:56)

Wow you still won't listen. You keep arguing something that I told you about in email.

1. date/time values are proper data types

2. You shouldn't have to translate to anything else, which I told you about in email. You have done this in every table from 2 onwards.

3. Your first chart indicates that it's not working.

Summary: You have proven exactly what I've said about 5 times now.

You really should read what I said. I only said it 5 times now. Why is that so difficult to understand?

So no, the application isn't doing what it's supposed to do. You shouldn't have to manipulate anything to get this to work. Using Scatter with date/time on the X axis should work right out of the box.

Or should I tell you once more? Would 7 or 8 times suffice?

OK I've had enough of this guy. His English is horrible, and he can't read.

You refuse to understand that date_time aren't numerical values.
It's not Numbers's problem but yours.

Apple introduced the duration type of value exactly for this kind of thing.

The chart 1 in my message is absolutely perfect given what you give as entries.
Alas, it's not what you wanted.
Use correct entries (as I did in chart 2) and you will get the wanted results.

The behavior of date_time items was described here hundreds times!

A date_time entry, ALWAYS embed a date component.

If we enter a time value on 2009/08/01 the date component will be 2009/08/01
If we enter the same value on 2009/08/09 the date component will be 2009/08/09.

Entering your values today, the cells contain in fact

10:00 PM -> 2009/08/09 22:00
12:00 AM -> 2009/08/09 00:00
1:17 AM -> 2009/08/09 01:17
2:00 AM -> 2009/08/09 02:00
3:00 AM -> 2009/08/09 03:00
4:00 AM -> 2009/08/09 04:00
5:00 AM -> 2009/08/09 05:00

while, from your point of view, you assumed that you entered:

10:00 PM -> 2009/08/08 22:00
12:00 AM -> 2009/08/09 00:00
1:17 AM -> 2009/08/09 01:17
2:00 AM -> 2009/08/09 02:00
3:00 AM -> 2009/08/09 03:00
4:00 AM -> 2009/08/09 04:00
5:00 AM -> 2009/08/09 05:00

Given that, entering only _the time components_ is a very good way to get unreliable results (but logical ones).

Your problem is not a problem with the chart tool but the fact that you refuse to understand what date_time values are.

To get rid of that, I entered complete date_time values.
With such entries, I logically get what you want.

Use date_time items correctly and you will get correct results !

Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France.) dimanche 9 août 2009 16:28:43

Holy Kau. You really don't get it, do you.

You don't have to be a numerical value to be in a scatter chart. You should be able to plot a column of dates as an X axis. I guess that's over your head.

Yes you've described it. It's wrong. You can describe it again. It's wrong...still.

The goal isn't to do what you want, the goal is to make it work properly.

And I sent you my worksheet. It did have dates in it. IT WAS FORMATTED TO NOT DISPLAY THE DATE.

You know, you have all the information, yet you make claims that are right there in front of your face.

If you continue to go ahead with your rant, you only make yourself look bad.

Like I said, I am a software developer. The expectations of this software aren't up to what's expected. I've not only done what you say with regards to dates being entered, I've sent the sheet to you. I do this all the time in other software.

I've been working with datetime values since the early 80's. Are you even that old?

I have datetime values. You want durations to be put in, which shouldn't be needed. I guess it's over your head.

No need to shout.

I repeat: it's your own fault.

When we wan't to build a scatter chart for one set of data, Numbers is able to use date_time values in the first column.

When we wan't to build a scatter chart for two sets of data,
(1) we must select FOUR columns as is stated in the User Guide page 155
(2) Numbers is unable to use date_time values in the first and third columns.
We MUST use numerical values.


It's what I wrote several times in my mails but you refuse to admit the design.

Numbers designers made choices.
They don't match yours but they are free!
You are free to live with Numbers or leave it!
Good bye my dear son…

Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France.) dimanche 9 août 2009 18:41:05