HELP WITH 2-AXIS CHARTS

Hi Ron,

In Numbers a 2-Axis Graph (Chart) is a Category graph where the X axis consists of equally-spaced "labels". For example, months of the year. A scatter plot requires both X and Y axes to be variables.

Please post a screen shot of the relevant part of your table so that we can see what you see. Before you take the screen shot, "anonymise" all sensitive data by replacing with made-up data..

Regards,

Ian.

P.S. another thought, it may be possible to overlay two graphs to make them appear as one.

Ian.

Is this close to what you want?

Note that, unlike in your screenshot, column A has to be defined as a Header Column.

SG

Before getting too excited, I'm not sure that was what you asked for. I think this is the same 2-axis chart you already tried that has the X axis data evenly spaced, not like a scatter chart.

It is not that Apple made this difficult and unintuitive. It is that Numbers does not have a 2-axis scatter chart. You are trying to make a chart that does not exist in Numbers. Unfortunately Numbers also does not have the ability to connect data points that have gaps (blank cells) between them. You cannot simply add rows so that your X axis goes 1, 2, 3, etc evenly spaced and use the 2-axis category chart. You can if all you want is dots, but not if you want connecting lines. It also does not have the ability to place the Y axis numbers on the right of a chart (other than the 2-axis category chart). So, while you can make 2 scatter charts and overlay them, getting the second Y axis numbers onto the right is sketchy.

Numbers does not have the chart you want or the ability to make a usable workaround. Have you considered Excel? You can add a second Y axis to a scatter chart in a few clicks in Excel. Check out their Home and Student version if you don't need to always have the latest and greatest and don't like the subscription model of Office 365. Or see if Google Sheets or others have this ability for free.

Hi Ron,

Two Scatter Plots overlaid. Y2 axis consists of text boxes.

This involves several other kludges, and may not be worth the effort.

Regards,

Ian.

Yes, the key takeaway is that you need to pay heed to the use of Header Columns.

You need a Header Column for a category chart (where x-axis values are evenly spaced). That includes the 2D 2-Axis chart.

You do not want to plot a Header Column for a scatter chart (where x-axis values are not necessarily evenly spaced).

Depending on how precise you need to be, the 2-axis chart may be good enough to fit your needs.

SG

Excel has the same charts that evenly space the X data as if it is text. That's normal. A lot of times the X axis actually is text. But Excel also has the ability to add a second Y axis to a scatter chart (the only true X-Y chart), which Numbers does not.

I think for iOS your only choice is an Office 365 subscription. It may allow you to use it on multiple if not all of your devices, including Macs, all with the one subscription. I don't know for sure about that, though. I think there are various levels of subscription.

If you want to stick with Numbers, you can do what Yellowbox described with two scatter charts overlaid on each other.

I can confirm that the Office 365 subscription that I purchased on the App Store (or Mac App Store, I forget which) allows you to use Excel and the other apps on the iPad as well as Mac. You also have access to the web versions. And I think subscribers will get AI assistance as well! Among other things, I suppose that may eventually help with setting up complicated charts.

SG