Line chart: force Numbers to draw line between data points

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Level 1

40 points

Line chart: force Numbers to draw line between data points

Hi there

I'm attempting to draw a line chart in Numbers but there are gaps in some data series, in which case Numbers doesn't draw a line, but rather just plots the data points.

In Excel, one can set a preference so that the app will draw line between all data points, interpolating across any gaps in the series.

Can I force Numbers to do this?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Mar 27, 2011 12:44 AM

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Answer 1

KOENIG Yvan

Level 8

41,819 points

Mar 27, 2011 5:22 AM in response to Bongoman

If you are building a scatter chart, drop the entries with no values.

You may also use XL if you feel that it fits better your needs.

Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France) dimanche 27 mars 2011 14:22:03

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Answer 2

Badunit

Level 7

30,708 points

Mar 27, 2011 5:28 AM in response to Bongoman

I think the setting in Excel is "connect the gaps with a line", which draws a straight line across any gaps (no interpolation necessary). Numbers does not have this ability.

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Answer 3

KOENIG Yvan

Level 8

41,819 points

Mar 27, 2011 9:00 AM in response to Badunit

Badunit wrote:
I think the setting in Excel is "connect the gaps with a line", which draws a straight line across any gaps (no interpolation necessary).

No explicit interpolation necessary. The app does it by itself 😉

Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France) dimanche 27 mars 2011 18:00:51

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Answer 4

Badunit

Level 7

30,708 points

Mar 27, 2011 11:08 AM in response to KOENIG Yvan

It does not create the "in between" data points so it is not doing interpolation (unless you are taking the wider view that the underlying operation of drawing connecting lines between any two points is interpolation). It simply draws a straight line across the gap from one data point to the next.

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Answer 5

KOENIG Yvan

Level 8

41,819 points

Mar 27, 2011 12:47 PM in response to Badunit

Badunit wrote:
It does not create the "in between" data points so it is not doing interpolation (unless you are taking the wider view that the underlying operation of drawing connecting lines between any two points is interpolation). It simply draws a straight line across the gap from one data point to the next.

It's exactly what I studied under the name 'Linear interpolation'.

In the chart which I posted, Numbers applied what I studied as "Polynomial interpolation".

Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France) dimanche 27 mars 2011 21:47:32

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