Placing X and Y axis lines at 0 for a scatter plot with negative values?

Hello all,


I have switched to Numbers this semester and am really enjoying using it for my classes that require lab data to be graphed. I hit my first snag with this issue, though. I've been browsing Google and the Apple Support Communities for almost an hour and a half now to no avail.

My question: how can I create a scatterplot with the axis in the middle of the numberline, rather than the default bottom left version Numbers spits out regardless of what I set the Min Y value on?


Basically, I just want Numbers to do what Excel is doing here:

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/6606/screenshot20110925at005.png

I want Numbers to put the axis line at 0, in between the negative and positive values, rather than it's default setting.


In order to complete my homework, I need to extend a trendline (I know how to do this by adding points) so that it intersects both the X axis and Y axis. I need this to be visual to see the X and Y intercepts; that data goes into further calculations for enzyme kinetics. I apologize if this is too much information, but I want to be (hopefully :]) clear about what/why I need what I need.


Thanks for the help!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8), Numbers '09 ver 2.1

Posted on Sep 24, 2011 10:08 PM

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3 replies

Sep 24, 2011 11:27 PM in response to rebeccacg

Hi Rebecca,


Unfortunately, you're stuck with the default behaviour,


You can, however, tell Numbers to not display the axis, and place your own on the graph in the form of an inserted line shape. Here's a dashed off example:


User uploaded file


The major difficulty with this is that you have to specify the MAX and MIN values for the chart and the numbers of steps between. If left at 'automatic', the zero point will shift with added data, but the independent line sitting in for the axis will not.


Regards,

Barry


PS: Sounds like an opportunity to Provide Numbers Feedback and make an enhanced feature request. You'll find a link to do that in the Numbers menu in Numbers.

Sep 25, 2011 9:13 AM in response to Barry

Barry,


Thanks for your help. I find it exceedingly strange that no-one on the development team thought to incorporate this feature. Surely I'm not the only one who has needed it... Although, as I couldn't find anyone else with the same issue, perhaps it's not an inconvenience to most people. (:


I'll definitely be providing some feedback as you suggested, as I think I'm going to have to switch to Excel for this one for accuracy's sake.


Thanks again for your prompt response!


Rebecca

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Placing X and Y axis lines at 0 for a scatter plot with negative values?

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