How do you make connecting lines cover missing data in a line chart

Is there a way to make the connecting lines on a line graph to connect data points that aren't directly next to each other if the one between is missing?

Right now, it looks like this:

User uploaded file

If there's a blank spot, Numbers just doesn't fill it in in the graph. Is there an option to change this?

MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2012), OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Nov 26, 2014 7:19 PM

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2 replies

Nov 26, 2014 7:57 PM in response to Tellow Krinkle

Connecting lines across gaps is not a feature of Numbers. It has been asked about here more than a few times over multiple versions of the app.


If it is always just a single missing point at a time (one row of data missing but there is data above and below it), one workaround is to create a new series that interpolates the missing points. Plot that series in addition to the real series to fill in the gap. Unfortunately, it will add the new series to the legend, too. I suppose you could label them as "Col 1 Missing Data", "Col 2 Missing Data", etc.


For example, add three new columns to your chart (columns E-G).

cell E2 = IF(B2,B2,AVERAGE(B1,B3))

Fill down to complete the series and across to do the other columns

Include the three new columns on the chart. Set the datapoint symbol for each to "none"


You could plot the new series instead of the original but you will have a fake data point at the gap if you do it.


If the gap may be an unknown number of rows, there may be a formula to handle that. I don't know one off the top of my head, though.

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How do you make connecting lines cover missing data in a line chart

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