Really confused on making XY plots in Numbers

ssls,

I'll give you the basic rule, and ask you to try with that, rather that go through all your cases.

Plotting a Scatter Chart requires paired numeric values. Neither column may be formatted as text.

You have used the default Header Column, Column A. Header columns are generally used for descriptors, text, to somehow label what follows in the row. You need to delete this Header Column before entering your data, or start your data entering in the first non-header column. Header columns default to text format, so even if what you enter there looks like a numeric value, it will be treated as text.

That should put you on the right track.

Jerry

Here is how I plot XY data :

1) enter the data in a table

2) set the first row as a header row using the contextual menu for the first row

now select the columns to plot. In this case select column A and B

Now select the XY chart from the charts tool:

While the chart is selected I used the Chart Formatter for the series to select "Straight" from the "Connection Lines" popup menu

Hi ssls,

There are two types of graphs (Charts) in Numbers 3 that require data to be in Body Cells.

In the red "round rectangle" on the left is a Scatter Plot (I think you are looking for this) and on the right is a Bubble Chart (I don't think you are looking for this).

All other graphs are Category graphs (charts) that require the X data to be in a Header in a table.

Reproducing your data in a table with no Header Columns:

Row 1 is a Header Row, and that is OK.

Select Columns A and B and insert a Scatter Plot.

To add the line, click on the graph and Format Panel > Series > Connection Lines > Straight

Is that what you want?

Regards,

Ian.

Hi ssls,

Your latest reply (posted while I was composing my reply) shows that your X data are in a Header Column. Not good for a Scatter Plot 😉.

Click in the table and

Menu > Table > Header Columns > 0

Regards,

Ian.

Hi ssls,

Thanks for the green tick and your feed back.

I did not really realize a grey column is a header column.

A grey column is not always a Header Column, but is is often a clue. I guessed that your table had a Header Column from your screen shot

As opposed to a table with no Headers:

Table Header Rows, Footer Rows and Header Columns are mighty powerful where they are needed.

Happy Numbering!

Regards,

Ian.

to get a contextual menu for a row or column you have to click on the row(or column) number (or letter). you right clicked on a selection of cells. to open a column contextual menu you hover of the letter of the column, then click the down facing arrow: