new scatter chart won't plot

Question

Level 1

137 points

new scatter chart won't plot

I made a Scatter Chart 2D In Numbers. I thought i was all set but when I started inserting values nothing happened. the CHART wont plot.

I clicked on EDIT DATA PREFERENCES thinking the problem was there. the cursor changed to the EDIT BARS and down at the bottom I made sure to (PLOT COLUMNS AS SERIES) was selected to the right of that was a request to ( Select Cells In Any Table To Add To "Daily Values"). That's Where I Can't Go Any Further.

I'm Not Allowed To Select The Cells. Don't Know Where To Go From Here

Imac 3.06 GHz intel Core 2 Duo,NICKMacBook_13inch_Aluminum_Late2008, Mac OS X (10.7.1), 4gb ram

Posted on Sep 9, 2015 8:28 PM

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Answer 1

Yellowbox

Level 7

20,383 points

Sep 9, 2015 11:05 PM in response to Nick Savas

Hi Nick,

I'm not sure what is meant by "Edit Bars" in a Scatter Chart.

Please post a screen shot of your table. If the table is large, just the top few rows will do.

Please post a screen shot of your Scatter Chart.

Full screen shots (command shift 3) are often difficult to read.

Wayne Contello has written a User Tip on how to post a screen shot.

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6591

Regards,

Ian.

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Answer 2

Nick Savas Author

Level 1

137 points

Sep 10, 2015 3:41 AM in response to Nick Savas

Below at the bottom of the chart, if you click on the Axis name, a small Blue text box opens, which in turn highlights the VALUE COLUMN,you should be able to select Value cells there.

I've enclosed screen shot of the Chart .

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Answer 3

Yellowbox

Level 7

20,383 points

Sep 10, 2015 7:31 AM in response to Nick Savas

Hi Nick,

For a Scatter Chart:

the X and Y labels should be in a Header Row.

X and Y values should be in Body Cells (not Header columns)

Column A looks like a Header Column (grey) but it isn't. Numbers puts a grey fill in when you click on the chart (graph).

To make this follow your example, I clicked on the Scatter Plot, then Format Panel > Axis > Value (X) > Steps > Major 9

You may need to change that if you are plotting dates as 0-32.

Then Format Panel > Axis > Value (Y)

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Answer 4

Nick Savas Author

Level 1

137 points

Sep 10, 2015 7:37 AM in response to Nick Savas

Thanks for info. once I created a new column and moved my date away from the header row, everything just fell into place. Thanks again. I knew it had to be something simple but I couldn't find the answer until now.

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Answer 5

Jan 29, 2016 11:15 AM in response to Yellowbox

Dear Yellowbox,

I followed the instructions you posted til Nick Savas but have not been able to populate the scatter chart with values from my table. I even tried Nick's fix of creating a new column and moving his data away from the header. No luck. As I wrote before, I used Numbers quite a bit in 2010-2012. I don't understand why Numbers 09 is giving me such a problem. I select the Scatter chart and select the two columns from my table, but the graph is blank.

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Answer 6

Jan 29, 2016 11:25 AM in response to Nick Savas

Nick, I am having the same problem about not being able to get the values into the scatter chart. The fix you tried didn't work for me. Have you tried to make scatter charts since September?? Would appreciate any help. Kind regards.

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Answer 7

Nick Savas Author

Level 1

137 points

Jan 29, 2016 12:52 PM in response to jonelle from stavanger

I found my biggest problem was I didn't select the complete columns ( A&B) before inserting my scatter chart.

1. I Started With A Basic Table

2. I Assigned Each Column The Data I Wanted (Date/Value)

3. I Entered Some Data In Both Columns

4. I Made Sure That Both (A & B Columns) Were Entirely Selected

5. I Then Inserted The Scatter Chart And The Data Was There Automatically

6. I Followed This Procedure Exclusively And Haven't Had A Problem Since

Hope this helps (Make sure both columns are selected)

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Answer 8

Feb 9, 2016 12:05 PM in response to Nick Savas

Thanks Nick!

I have made progress. Of all things, wait until you hear this! I had entered my numerical data with decimals instead of commas (2.35 instead of 2,35). This is why the data would not populate. I could not believe my own block-headedness.

Thank you for your time and help. I am certain to return with more questions.

Kind regards

Jonelle

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