Scatter plot in Numbers

Question

Level 1

4 points

Scatter plot in Numbers

Hi,

This is embarassing. Why has Numbers become so difficult and unintuitive to use? I had an older version than the current one 4.3.1, that I could use perfectly for everything. Now I even cannot create a scatter plot from two columns of numbers imported from a tab separated file. This is really crazy.

Some numbers are in this notation: 2.589312076568603516e+00

This shouldn't quite be a problem (I am surprised Numbers doesn't recognize this format, while before I had NO troubles). Numbers doesn't allow to change the format to Number or Scientific... just keeps getting back to Automatic.

This is really c...

Cannot figure out any reason why it all got so much worse than previous versions

Posted on Jan 21, 2018 9:22 AM

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Answer 1

fabio155 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 21, 2018 9:42 AM in response to fabio155

I'm laughing so much.

I selected one column as the X axis, and then a DIFFERENT column as the Y axis and ... the first one becomes equal to the first!!!

What an amazing job you have done with Numbers!!!

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Answer 2

Jan 21, 2018 12:41 PM in response to fabio155

to create an xy scatter chart do the following steps (starting from a new, blank table):

- create a new blank table by clicking the "Table" button in the tool bar

now select the first row, then select the pop-up menu item from the contextual menu for the

row "Convert to Header Row":

Now enter the series names for the horizontal axis (in column A) and the vertical axis in column B

User uploaded file

Now enter some data:

Now select the "XY Scatter" chart from the charts menu:

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Answer 3

SGIII

Level 8

37,532 points

Jan 21, 2018 1:08 PM in response to fabio155

fabio155 wrote:

what's bad in selecting two columns, then clicking on the scatter plot icon and then the job is done? Why is this gone now? \

Nothing bad about that at all.🙂

But are you sure that is "gone now"?

Start with this table:

x values	y values
1	10
1.5	12
1.6	12
2	15
2.1	16

Select two columns:

Click the scatter plot icon:

Then the job is done (except for formatting to taste):

SG

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Answer 4

SGIII

Level 8

37,532 points

Jan 21, 2018 9:50 AM in response to fabio155

Hi,

Without some specifics it's hard to tell why you are having trouble.

BTW, we are your fellow users here. If you're not looking for ways to use Numbers, but rather just want to express displeasure, then you could consider using Numbers > Provide Numbers Feedback in your menu.

SG

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Answer 5

fabio155 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 21, 2018 10:15 AM in response to SGIII

You're right SGIII,

I wanted to give vent to some frustration. I do not think it has to be that hard to generate a scatter plot, so I won't even go into details about what might be the problem and let other people waste their time. My opinion is that if a software behaves this way on a simple task (which I did thousands of time without problems using a previous version), then it's not really worth trying more.

I'll make sure to complain with those "smart" apple engineers that did this (unbelievable!)

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Answer 6

SGIII

Level 8

37,532 points

Jan 21, 2018 10:24 AM in response to fabio155

Actually I find it quite easy to generate a scatterplot in the current version. 🙂

The only tricky thing I find is to make sure the left column is not defined as a Header Column. Also have to click the chart, then Edit Data References, and sometimes adjust the settings lower-left (e.g. 'Share X values' , etc.)

Have you had a look at the 'Charting Basics' template at File > New in your menu? There's a simple example of a Scatter Chart there.

SG

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Answer 7

fabio155 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 21, 2018 11:05 AM in response to SGIII

Dear SG,

thanks for the tips. Maybe you did not use the previous versions, where no tricky parts existed. 99.9% of the time I could get a scatter plot without having to first generate it and then edit which data have to go into the plot. I mean, what's bad in selecting two columns, then clicking on the scatter plot icon and then the job is done? Why is this gone now? I loved how the actual version tricks you with changing the X and Y values to the same column (really tricky!).

I'll try the example you suggest. Maybe I have overlooked something. Again, it is puzzling that a newer version has all these complications (others have" appreciated" the new Numbers, as it seems from a quick search about scatter plots.). It seems so much like the story of Microsoft Windows over the years. Doh!

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