Apple Numbers chart editing

I'm guessing this is a 2D Scatter chart and that the scale for the X-Axis is set differently on the two charts, probably with the MAX: set higher on your first chart.

If you change the settings so that they are the same in the two charts you should get consistent results.

SG

"Are you really suggesting that if one wants numbers (instead of categories) along the x-axis that 2D Scatter isn’t a better option than 2D Line?"

No.

I'm saying that in this case, where the data suggests the values on the x axis are fixed and evenly spaced, it makes little difference to treat them as 'evenly spaced numbers' or evenly spaced categories. The chart will tell the same story either way.

"Seems to be awkwardly missing a label on the right end of the scale. Easily fixed? (It is if it’s 2D Scatter)."

Easily fixed.

Regards,

Barry

Hi Don,

Not enough information for a definitive answer. For that, we'd need to see the settings in the Chart Inspector and the data tables feeding both charts.

My initial guess, though would be a difference in Min and Max settings for the x axis.

A second possibility is the presence of hidden rows in the table feeding the top chart.

"* issue is same on all my Macs and for all Numbers for 2-3 years."

Are all the documents produced from the same template?

Have you tried Duplicating the table feeding the lower chart, deleting it's data, entering the data from the top chart's table into it, and reconstructing the top chart to use the new table?

Regards,

Barry

Don2o13 wrote:

it is a 2D Line chart and there is not Axis Scale setting (that I can see).

Are you sure? In your screenshot you show numbers across the x-axis. That's usually the sign of a scatter plot rather than a "category" chart like '2D Line'.

If it's not a 2D Scatter (with the data points connected by lines) then perhaps it should be.

You can see the axis scale settings by clicking the chart and choosing the 'Axis' tab in the panel at the right.

SG

HI Don,

From my initial response:

"A second possibility is the presence of hidden rows in the table feeding the top chart."

Not a bad guess! Rejected it, though, as I was thinking 'x-x scatter chart' not Line chart.

Congratulations on solving the issue.

From your solution: "Just shrinking the table ( deleting rows 26 & 27 ) did not reduce the data series to 25 rows."

Odd. I created a line chart with a 27 row table (rows 26 & 27 empty) and got the two extra columns on the chart. But when I deleted the two empty rows, the extra columns immediately disappeared from the chart.

Regards,

Barry

Barry wrote:

I created a line chart with a 27 row table (rows 26 & 27 empty) and got the two extra columns on the chart. But when I deleted the two empty rows, the extra columns immediately disappeared from the chart.

Yes, same for me. The chart immediately adjusts when extra rows are removed. Without extra blank rows in the table the only way I could get the blank space at the right was to have a 2D Scatter and intentionally set the MAX: too large.

Though Don2o13 has declined to show us a screenshot of the table with the data and the selection of chart type, the screenshot suggests that this should be a 2D Scatter.

SG

SG: "… screenshot suggests that this should be a 2D Scatter."

Depends. If the x data is as equally spaced as implied by the example, and unchanging from week to week, then a category chart works equally well.

B

Barry wrote:

SG: "… screenshot suggests that this should be a 2D Scatter."

Depends. If the x data is as equally spaced as implied by the example, and unchanging from week to week, then a category chart works equally well.

B

Hi Barry,

You think? With a 2D Line chart how would you change the x-axis labels to nice readable intervals? Let's say, as often happens, you want to unclutter the labeling on the x-axis so you decide you want 150 on up by intervals of 5? You have that flexibility with 2D Scatter, but not with a 2D Line chart, which is a "category" chart where you normally see categories along the x-axis.

SG

Hi Barry,

Seems to be awkwardly missing a label on the right end of the scale. Easily fixed? (It is if it’s 2D Scatter).

Are you really suggesting that if one wants numbers (instead of categories) along the x-axis that 2D Scatter isn’t a better option than 2D Line?

SG

"Let's say, as often happens, you want to unclutter the labeling on the x-axis so you decide you want 150 on up by intervals of 5? "

Easily done:

Barry