Using Microsoft Excel, you can create a variety of charts using data from a spreadsheet. You can make pie charts, bar charts, line charts or a combination. Excel's axis features allow you to create a secondary vertical axis for mixed types of data on a two-dimensional chart, such as price and amount. The vertical axes represent the values. Then you can add a second horizontal axis, representing two different categories. With multiple data series, you can change one chart to a different type of chart to distinguish them. In total, the chart has four axes.
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Things you need
- Chart data
In a chart, select the data series you want to put on a second vertical axis. Either select the data series from the chart itself or select it from a list in "Chart Tools." To select it from a list, click the chart. In "Chart Tools," click the "Format" tab. In the "Current Selection" group, click the arrow in "Chart Elements." Select the data series to which you want to add a secondary vertical axis.
On the "Format" tab, in the "Current Selection" group, select "Format Selection." The "Format Data Series" box will display.
On the "Series Options" tab, under "Plot Series On," select "Secondary Axis." Click "Close." The new axis will display in the chart.
On the "Layout" tab in "Chart Tools," in the "Axes" group, click "Axes." Click "Secondary Vertical Axis" to change the display options for the axis. To change the axis options, right click the secondary axis and select "Format Axis." Make options changes under "Axis Options."
Repeat these steps for each data series to which you want to add a secondary vertical axis.
Add a Secondary Vertical Axis
Click the chart that displays a secondary vertical axis. You cannot display a secondary horizontal axis without a secondary vertical axis.
On the "Layout" tab in "Chart Tools," in the "Axes" group, select "Axes."
Click "Secondary Horizontal Axis." Make changes to the display options that you want.
Add a Secondary Horizontal Axis
Tips and warnings
- To distinguish two different data series, change the chart type of one of them. To do this, select the data series you want to change. On the "Design" tab, in the "Type" group, click "Change Chart Type." Select a chart type in the first box. Click the chart subtype you want in the second box. For example, if you have a bar graph, you may want to choose a line graph for the second data series.
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