AboutNathan Head Expertise Microsoft Excel questions related to advanced formulas, Pivot Tables, filters, forms, graphs, and just about anything else (EXCEPT Visual Basic Coding/Programming and Macros, I don't have any expertise there).
Experience I have been using spreadsheets since Lotus 1-2-3 was released. As a CPA, I use spreadsheets every day at work.
I am desperately trying to figure out the graph(chart) wizard in excel, to my dismay it is much more complicated then I expected it to be before I took on this challenge from management. I am trying trying to graph the difference in times from sign-in to registration and then to completion in a medical clinic setting. In my head I would like the x axis to display time (Col.C)in 30 minute increments and on the y axis I need minutes (Col. F - G). I need 2 lines, one for Col.F, and one for Col.G. I am attaching a sample.
Graphing with time isn't something Excel has a standard graph for; however, it certainly can be done. I have made several changes to a default graph and I've summarized them in the following steps. I figure it will probably be easier for you to learn by example on this one, so play around with the sample file and then let me know if you have any questions.
1) I used a scatter graph instead of a line graph (most graph types will not work). I had C1:C11 and F1:G11 selected when I created the graph. Excel defaulted column C to X axis and columns F and G to Y axis.
2) I formatted the X axis as "time" under the number setting.
3) For the X axis, under axis options, I chose these defaults instead of using automatic settings:
a) Min = 0.333333 - This equals 8AM in Excel time. 1 = 1 Day (but I suspect you have figured that out already since you are already adding and subtracting times).
b) Max = 0.708333 - This equals 5PM.
c) Major unit = 0.02083333 - This equals 30 minutes.
Everything else in the graph was standard when I set it up, but different versions of Excel choose different defaults, so it may not look exactly like mine the first time you create your graph.
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