Minimum X-Axis Value Defaults to Zero in Excel

 Last reviewed: November 2, 1994
Article ID: Q72863

SUMMARY

Microsoft Excel 3.0 calculates the minimum value for the X-axis on a scatter chart differently than it does in earlier versions. If you create a scatter chart using a small amount of data, Excel 3.0 will display a minimum X-axis value that is close to the minimum X value in the data. Using a large amount of data, Excel will display a minimum X-axis value of zero.

MORE INFORMATION

The point at which Excel 3.0 reverts from a minimum value of zero to a minimum value close to the minimum X value is dependent upon the range of X values and the number of values plotted.

Steps to Reproduce Problem

  1. Type =RAND()*25+50 in cell A1.

  2. Select cells A1:A20 and choose Fill Down from the Edit menu.

  3. With the area still selected, choose Copy from the Edit menu. Then choose Paste Special from the Edit menu, select Values and choose OK. This replaces the formulas with values.

  4. Use Data Sort to sort the values.

  5. Enter random values in cells B1:B20.

  6. Select cells A1:B20 and press F11 to create a new chart.

  7. Select First Column Contains X-Values for XY-Chart. 

          Note that the minimum value on the X-axis is zero.

  8. Create a new, similar chart using cells A1:A10.

Note that the minimum value on the X-axis is close to the minimum X value. In Excel 2.x, both charts would have a minimum X-axis value that is close to the actual minimum X value.

Workaround

Use the Format Scale command and manually change the minimum X value for the X-axis.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Excel User's Guide." Version 3.0, pages 397-400.

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Last reviewed: November 2, 1994
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