Change axis lengths? Tick marks but NO axes?

On 13/6/06 21:37, in article C0B49A3E.70867%bob@nospam.com, "Bob Greenblatt"
wrote:

> On 6/13/06 9:05 AM, in article C0B476B2.239A%zeugma@toucanspam.com, "Jay"
> wrote:
>
>> I've been reading Edward Tufte's "The Visual Display of Quantitative
>> Information" (which, by the way, I can whole heartedly recommend to anyone
>> with a personal/professional interest in statistical graphics).
>>
>> Anyway, I'd love to implement some of his ideas. For example - using a
>> chart's axes as a 'range frame' - so that each axis is only shown from the
>> minimum to maximum of both variables plotted . Meaning that the axes
>> themselves carry information .
>>
>> Does anyone know if or how this could be done in excel? An add-in maybe?
>> Also, things like showing the tick marks but not the axis lines themselves?
>>
>> Any help would be appreciated or if anyone else has implemented some of
>> Tufte's techniques I'd really appreciate advice as to how, within the
>> constraints of Excel's charting abilities.
>>
>> Jay
>> __
>>
> Jay,
>
> You should be able to do both of these things by formatting the chart.
> Format the Axis and insert the maximum and minimum instead of the automatic
> checks.

Sorry Bob, I probably wasn't clear enough. I know you can simply format an
axis to start and end at specified values (which could be the min & max).
However, I meant something else. To use an example, say you're plotting a
simple scatter chart and have both y and x axes going from 0 to 100. But the
lowest value to be plotted is (30,30). I'd therefore like the axis to still
in effect go from 0 to 100 but only be visible from 20 onwards. I.e.
|
|
| .

_______

Forgive the poor representation but I hope you get my drift.

>T=you can also select tick marks only, without intermediate lines.

I meant keeping the tick marks only, without the actual axes. I can't see
how this can be done. If it can if you could let me know how I'd really
appreciate it.

Cheers

Jay
 >> Stay informed about: Change axis lengths? Tick marks but NO axes? 

Bob Greenblatt wrote:
> Now, I have no idea what you want. What's the difference between "go from 0
> to 100 but only be visible from 20.." to having 20 as a minimum value?


I think what he wants is "go from 0 to 100, but have the axis invisible
between 0 and 20, then visible between 20 and 100".

Or something like that.

PhilD

--
<><
 >> Stay informed about: Change axis lengths? Tick marks but NO axes? 

On 6/13/06 6:12 PM, in article C0B4F6ED.2597%zeugma@toucanspam.com, "Jay"
wrote:

> On 13/6/06 21:37, in article C0B49A3E.70867%bob@nospam.com, "Bob Greenblatt"
> wrote:
>
>> On 6/13/06 9:05 AM, in article C0B476B2.239A%zeugma@toucanspam.com, "Jay"
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I've been reading Edward Tufte's "The Visual Display of Quantitative
>>> Information" (which, by the way, I can whole heartedly recommend to anyone
>>> with a personal/professional interest in statistical graphics).
>>>
>>> Anyway, I'd love to implement some of his ideas. For example - using a
>>> chart's axes as a 'range frame' - so that each axis is only shown from the
>>> minimum to maximum of both variables plotted . Meaning that the axes
>>> themselves carry information .
>>>
>>> Does anyone know if or how this could be done in excel? An add-in maybe?
>>> Also, things like showing the tick marks but not the axis lines themselves?
>>>
>>> Any help would be appreciated or if anyone else has implemented some of
>>> Tufte's techniques I'd really appreciate advice as to how, within the
>>> constraints of Excel's charting abilities.
>>>
>>> Jay
>>> __
>>>
>> Jay,
>>
>> You should be able to do both of these things by formatting the chart.
>> Format the Axis and insert the maximum and minimum instead of the automatic
>> checks.
>
> Sorry Bob, I probably wasn't clear enough. I know you can simply format an
> axis to start and end at specified values (which could be the min & max).
> However, I meant something else. To use an example, say you're plotting a
> simple scatter chart and have both y and x axes going from 0 to 100. But the
> lowest value to be plotted is (30,30). I'd therefore like the axis to still
> in effect go from 0 to 100 but only be visible from 20 onwards. I.e.
> |
> |
> | .
>
> _______
>
> Forgive the poor representation but I hope you get my drift.
>
>> T=you can also select tick marks only, without intermediate lines.
>
> I meant keeping the tick marks only, without the actual axes. I can't see
> how this can be done. If it can if you could let me know how I'd really
> appreciate it.
>
> Cheers
>
> Jay
>
>
>
>
>
Now, I have no idea what you want. What's the difference between "go from 0
to 100 but only be visible from 20.." to having 20 as a minimum value?

--
Bob Greenblatt [MVP], Macintosh
bobgreenblattATmsnDOTcom
 >> Stay informed about: Change axis lengths? Tick marks but NO axes? 

On 6/14/06 8:49 AM, in article
1150289390.639929.58300 DeleteThis @i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com, "PhilD"
wrote:

>
> Bob Greenblatt wrote:
>> Now, I have no idea what you want. What's the difference between "go from 0
>> to 100 but only be visible from 20.." to having 20 as a minimum value?
>
>
> I think what he wants is "go from 0 to 100, but have the axis invisible
> between 0 and 20, then visible between 20 and 100".
>
> Or something like that.
>
> PhilD
>
> --
> <><
>
OK, but how is that different than going from 20 to 100?

--
Bob Greenblatt [MVP], Macintosh
bobgreenblattATmsnDOTcom
 >> Stay informed about: Change axis lengths? Tick marks but NO axes? 

On 14/6/06 21:37, in article C0B5EBB6.70964%bob@nospam.com, "Bob Greenblatt"
wrote:

> On 6/14/06 8:49 AM, in article
> 1150289390.639929.58300.DeleteThis@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com, "PhilD"
> wrote:
>
>>
>> Bob Greenblatt wrote:
>>> Now, I have no idea what you want. What's the difference between "go from 0
>>> to 100 but only be visible from 20.." to having 20 as a minimum value?
>>
>>
>> I think what he wants is "go from 0 to 100, but have the axis invisible
>> between 0 and 20, then visible between 20 and 100".
>>
>> Or something like that.
>>
>> PhilD

That is what I meant.
>>
> OK, but how is that different than going from 20 to 100?

A) It would prevent the minimum values being plotted 'on' the axes.
B) The 'invisible' section of the axes would communicate the remainder of
the 'possible' ranges(If the minimum value wasn't the absolute minimum value
possible) while the 'visible' section would communicate the min/max values.

Sorry if I'm not being clear.

Jay
 >> Stay informed about: Change axis lengths? Tick marks but NO axes? 

Bob Greenblatt wrote:
> Well, maybe it's just me, but you are not making this clear. Maybe some one
> else can jump in and help.


I think the other person is being clear. I have no idea how to achieve
what's required, though.

Possibly, and thinking out loud here, you could set up a chart in the
conventional way, then add a white/background colour box over the top
of the axes where you don't want to see them. With careful use of
fill- and line- colours this should be possible.

Get the conventional work (sizing, etc.) complete first to avoid later
hassles.

Don't think you can do this automatically.

PhilD

--
<><
 >> Stay informed about: Change axis lengths? Tick marks but NO axes? 

On 6/14/06 5:22 PM, in article C0B63CA7.276C%zeugma@toucanspam.com, "Jay"
wrote:

>
>
>
> On 14/6/06 21:37, in article C0B5EBB6.70964%bob@nospam.com, "Bob Greenblatt"
> wrote:
>
>> On 6/14/06 8:49 AM, in article
>> 1150289390.639929.58300.TakeThisOut@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com, "PhilD"
>> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Bob Greenblatt wrote:
>>>> Now, I have no idea what you want. What's the difference between "go from 0
>>>> to 100 but only be visible from 20.." to having 20 as a minimum value?
>>>
>>>
>>> I think what he wants is "go from 0 to 100, but have the axis invisible
>>> between 0 and 20, then visible between 20 and 100".
>>>
>>> Or something like that.
>>>
>>> PhilD
>
> That is what I meant.
>>>
>> OK, but how is that different than going from 20 to 100?
>
> A) It would prevent the minimum values being plotted 'on' the axes.
> B) The 'invisible' section of the axes would communicate the remainder of
> the 'possible' ranges(If the minimum value wasn't the absolute minimum value
> possible) while the 'visible' section would communicate the min/max values.
>
> Sorry if I'm not being clear.
>
> Jay
>
>
Well, maybe it's just me, but you are not making this clear. Maybe some one
else can jump in and help.

--
Bob Greenblatt [MVP], Macintosh
bobgreenblattATmsnDOTcom
 >> Stay informed about: Change axis lengths? Tick marks but NO axes? 

On 15/6/06 14:48, in article
1150379308.915247.21780 DeleteThis @h76g2000cwa.googlegroups.com, "PhilD"
wrote:

>
> Bob Greenblatt wrote:
>> Well, maybe it's just me, but you are not making this clear. Maybe some one
>> else can jump in and help.
>
>
> I think the other person is being clear. I have no idea how to achieve
> what's required, though.
>
> Possibly, and thinking out loud here, you could set up a chart in the
> conventional way, then add a white/background colour box over the top
> of the axes where you don't want to see them. With careful use of
> fill- and line- colours this should be possible.
>
> Get the conventional work (sizing, etc.) complete first to avoid later
> hassles.
>
> Don't think you can do this automatically.
>
> PhilD
>
> --
> <><
>
Thanks Phil, I get what your suggesting. My only concern with that would be
that any user/recipient of the file could possible move the box
unintentionally by rampant clicking:-). Is there a way to 'lock' graphical
elements to prevent amendment? - in a similar way then sheets/cells can be
locked.

Jay
__
 >> Stay informed about: Change axis lengths? Tick marks but NO axes?