# Excel Graphs - Displaying x and y axis values **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 4, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-graphs-displaying-x-and-y-axis-values/263126 "2004-09-04T17:59:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-graphs-displaying-x-and-y-axis-values/263126/1 "2004-09-04T17:59:26Z")
I have written an Excel spreadsheet which calculates the exponential decay of radioactive substances. That was easy compared to getting the thing to graph properly. I want it to display 1 curve (an exponential decay). Actually, I am displaying the values as a bar graph (or histogram), which still illustrates the decay nicely. The data is ALL there for the graph to use. Ten values of radioactivity (y-axis) and ten values of time (x-axis). The graph displays properly as do the y-axis values. However, the x-axis values don’t show up at all OR they are displayed as data point values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc - big help there huh? I do not see why this should be such a problem. I don’t see why the math would create a problem. Basically, I am just trying to plot changing values (y-axis) against time (x-axis). I _thought_ this would be a very simple thing to do. This must be one of the most popular type of graphs. For example, a child’s height (y-axis) over a period of time (x-axis). So, why aren’t those x-values showing up at the bottom of the graph? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-graphs-displaying-x-and-y-axis-values/263126/2 "2004-09-04T20:46:36Z")
right-click on the chart, select “chart options”, go to \*\*Axes \*\* tab, make sure the check box \*\*Category (X) axis \*\* is checked. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-graphs-displaying-x-and-y-axis-values/263126/3 "2004-09-04T21:48:43Z")
I was able to do what I think you are trying to do on the version of Excel I have by going to the “Source Data” option in the “Chart” menu and highlighting the desired X axis values in the “Category (X axis labels)” box. On preview I see that clicking and unclicking the option **Peter Morris** suggests makes these labels appear and go away. So maybe you need to do both. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-graphs-displaying-x-and-y-axis-values/263126/4 "2004-09-05T01:27:12Z")
**Peter Morris and Laughing Langomorph** Thanks to both of you for the help. I think we’d agree that those Excel chart options are not organized very well. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-graphs-displaying-x-and-y-axis-values/263126/5 "2004-09-05T12:37:40Z")
> [@wolf\_meister](#): > > **Peter Morris and Laughing Langomorph** > > Thanks to both of you for the help. > I think we’d agree that those Excel chart options are not organized very well. > Thanks again. Yes, I would not say they are intuitive. If I am trying to get some effect on an Excel chart that I don’t know how to do I basically highlight the relevant data and keep clicking and unclicking various options in the Charts menu until I get what I want. Problems often arise because Excel wants to treat data as labels, or labels as data. But all in all I have found it to be extremely useful in my job.