I need to make a scatterplot with an axis in feet and the other in meters (x axis is date/time). y axis data is the same for both axises, I just need the unit conversion to meters to show up on the primary axis..

I'm assuming that I could just make two data sets, one being converted and then make a plot with all the data and set one data set to the metric axis and one to the standard axis and try to line them up so I don't have twice the number of data series showing up...

or is there any easier way?

the problem is that there will be multiple (hundreds) of these charts and the elevations are all over the place, so I can't set the max/min, major unit, etc. on the chart properties to keep feet & meters lined up.

[Edited on July 8, 2010 at 11:33 AM. Reason : .]

7/8/2010 11:29:33 AM

can you just do format data series -> series options -> secondary axis?

7/8/2010 11:58:57 AM

yeh, if I put in a meters and feet data set and then put the feet data set on the secondary axis. the problem is, is that the two data sets (which are equal to one another, just different units) won't line up, when they should.


on each graph, I will have 6 data sets shown, and each needs to correspond to the primary axis (meters) and secondary axis (feet). I can't put in 12 data sets (6 in meters, 6 in feet) then manually line up the axes (so 1 m = 3.28 ft, 0.5 m = 1.6 ft, etc) because I'd have to do that 200+ times for each chart..

[Edited on July 8, 2010 at 12:18 PM. Reason : .]

7/8/2010 12:06:44 PM

just plot the data with the one set and then scale a secondary x axis with no data

can you not do plots with a macro? i've never needed to try.

7/8/2010 12:19:17 PM

not sure about macros/vb

and I don't think you can do a secondary axis with one data set... and if I could, I would probably have to scale the secondary axis on each chart... which will be a huge undertaking.

7/8/2010 12:22:08 PM

http://www.tushar-mehta.com/excel/charts/0204-single%20graph%20dual%20axis.htm

just use two data sets

[Edited on July 8, 2010 at 12:30 PM. Reason : shrug]

7/8/2010 12:29:31 PM

I'm trying to stay away from manually scaling, if possible. I don't have time to do that 200+ times and as of right now, I have no knowledge on how to automate scaling.

7/8/2010 12:33:00 PM

neither do i, hence the shrug

why do you need both units? just tell people to deal with it, most should be able to think in both at this point

7/8/2010 12:34:34 PM

haha, I concur, but I was told to make them with both.... I just may do it with meters only and try to get out of it.

7/8/2010 12:37:10 PM