category label spacing (x-axis generally)

[arcibald tuttle]

Have a column chart in which the same label applies to two adjacent
columns. Rather than have it redundantly redisplay the labels I
adjusted the tick mark spacing to 2 so it only displays every other
label.

The problem is how to shift the alignment of the category labels along
the x-axis to the label appears somewhat centered under the two columns
to which it applies?

Normally I might trick something like this by adjust the the
relationship of the displayed font to its baseline (similar to
subscript or superscript functions). While I find the ability to choose
subscript or superscript functions there is no ability I've found so far
to adjust the extent of offset they accomplish and at the presets, they
don't move the type very far, they just make it smaller.

Any ideas or workarounds appreciated.

Brian

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arcibald tuttle

[Luke M]

My obvious question is, why have two columns?

But barring that...

Assuming your raw data has column labels in column A.
Insert a column to left of A (labels are now in B)
Where you have the duplicate labels, move it to the first spot in the A
column, leave the cell below it blank
When the labels in column B resume, place a space in column A

Example:

<blank cell> Label 1
<blank cell> Label 2
Label 3 <blank cell>
<blank cell> <blank cell>
<space> Label 4
etc...

This will cause your chart to have a secondary set of labels

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Best Regards,

Luke M
"arcibald tuttle" <arcibald.tu...@excelbanter.com> wrote in message
news:arcibald.tu...@excelbanter.com...

[arcibald tuttle]

'Luke M[_4_ Wrote:
> ;942287']My obvious question is, why have two columns?

>
> But barring that...
>
> Assuming your raw data has column labels in column A.
> Insert a column to left of A (labels are now in B)
> Where you have the duplicate labels, move it to the first spot in the A
>
> column, leave the cell below it blank
> When the labels in column B resume, place a space in column A
>
> Example:
>
> <blank cell> Label 1
> <blank cell> Label 2
> Label 3 <blank cell>
> <blank cell> <blank cell>
> <space> Label 4
> etc...
>
> This will cause your chart to have a secondary set of labels
>
> --
> Best Regards,
>

> Luke M [/i][/color]

Luke,

thanks for the note. I don't see that I can post a worksheet or
chartsheet so I have attached a .pdf of the graph in question.

The reason that I have two columns with a single label is that they are
dual runs of different towns (in Rhode Island).

I'm not clear on what creating secondary labels will accomplish. If you
look at the .jpg snip from the graph, what I'm hoping to do is simply to
shift the x-axis category labels to the right about an eight of an inch
relative to the plotted data, e.g. about 9 or 10 points for those
familiar with typesetting measure. You'll notice from the graphic that
the town names currently line up with the major vertical gridlines that
appear at two column intervals. I need the labels to line up
approximately with the center of the space between those vertical
gridlines.

Also, under the <alignment> format option for the axis, I have reduced
the "offset" to 0 which brought the labels a little bit closer to the
bottom of the graphed data, but I would prefer them even closer to
make it easier to see which label applies to which set of columns. The
large amount of white space between the end of the label and the bottom
of the actual graph also contributes to difficulty in seeing which label
attaches to which pair of columns.

The simplest option would be if you could select the category axis and
just move it around a little like you can a legend (ideally you'd be
able to hold an option or modifier key and use the areas to micro
adjust but I'd take adjusting with the mouse if that were all I could
get. I am running Excel 2004 on a Mac but I could do it in the Mac 2008
version (I prefer the simpler version unless I need a features of 2008).

Hope this graphic gives you an idea what I'm trying to do, and, if I
have misunderstood your suggestion and it is aimed at doing what I
desire don't hesitate to enlighten me a second time.

Best regards,

Brian

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arcibald tuttle