Custom Y-Axis in feet and inches

[Ian Duffy]

I am trying to create a simple line graph with dates
along the X axis and length (in feet and inches) on the Y
axis.

My dataset contains the dates in column A, feet in B and
inches in C. A simple D=B*12+C will generate a column
with total inches which produces the right shape graph
but I would like the Y axis with the major ticks every
foot and also labelled in feet.

The closest I have managed is to create a column D=B+
(C/12) and then use a custom format of "# ??/12". I then
get labels such as 5 1/12, 5 2/12, 5 3/12 etc. How do I
get 5ft 1, 5ft 2, 5ft 3 instead ?

Any help would be appreciated.

Ian

[Jon Peltier]

Ian -

I don't know how to get it via custom number formats, or even whether it is
possible. But you could make yourself a dummy Y axis, as in this example on
my web site:

http://www.geocities.com/jonpeltier/Excel/Charts/ArbitraryAxis.html

Keep the true scale in terms of inches, then in the worksheet, you can use
data like this for your dummy axis:

X Y Label
0 6 0ft 6in
0 12 1ft 0in
etc.

A formula in the label column will construct the label you need, so you only
have to enter it once:

=int(Y/12)&"ft "&mod(Y,12)&"in"

where Y is the cell reference to that row's Y inch value.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
http://www.geocities.com/jonpeltier/Excel/index.html
_______

In article <0c1d01c25e41$bfbee880$3bef2ecf@TKMSFTNGXA10>, Ian Duffy said...