Excel Tips and Tricks - how do ya make a chart square? (May/18/2006 )
Does anyone else have a PI who is extremely picky about the asthetics of graphs and charts and the way data is presented. If you do then you'll undestand why it is helpful to know as many shortcuts as you can in excel and other programs. But excel is an especially irritating one in my opinion...and I don't know it all that well. I think I waste A LOT of time doing things simply because I don't know short cuts.
Right now I wish I knew if there was an easy way to make a chart perfectly square, y and x axis the same length, without just "eye balling" it. And what about an easy way of transferring the settings (font, size, scale etc) from one graph to another with different data so that they look exactly the same format-wise.
What about any other tricks you've learned? Share with the newbie! 
Right now I wish I knew if there was an easy way to make a chart perfectly square, y and x axis the same length, without just "eye balling" it. And what about an easy way of transferring the settings (font, size, scale etc) from one graph to another with different data so that they look exactly the same format-wise.
What about any other tricks you've learned? Share with the newbie!
If I understood you correctly, just click on the boarders and shading that you allow you to put around the graph. You have an option of choosing the width lines around the graph.
i hope this would help you, if you need more help, then ppm
sweetie
Font size changes according to the size of the graph, which depends on the number of samples that you use to analyze it. I am not sure, maybe you can control the lengh of the axis on how you set your max and min values in the axis property.
I have tried to make all the graph to look the same, but it was very difficult. When you paste your graph on word, they go everywhere. I wish that there would be a way to lock the pic of graph in word.
If you do know please do let me know.
thank you
Sweetie
Set your row height to 18, and your column width to 2.86 -- this will make 0.25 inch squares with the default font of Arial 10 point.
Now you have a grid -- want a square graph? Drag the sizing handles until it is, say 10 rows high x 10 columns wide...
It sure would be easier if you could just type in dimensions...
BTW, you can do this in Word. Copy the graph from Excel, and paste it into Word. Right-click on the graph, and select "Format Picture...". In the Format Picture dialog box, click on the Size tab, and you can type in whatever height and width you want. You can clear the "Lock aspect ratio" checkbox if you want to manipulate each dimension separately...
BTW, you can lock the position of figures in Word. Select the image by clicking on it. Go to Insert -> Text Box in Word. This will insert a Text Box around the image. Position the text box roughly where you want it on the page, then right-click on the Text Box and select "Format Text Box...".
In the dialog box that appears, go to the Layout tab. Click on the Advanced button, and set your figure's final position on the page using the absolute position boxes in both the Horizontal and Vertical panels. In the Options panel, clear the "Move object with text" checkbox, and check the "Lock anchor" checkbox.
Your figure will be positioned where you want it, and it will not move...
In the dialog box that appears, go to the Layout tab. Click on the Advanced button, and set your figure's final position on the page using the absolute position boxes in both the Horizontal and Vertical panels. In the Options panel, clear the "Move object with text" checkbox, and check the "Lock anchor" checkbox.
Your figure will be positioned where you want it, and it will not move...
I remember doing this, but I remeber my graph moving around, maybe I forgot something.
thank you for you sharing it with us
Wow good stuff! Thanks guys...I will try some of this stuff.
Sweetie - I think what you're referring to is the thickness of the axis lines...what I'm trying to figure out is how to make the lengths of x and y axis equal creating a perfect square.
HomeBrew - THAT grid idea is EXCELLENT!! I can't wait to try it out! Thank you!
By the way I have a little trick that i just learned, you probably all already know this but hey...for those of you who might not...
If you want to copy and paste values with a formula attached to them it comes out as gibberish ###!. something like that. But if you copy and right click to "Paste special..." it gives you the option to paste them as "values". Then all you get is the numbers without the formula!! Ooooooooh....
God, how have I become such a nerd. I used to be cool 
If you want to copy and paste values with a formula attached to them it comes out as gibberish ###!. something like that. But if you copy and right click to "Paste special..." it gives you the option to paste them as "values". Then all you get is the numbers without the formula!! Ooooooooh....
God, how have I become such a nerd. I used to be cool
I have misunderstood your question, I have learnt something new too.
hi,
copy a non-formated graph from Excel to Powerpoint, then un-group the object (means it becomes a Microsoft Graph Object)
finally you are able to move the text, color the points and all the parts of the graph to obtain exactly what you want and what you need 