Scatter+or+Line+Chart

Present your data in a scatter chart or a line chart Applies to: [|Microsoft Office Excel 2007], [|Outlook 2007] Show All Hide All Scatter charts and line charts look very similar, especially when a scatter chart is displayed with connecting lines. However, there is a big difference in the way each of these chart types plots data along the horizontal axis (which is also known as the x-axis) and the vertical axis (which is also known as the y-axis).

This formatted scatter chart displays numerical values along the horizontal and the vertical axis, combining these values into single data points that are displayed in uneven intervals. This formatted line chart distributes category data (in this case, a time interval) evenly along a horizontal axis and all numerical value data evenly along a vertical axis.

Before you choose either of these chart types, you may want to learn more about the differences and find out when it is better to use a scatter chart instead of a line chart, or the other way around. In this article
 * [|Learn about the differences between scatter and line charts]
 * [|Know when to use a scatter or line chart]
 * [|Explore scatter and line chart types]
 * [|Create a scatter chart]
 * [|Create a line chart]
 * [|Save a chart as a template]

Learn about the differences between scatter and line charts
The main difference between scatter and line charts is the way that they plot data on the horizontal axis. For example, when you use the following worksheet data to create a scatter chart and a line chart, you can see that the data is distributed differently. In a scatter chart, the daily rainfall values from column A are displayed as x values on the horizontal (x) axis, and the particulate values from column B are displayed as values on the vertical (y) axis. Often referred to as an xy chart, a scatter chart never displays categories on the horizontal axis. A scatter chart always has two value axes to show one set of numerical data along a horizontal (value) axis and another set of numerical values along a vertical (value) axis. The chart displays points at the intersection of an x and y numerical value, combining these values into single data points. These data points may be distributed evenly or unevenly across the horizontal axis, depending on the data. The first data point to appear in the scatter chart represents both a y value of 137 (particulate) and an x value of 1.9 (daily rainfall). These numbers represent the values in cell A9 and B9 on the worksheet. In a line chart, however, the same daily rainfall and particulate values are displayed as two separate data points, which are evenly distributed along the horizontal axis. This is because a line chart only has one value axis (the vertical axis). The horizontal axis of a line chart only shows evenly spaced groupings (categories) of data. Because categories were not provided in the data, they were automatically generated, for example, 1, 2, 3, and so on. This is a good example of when not to use a line chart. A line chart distributes category data evenly along a horizontal (category) axis, and distributes all numerical value data along a vertical (value) axis. The particulate y value of 137 (cell B9) and the daily rainfall x value of 1.9 (cell A9) are displayed as separate data points in the line chart. Neither of these data points is the first data point displayed in the chart — instead, the first data point for each of the data series (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.) refers to the values in the first data row on the worksheet (cell A2 and B2).

Axis type and scaling differences
Because the horizontal axis of a scatter chart is always a value axis, it can display numeric values or date values (such as days or hours) that are represented as numerical values. To display the numeric values along the horizontal axis with greater flexibility, you can change the scaling options on this axis the same way that you can change the scaling options of a vertical axis. Because the horizontal axis of a line chart is a category axis, it can be only a text axis or a date axis. A text axis displays text only (non-numerical data or numerical categories that are not values) at evenly spaced intervals. A date axis displays dates in chronological order at specific intervals or base units, such as the number of days, months, or years, even if the dates on the worksheet are not in order or in the same base units. The scaling options of a category axis are limited compared with the scaling options of a value axis. The available scaling options also depend on the type of axis that you use. [|Top of Page]

Know when to use a scatter or line chart
Scatter charts are commonly used for displaying and comparing numeric values, such as scientific, statistical, and engineering data. These charts are useful to show the relationships among the numeric values in several data series, and they can plot two groups of numbers as one series of xy coordinates. Line charts can display continuous data over time, set against a common scale, and are therefore ideal for showing trends in data at equal intervals or over time. In a line chart, category data is distributed evenly along the horizontal axis, and all value data is distributed evenly along the vertical axis. As a general rule, use a line chart if your data has non-numeric x values — for numeric x values, it is usually better to use a scatter chart. Consider using a scatter chart instead of a line chart if you want to: Consider using a line chart instead of a scatter chart if you want to: [|Top of Page]
 * **Change the scale of the horizontal axis** Because the horizontal axis of a scatter chart is a value axis, more scaling options are available.
 * **Use a logarithmic scale on the horizontal axis** You can turn the horizontal axis into a logarithmic scale.
 * **Display worksheet data that includes pairs or grouped sets of values** In a scatter chart, you can adjust the independent scales of the axes to reveal more information about the grouped values.
 * **Show patterns in large sets of data** Scatter charts are useful for illustrating the patterns in the data, for example by showing linear or non-linear trends, clusters, and outliers.
 * **Compare large numbers of data points without regard to time** The more data that you include in a scatter chart, the better the comparisons that you can make.
 * **Use text labels along the horizontal axis** These text labels can represent evenly spaced values such as months, quarters, or fiscal years.
 * **Use a small number of numerical labels along the horizontal axis** If you use a few, evenly spaced numerical labels that represent a time interval, such as years, you can use a line chart.
 * **Use a time scale along the horizontal axis** If you want to display dates in chronological order at specific intervals or base units, such as the number of days, months, or years, even if the dates on the worksheet are not in order or in the same base units, use a line chart.

Explore scatter and line chart types
Scatter charts can use the following chart subtypes. Line charts can use the following chart subtypes. [|Top of Page]
 * **Scatter with only markers** This type of chart compares pairs of values. Use a scatter chart with data markers (data marker: A bar, area, dot, slice, or other symbol in a chart that represents a single data point or value that originates from a worksheet cell. Related data markers in a chart constitute a data series.) but without lines when you use many data points and connecting lines would make the data harder to read. You can also use this chart type when there is no need to show connectivity of the data points. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102284381033 caption="Scatter with Only Markers chart"]]
 * **Scatter with smooth lines and scatter with smooth lines and markers** This type of chart displays a smooth curve that connects the data points. Smooth lines can be displayed with or without markers. Use a smooth line without markers if there are many data points. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102284431033 caption="Scatter charts with smooth lines with and without markers"]]
 * **Scatter with straight lines and scatter with straight lines and markers** This type of chart displays straight connecting lines between data points. Straight lines can be displayed with or without markers. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102284441033 caption="Scatter charts with straight lines with and without markers"]]
 * **Line and line with markers** Displayed with markers to indicate individual data values, or without, line charts are useful to show trends over time or ordered categories, especially when there are many data points and the order in which they are presented is important. If there are many categories or the values are approximate, use a line chart without markers. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102284481033 caption="Line charts with and without markers"]]
 * **Stacked line and stacked line with markers** Displayed with markers to indicate individual data values, or without, stacked line charts can be used to show the trend of the contribution of each value over time or ordered categories, but because it is not easy to see that the lines are stacked, consider using a different line chart type or a stacked area chart instead. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102284491033 caption="Stacked line charts with and without markers"]]
 * **100% stacked line and 100% stacked line with markers** Displayed with markers to indicate individual data values, or without, 100% stacked line charts are useful to show the trend of the percentage each value contributes over time or ordered categories. If there are many categories or the values are approximate, use a 100% stacked line chart without markers.
 * Tip** For a better presentation of this type of data, consider using a 100% stacked area chart instead.
 * **3-D line** 3-D line charts show each row or column of data as a 3-D ribbon. A 3-D line chart has horizontal, vertical, and depth axes that you can modify. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102284511033 caption="3-D line chart"]]

Create a scatter chart
So, how did we create this scatter chart? The following procedure will help you create a scatter chart with similar results. For this chart, we used the example worksheet data. You can copy this data to your worksheet, or you can use your own data. How to copy the example worksheet data Selecting an example from Help
 * 1) Copy the example worksheet data into a blank worksheet, or open the worksheet that contains the data that you want to plot into a scatter chart.
 * 1) Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
 * 2) Select the example in the Help topic.
 * Note** Do not select the row or column headers.
 * 1) Press CTRL+C.
 * 2) In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.

> ||~ 1 || > ||~ 2 || > ||~ 3 || > ||~ 4 || > ||~ 5 || > ||~ 6 || > ||~ 7 || > ||~ 8 || > ||~ 9 || > ||~ 10 || || ||~ A ||~ B || > || **Daily Rainfall** || **Particulate** || > || 4.1 || 122 || > || 4.3 || 117 || > || 5.7 || 112 || > || 5.4 || 114 || > || 5.9 || 110 || > || 5.0 || 114 || > || 3.6 || 128 || > || 1.9 || 137 || > || 7.3 || 104 || || This displays the **Chart Tools**, adding the **Design**, **Layout**, and **Format** tabs. [|Top of Page]
 * 1) Select the data that you want to plot in the scatter chart.
 * 2) On the **Insert** tab, in the **Charts** group, click **Scatter**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101654341033 caption="Charts group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * 3) Click **Scatter with only Markers**.
 * Tip** You can rest the mouse on any chart type to see its name.
 * 1) Click the chart area  (chart area: The entire chart and all its elements.) of the chart.
 * 1) On the **Design** tab, in the **Chart Styles** group, click the chart style that you want to use. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102284171033 caption="Chart Styles on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * Tip** For our scatter chart, we used **Style 26**.
 * 1) Click the chart title, and then type the text that you want.
 * Tip** For our scatter chart, we typed **Particulate Levels in Rainfall**.
 * 1) To reduce the size of the chart title, right-click the title, and then enter the size that you want in the **Font Size** box on the shortcut menu.
 * Tip** For our scatter chart, we used **14**.
 * 1) Click the chart area of the chart.
 * 2) On the **Layout** tab, in the **Labels** group, click **Axis Titles**, and then do the following:
 * To add a horizontal axis title, click **Primary Horizontal Axis Title**, and then click **Title Below Axis**.
 * To add a vertical axis title, click **Primary Vertical Axis Title**, and then click the type of vertical axis title that you want.
 * Tip** For our scatter chart, we used **Rotated Title**.
 * Click each title, type the text that you want, and then press ENTER.
 * Tip** For our scatter chart, we typed **Daily Rainfall** in the horizontal axis title, and **Particulate level** in the vertical axis title.
 * 1) Click the plot area  (plot area: In a 2-D chart, the area bounded by the axes, including all data series. In a 3-D chart, the area bounded by the axes, including the data series, category names, tick-mark labels, and axis titles.) of the chart, or select **Plot Area** from a list of chart elements (**Layout** tab, **Current Selection** group, **Chart Elements** box).
 * 2) On the **Format** tab, in the **Shape Styles** group, click the **More** button [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA100868781033 caption="Button image"]], and then click the effect that you want to use.
 * Tip** For our scatter chart, we used the **Subtle Effect - Accent 3**.
 * 1) Click the chart area of the chart.
 * 2) On the **Format** tab, in the **Shape Styles** group, click the **More** button [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA100868781033 caption="Button image"]], and then click the effect that you want to use.
 * Tip** For our scatter chart, we used the **Subtle Effect - Accent 1**.
 * 1) If you want to use theme colors different from the default theme that is applied to your workbook, do the following:
 * 2) On the **Page Layout** tab, in the **Themes** group, click **Themes**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101654451033 caption="Themes group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * 3) Under **Built-in**, click the theme that you want to use.
 * Tip** For our line chart, we used the **Office** theme.

Create a line chart
So, how did we create this line chart? The following procedure will help you create a line chart with similar results. For this chart, we used the example worksheet data. You can copy this data to your worksheet, or you can use your own data. How to copy the example worksheet data Selecting an example from Help
 * 1) Copy the example worksheet data into a blank worksheet, or open the worksheet that contains the data that you want to plot into a line chart.
 * 1) Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
 * 2) Select the example in the Help topic.
 * Note** Do not select the row or column headers.
 * 1) Press CTRL+C.
 * 2) In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.

> ||~ 1 || > ||~ 2 || > ||~ 3 || > ||~ 4 || > ||~ 5 || > ||~ 6 || > ||~ 7 || > ||~ 8 || > ||~ 9 || > ||~ 10 || || ||~ A ||~ B ||~ C || > || **Date** || **Daily Rainfall** || **Particulate** || > || 1/1/07 || 4.1 || 122 || > || 1/2/07 || 4.3 || 117 || > || 1/3/07 || 5.7 || 112 || > || 1/4/07 || 5.4 || 114 || > || 1/5/07 || 5.9 || 110 || > || 1/6/07 || 5.0 || 114 || > || 1/7/07 || 3.6 || 128 || > || 1/8/07 || 1.9 || 137 || > || 1/9/07 || 7.3 || 104 || || This displays the **Chart Tools**, adding the **Design**, **Layout**, and **Format** tabs. [|Top of Page]
 * 1) Select the data that you want to plot in the line chart.
 * 2) On the **Insert** tab, in the **Charts** group, click **Line**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101654341033 caption="Charts group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * 3) Click **Line with Markers**.
 * 4) Click the chart area  (chart area: The entire chart and all its elements.) of the chart.
 * 1) On the **Design** tab, in the **Chart Styles** group, click the chart style that you want to use. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102284181033 caption="Chart Styles on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * Tip** For our line chart, we used **Style 2**.
 * 1) On the **Layout** tab, in the **Labels** group, click **Chart Title**, and then click **Above Chart**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101654001033 caption="Labels group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * 2) Click the chart title, and then type the text that you want.
 * Tip** For our line chart, we typed **Particulate Levels in Rainfall**.
 * 1) To reduce the size of the chart title, right-click the title, and then enter the size that you want in the **Size** box on the shortcut menu.
 * Tip** For our line chart, we used ****14****.
 * 1) On the chart, click the legend, or select it from a list of chart elements (**Layout** tab, **Current Selection** group, **Chart Elements** box).
 * 2) On the **Layout** tab, in the **Labels** group, click **Legend**, and then click the position that you want.
 * Tip** For our line chart, we used **Show Legend at Top**.
 * 1) To plot one of the data series along a secondary vertical axis, click the data series for Rainfall, or select it from a list of chart elements (**Layout** tab, **Current Selection** group, **Chart Elements** box).
 * 2) On the **Layout** tab, in the **Current Selection** group, click **Format Selection**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101949361033 caption="Currect Selection group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * 3) Under **Series Options**, select **Secondary Axis**, and then click **Close**.
 * 4) On the **Layout** tab, in the **Labels** group, click **Axis Titles**, and then do the following:
 * To add a primary vertical axis title, click **Primary Vertical Axis Title**, and then click the type of vertical axis title that you want.
 * Tip** For our line chart, we used **Rotated Title**.
 * To add a secondary vertical axis title, click **Secondary Vertical Axis Title**, and then click the type of vertical axis title that you want.
 * Tip** For our line chart, we used **Rotated Title**.
 * Click each title, type the text that you want, and then press ENTER.
 * Tip** For our line chart, we typed **Particulate level** in the primary vertical axis title, and **Daily Rainfall** in the secondary vertical axis title.
 * 1) Click the plot area  (plot area: In a 2-D chart, the area bounded by the axes, including all data series. In a 3-D chart, the area bounded by the axes, including the data series, category names, tick-mark labels, and axis titles.) of the chart, or select it from a list of chart elements (**Layout** tab, **Current Selection** group, **Chart Elements** box).
 * 2) On the **Format** tab, in the **Shape Styles** group, click the **More** button [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA100868781033 caption="Button image"]], and then click the effect that you want to use.
 * Tip** For our line chart, we used the **Subtle Effect - Dark 1**.
 * 1) Click the chart area of the chart.
 * 2) On the **Format** tab, in the **Shape Styles** group, click the **More** button [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA100868781033 caption="Button image"]], and then click the effect that you want to use.
 * Tip** For our line chart, we used the **Subtle Effect - Accent 3**.
 * 1) If you want to use theme colors different from the default theme that is applied to your workbook, do the following:
 * 2) On the **Page Layout** tab, in the **Themes** group, click **Themes**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101654451033 caption="Themes group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * 3) Under **Built-in**, click the theme that you want to use.
 * Tip** For our line chart, we used the **Office** theme.

Save a chart as a template
If you want to create another chart like the one that you just created, you can save the chart as a template that you can use as the basis for other similar charts. For more information about how to apply a chart template, see [|Create, apply, or remove a chart template].
 * 1) Click the chart that you want to save as a template.
 * 2) On the **Design** tab, in the **Type** group, click **Save as Template**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101653891033 caption="Type group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * 3) In the **File name** box, type a name for the template.
 * Tip** Unless you specify a different folder, the template file (.crtx) will be saved in the **Charts** folder, and the template becomes available under **Templates** in both the **Insert Chart** dialog box (**Insert** tab, **Charts** group, Dialog Box Launcher [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA100985101033 caption="Button image"]]) and the **Change Chart Type** dialog box (**Design** tab, **Type** group, **Change Chart Type**).
 * Note** A chart template contains chart formatting and stores the colors that are in use when you save the chart as a template. When you use a chart template to create a chart in another workbook, the new chart uses the colors of the chart template — not the colors of the document theme that is currently applied to the workbook. To use the document theme colors instead of the chart template colors, right-click the chart area  (chart area: The entire chart and all its elements.), and then click **Reset to Match Style** on the shortcut menu.