Using Scatter Charts
Scatter charts display data differently from the other kinds of charts. They require
at least two columns or rows of data to plot values for a single data series. To show
multiple data series, you use additional two-column (or two-row) pairs.
Each pair of values determines the position of one data point. The first data value in
the pair is the x-axis of the point. The second data value is the y-axis of the point. If
you’ve already created a chart with data points that don’t occur in pairs, and then you
change your chart to a scatter chart, Numbers may not plot the data as you expect.
Depending on how the data is arranged in the table, it may not be possible to create
any plot at all. Make sure you have entered x and y point values for each data series
you want to plot before choosing to create a scatter chart.
When you choose a scatter chart, the series button appears as a gear in the top left
corner of the data table overlay. You can use a single column (or row) of data as the
x value for multiple columns (or rows) of y values by clicking the gear button and
selecting Share X Values. Use the same button to switch between using rows or
columns as data series in your chart.
Before you can change the look of data point symbols or lines, you must select a
symbol or line of interest.
You can use the format bar to quickly customize symbols and lines. Select a symbol
and use the Symbol and Size controls to format symbols. Use the Stroke controls to
format the lines. The Chart inspector offers additional options.
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Chapter 7
Creating Charts from Data
Chapter 7
Creating Charts from Data
161
Here are ways to change the look of selected data point symbols and lines using
the Chart inspector:
To adjust a symbol’s size, make a selection from the Data Symbol pop-up menu and
m
then enter a value or use the stepper in the adjacent field.
To connect the points of the selected series with a straight or curved line, select an
m
option from the Connect Points pop-up menu.
To change the color of the data points or lines in your chart, select a data point or line
m
that you want to change, and then open the Graphic inspector. (Note that you can
change the colors separately for the data points, line, and trendline, even though they
represent the same data series.) In the Graphic inspector, click the Stroke color well,
and then select a color from the Colors window.
To change the style and thickness of any line in your chart, select it and then choose a
m
line style in the Stroke pop-up menu of the Graphic inspector. Enter a value or use the
stepper in the adjacent field to adjust the line thickness.
In scatter charts, you can display error bars for both x and y axis measurements. To
understand more about showing error bars, see “Showing Error Bars in Charts” on
page 151. To learn about other formatting options, see “Formatting Charts” on page 143.