How do I create a data break in a scatter plot?

**khm7x** · 10-02-2008, 12:27 PM

I have a scatter plot that shows data on the X axis from 0-12 million and the same for the Y axis. I'd like to be able to break this up into 4 equal quadrants on the chart, but the majority of my data lies at the bottom of the range.

How can I create a break in the chart so that 0-2 million takes up the first half of the X-axis and 2-12 fills the second half? TIA

**Cheeky Charlie** · 10-02-2008, 12:45 PM

Could I suggest a logarithmic? (right click on axis and change scale to logarithmic)

**khm7x** · 10-02-2008, 12:58 PM

I'm not very familiar with the logarithmic scale. I just fooled around with it a bit and it seems that it's still not possible to sort using that scale the way I'd like (0-2 on first half, 2-12 on second) or something similar. Am I wrong? Thanks

**Cheeky Charlie** · 10-02-2008, 01:20 PM

No, that's true, I didn't think you were that set on the divisions (0-2, 2-12) - just wanting to show (what is functionally) logarithmic-type-dispersed data.

One way would be to create a 0-2 million chart and a 2-12 million with alternative axes.
So you'd make two series, each part of the original series, i.e. one set is: if(value>2mil,value,na()) and the other is if(value<=2mil,value,na())
Then you'd set one to use a secondary axis
Then you'd define one axis range to be 0 to 4 million and the other to be -8 million to 12 million - that way 2 million would be the centre of each axis.

Then you'd just need to make both axis scales invisible and replace them with your own custom made scale.

Piece of cake...

**khm7x** · 10-02-2008, 01:38 PM

Ok thanks for the response. Only problem is that I have to make about 40 of these things! So it's going to take forever if I have to manually create each one from two different charts.

**Andy Pope** · 10-02-2008, 05:56 PM

Here's some info on breaking the axis for a column chart.
http://www.andypope.info/charts/brokencolumn.htm

Technique would be the same for xy-scatter though.