Tick mark intervals graph problem

[Einh]

Hi
I have two major problems.
The first one is that I want to have tick marks shown in my graph but since the numbers that constitute the graph are so similar, the thick marks become more like a thick line along the x-axis. For example the numbers in my data series are like this: 142.568, 142.573, 142.578, 142.583 all the way to say 200 so the tick markers merge into a tick line. Is it possible to arrange so that the tick marks are only shown at the specified interval unit?

Speaking of interval units, here comes my other question.
Why is it not possible to specify an interval unit with a decimal?
For example 3 is too much but 2 is too little, why cant it accept 2.5 or 2,5?

I have Excel 2010 in case you are wondering.
Thanks in advance

[protonLeah]

1000 X ( 200 - 142) = 58,000. I don't think you really want 58,000 data points on your x-axis! It seems that a dynamic chart (or some other alternative) is what you need; however, you posted no workbook.

To attach a Workbook
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[Einh]

Hello and thank you for your interest in helping me.
I am unable to upload my workbook since the uploader tells me that the file is too large. (It is 2.9 Mb)
I really have a lot of data points and I fear that I need them all.
I have uploaded my workbook on MegaFileUpload and here is the link:
http://www.megafileupload.com/en/fil...Book-xlsx.html
Thank you for your time

[MrShorty]

I am unable to download your workbook (problems on my end, not yours). What chart type are you using? My impression is that you are using a line chart or similar, which uses a category axis. I would guess that what you really want is a scatter plot, which will treat the x axis data as numeric/values rather than categories. A scatter plot will readily allow you to adjust major and minor units to whatever values make the most sense for you.

[Einh]

Hello and thank you for your interest in helping me.
Yes it is correct that Im using a line chart. The problem I have with a scatter plot is that each individual dot on the graph becomes too large and therefore the plot line becomes ugly. (Each data point on the graph will be represented as a square box)

[MrShorty]

The problem I have with a scatter plot is that each individual dot on the graph becomes too large and therefore the plot line becomes ugly.

In your scatter plot, does the series have to be formatted with markers, or could you format it as a line without markers? I'm assuming that you can get rid of the markers, or you would have the same problem on a line chart.

If you must have markers in the plot, would you be allowed to format the main series as "line without markers" (in a scatter plot), extract a dozen or so key data points, and plot those as markers without line?

[Einh]

Hello again
It is possible that I am a total noob but even on the lowest line thickness, the line in the scatter graph (0.25pt) is still too wide compared to a line chart. I usually get rid of the markers (the squares on the data points) by using the lowest format (Format 2) and decreasing the line width.

I also fear that Im unable to recreate the graphs using extracted key data since that would change the morphology of the graphs and thereby proove that they have been tampered with.

Im sorry If I sound like a pain in the *** but I would also like to point out that my Excel version is in Swedish so it is possible that I have misunderstood some of your suggestions.

[MrShorty]

Admittedly, I am not very familiar with the newer versions. In my version of Excel, it seems like it should be as easy as plotting the data in a scatter plot with the no markers and the thinnest possible line. It also seems like the thinnest line should be the same thickness whether you are using a scatter plot or a line chart. I'm not sure what to suggest at this point.

[Andy Pope]

The biggest issue is that your charts are Line charts (category axis) rather than XY-scatter plots.

Change the chart type and you will have more control over the axis.

To have full control you may need to use a dummy series to plot only the required values on the axis to replace the built-in axis labels.