Bar graph X axis problem

[veronica giorgiParticipant]

Hi, I’m a new user and I am trying to make a bar graph with date on X axis.

I have measurement made in different dates to different treatments and want to represent a grouped bar (1 bar per treatment) in each date.

I could make the graph but I can’t modify the x axis (it indicates positions 1 2 3 4…and not the dates).

 

[dgteamModerator]

It sounds like you need to use the Bar command (as opposed to the Bars).

For an explanation of the difference see:

How to Make a Bar Graph

Basically, the Bar command has a numerical axis that can understand dates, while the Bars command is designed to work with categorical data..

See if this helps and feel free to send a data portion of your data if your still having trouble.

 

 

[dgteamModerator]

 

I was thinking about at your question again wanted to clarify how to create a grouped or side-by-side bar using dates. The Date axis is really a numerical axis where the underlying unit is seconds.

It sounds like you data might look something like this ….

Here are the steps to create a side-by-side on a date axis, where every day has one grouped bar.

1. Add a Bar command can be added from the Command menu.
2. Set Value = Treatment A.
3. Set Where = Date.
4. Set the Width to Specified, the number of seconds per day divided by 2.
5. Set the Bar offset to the number of seconds per day divided by 4.
6. Specify the Fill with (here we set to a pattern).
7. Select the command and make a copy (command-C to copy, command-V to paste).
8. In the copy, set Value = Treatment B.
9. Set the Bar offset to be positive the same shift.
10. Change the Fill with to something different.

We also added a Legend command.

Notice how there is a slight gap between the bars.

If you want them to be directly side-by-side, then change the scaling factor to ‘1’.  This value scales the width to a fraction of the total width.

I uploaded this example to File/On-line Examples.

Does this example help for your data?

 

 

 

[veronica giorgiParticipant]

Thank you!

Very helpful and clear!

 

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