Help on Excel 10 graphics.

[amflores]

My doctor asked me to annotate (during one month time) dates and times of readings taken from my glycemic tests.
In some days, I have two or three readings at different times.
How can I display these three variables (date, time and readings) on my MS Office (Home & Business 32 bits) Excel 10 graphic?
Any help is welcome.
Flores

 

[bbinnard]

That is an interesting problem. You will need to use a 3D column chart. One axis (X, from left to right) should be the day, the next axis (depth, meaning front to back or "into" the screen) should be the time, and the 3rd axis (height) should be the glycemic reading.

The biggest problem will be orienting the chart so you can see all the readings. Taller ones in front will hide shorter ones in back but you can usually get around this with the proper rotation, although this will take some fussing. You can rotate the chart view in any direction so the proper orientation is going to depend on what your readings are like and how many in each day there are.

 

[clunkfish]

You would only need three axes if you treat date and time of day as separate variables. I would instead treat time as a single variable. To do this, you'll need to use your dates and times of day to calculate a single figure representing time. The method below will give you time in days since the first reading, so the graph will start at time zero:

1. Format the first column (Column A) as dates.
2. Put the dates of the readings in that column.
3. Format the second column (Column B) as times.
4. Put the time of day (using the 24 hour clock) in that column.
5. Format the third column, Column C, as numbers with two decimal places.
6. Use this formula in the first cell in Column C:
   =(A1-$A$1)+(B1-$B$1)
7. Drag the corner of the first cell down Column C until there is a value for every date/time pair.
8. Put the blood glucose readings in Column D.
9. Select Column C and Column D and insert the chart of your choice - I would suggest a 2D line.
10. There you go

I have attached an Excel file that uses this method to draw a graph of glucose readings against time (using made-up data!).

 

[amflores]

.....The biggest problem will be orienting the chart so you can see all the readings.

Hello bbinnard,

Thanks for the help.
I will experiment adjusting the chart so all readings will be available for my doctor to see.

Cheers,
Flores

 

[amflores]

Hello clunkfish,

I'm having some difficulties adapting to the suggested method.
Give me some more time.
Thanks a lot.
Flores

 

[clunkfish]

Hi Flores - please do feel free to send me data and I will set up a spreadsheet for you, if that would help?

 

[amflores]

..... - please do feel free to send me data and I will set up a spreadsheet for you, if that would help?

Hello clunkfish,

I'm quite sure I will need your further assistance.

Many thanks,
Flores

 

[amflores]

please do feel free to send me data and I will set up a spreadsheet for you.....

Hello clunkfish,

Attached please find the spreadsheet made in accordance with your instructions.

The problem is that the days are not showing up, only the times.

On some days I have more than one sample taken.

Regards,
Flores

 

[clunkfish]

Hi Flores,

I think there must be a flaw in your formula. I have inserted your data in my worksheet and get the chart below, with the horizontal axis in days, as required:

 

[amflores]

....I think there must be a flaw in your formula.

Hi, clunkfish,

Yes, the formula was wrong, but corrected now.
Still, column "Time(Days)" differs from yours.
Cheers,
Flores

 

[clunkfish]

Well, that's what I mean. The correct formula, as in the Excel spreadsheet I provided, will give the correct data, as in the image I uploaded. Because your Time(Days) column contains the wrong values, you must have the wrong formula...

If you just enter your data into the spreadsheet I provided, without changing any formats or formulas, it will work

 

[amflores]

Hi clunkfish,

I think I'm missing something from your teachings.
Please, check the formulas and formats on my attached zip file.

Regards,
Flores

 

[clunkfish]

Problem identified

Your Time(Days) column is formatted as time, when it needs to be formatted as number. If you highlight the cells, right-click, go to "Format Cells...", then choose "Number" from the list of categories, the values under Time(Days) will change to the correct ones.

You also need to change the chart type, so that the values on the horizontal axis are arranged correctly. Just right-click the chart, choose "Change Chart Type...", and select "X Y Scatter". I think I had that wrongly set up in the original spreadsheet

Hope this helps you to make the chart you need.