Pages - Formatting Chart Axes

Chapter 10

Creating Charts from Data

231

To show or hide an axis or chart borders, set the scale (linear or log) and span of
the value axis, or adjust grid and tick marks along the axes, make selections, and
enter appropriate values in the Axis pane of the Chart inspector. To learn about the
inspectors, see “The Inspector Window” on page 23.

Set the range of values that
appear on the chart grid.

Select units for values in
the chart.

Set attributes of labels,

tick marks, and more.

Show or hide axes and chart
borders (2D charts only).

Many of these formatting options are also available using the format bar. Just as with
the Chart inspector, the options available on the format bar are always appropriate to
the type of chart you have selected. To learn about the format bar, see “The Format
Bar” on page 23.

To place gridlines and tick marks along the chart axes:
Choose the grid lines and tick marks you want from one or both of the Choose Axis

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Options pop-up menus.

To format the values along the value axis, do any of the following:
To set the highest number displayed on the value axis, type a number in the Maximum

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field under Value Axis. This value can’t be lower than the maximum value of your entire
data set. If you don’t specify a number, the field displays the word “Auto,” and the value
is automatically calculated based on the data.
To set the value at the origin point of the value axis, type a number in the Minimum

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field under Value Axis. This value can’t be greater than the minimum value of your
entire data set. If you don’t specify a number, the field displays the word “Auto,” and
the value is automatically calculated based on the data.
To specify the number of axis markings between zero and the minimum and maximum

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values on the value axis, specify a number in the Steps field under Value Axis.
To display the data values on the value axis, choose Show Value Labels and/or Show

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Minimum Value from the Choose Axis Options pop-up menu under Category Axis.

To specify units for numbers on the value axis, choose an item from the Format pop-

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up menu under Value Axis.
Number: Displays the data point value with no units, unless you specify them. To
specify units, type them into the Suffix field. Displays the data point value with no
units. In the Decimals field, specify how many decimal places you want to appear. To
display negative values preceded by a minus sign or in parentheses, choose –100 or
(100) from the pop-up menu. Choose Separator if you want to separate the orders of
magnitude on the left side of the decimal.
Currency: Displays the data point value as a monetary amount. Choose the currency
unit symbol from the Symbol pop-up menu. In the Decimals field, specify how many
decimal places you want to appear. To display negative values preceded by a minus
sign or in parentheses, choose –100 or (100) from the pop-up menu. Choose Separator
if you want to separate the orders of magnitude on the left side of the decimal.
Percentage: Displays the data point value as divided by 100. In the Decimals field,
specify how many decimal places you want to appear. To display negative values
preceded by a minus sign or in parentheses, choose –100 or (100) from the pop-up
menu. Choose Separator if you want to separate the orders of magnitude on the left
side of the decimal.
Date and Time: Displays data point values with a date and time format.
Duration: Displays data point values as a unit of time (for example, seconds, minutes,
or weeks).
Fraction: Displays data point values less than 1 as one integer over another. (If your
values are greater than 1, you won’t see any fractional representation of your data.)
Choose how accurately you want the fractions rounded off from the Accuracy pop-up
menu. Choosing an item such as Halves or Quarters represents the values as a portion
of the total pie, rounded to the nearest division you chose.
Scientific: Displays data point values in scientific notation, where 10 raised to a power
is represented as E+ an integer. In the Decimals field, specify how many decimal places
you want to appear.
Custom: Choose a custom number format you’ve already created, or create a new one.
See “Creating a Custom Number Format” on page 207 for more information.

To display category (data set) titles:

1

Choose Show Categories from the Choose Axis Options pop-up menu under the

Category Axis.

2

To show or hide some of the category titles, do either or both of the following:

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Chapter 10

Creating Charts from Data