Chart axis shows beginning of month vs. end of month date

[metsmaniac]

I created a chart in Excel 2010 showing sales dollars on the "y" axis and dates on the "x" axis.

The dates in my chart source are all month-ends (01/31/12, 02/29/12, 03/31/12, etc.). The dates are displayed in the chart as (01/01/12, 02/01/12, 03/01/12, etc.).

How do I get the dates to display as "end of month" vs. "beginning of month"?

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

Use a Line chart instead of an XY Scatter chart to get text on the x axis.

 

[metsmaniac]

I was using a column chart. I think the key word for me in your reply was "text". I converted my dates to text and got the correct end of month dates.

I thought maybe there was a setting in Excel charts to use the dates in my source.

Thanks very much for your help.

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

In that case the x axis was a time-scale. To change it right click the chart, choose Chart Options and check Category on the Axes tab.

 

[metsmaniac]

I right-clicked all over the chart but didn't find Chart Options (I have Excel 2010).

Before I posted the question I had right-clicked on the "x" axis area and selected Format Axis. I changed the Minimum to Fixed with a date of 01/31/12 and the Maximum to Fixed with a date of 07/31/12. That didn't work. I didn't see anything else within the chart menus that would help.

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

In Excel 2010, on the Format Axis dialog, check Text axis under Axis Options|Axis Type.

 

[metsmaniac]

That worked! Thanks very much.