Scale

Controls the scaling of the x- or y-axis.

To access this command...

Choose Format - Axis - y-Axis - Scale tab (Charts)

The axes are automatically scaled by Office so that all values are optimally displayed.

To achieve specific results, you can manually change the axis scaling. For example, you can display only the top areas of the columns by shifting the zero line upwards.

Scale

You can enter values for subdividing axes in this area. You can automatically set the properties Minimum, Maximum, Major interval, Minor interval count and Reference value.

Minimum

Defines the minimum value for the beginning of the axis.

Maximum

Defines the maximum value for the end of the axis.

Major interval

Defines the interval for the main division of the axes. The main interval cannot be larger than the value area.

Minor interval count

Defines the interval for the subdivision of the axes.

Reference value

Specifies at which position to display the values along the axis.

Automatic

You must first unmark the Automatic option in order to modify the values.

Disable this feature if you are working with "fixed" values, as it does not permit automatic scaling.

Logarithmic scale

Specifies that you want the axis to be subdivided logarithmically.

Use this feature if you are working with values that differ sharply from each other. You can use logarithmic scaling to make the grid lines of the axis equidistant but have values that may increase or decrease.

Reverse direction

Defines where the lower and where the higher values are displayed at the axis. The unmarked state is the mathematical direction. That means for Cartesian coordinate systems that the x-axis shows the lower values on the left and the y-axis shows the lower values at the bottom. For polar coordinate systems the mathematical angle axis direction is counter-clockwise and the radial axis is from inner to outer.

Type

For some types of axes, you can select to format an axis as text or date, or to detect the type automatically. For the axis type "Date" you can set the following options.

Minimum and maximum value to be shown on the ends of the scale.

Resolution can be set to show days, months, or years as interval steps.

Major interval can be set to show a certain number of days, months, or years.

Minor interval can be set to show a certain number of days, months, or years.