Zahid Hasan
While working in Excel, sometimes we need to swap axis to gain better visibility of our data in a chart. Often we encounter some charts, where all the data are cramped up and nothing can be understood clearly from that chart. In those situations, swapping axis can be a lifesaver. In Excel, we can swap axis by following some simple steps.
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2 Simple Methods to Swap Axis in Excel
In this section of the article, we will learn 2 simple methods to swap axis in Excel.
Not to mention that we have used the Microsoft Excel 365 version for this article, you can use any other version according to your convenience
1. Using Switch Row/Column Option to Swap Axis
In the beginning, we will learn how we can swap axis using the Switch Row/Column feature of Excel. Let’s say, we have Marks of 10th Grade Students of a school for some students. We will create a chart using this data and then we will swap the axes.
Step 01: Insert Chart
- Firstly, select the dataset and go to the Insert tab from Ribbon.
- Following that, select the Insert Column or Bar Chart option from the Charts group.
- Then, choose the Clustered Column option from the drop-down
As a result, you will have the following chart on your worksheet.
Step 02: Format Inserted Chart
- Firstly, click on the Chart Styles option as marked in the following picture.
- Then, choose your preferred style.
Consequently, the Chart Style will be applied to your chart as shown in the image below.
- Now, click on the Chart Title and type in the title of your chart. In this case, we used Marks of 10th Garde as our chart title.
- Firstly, click on any part of the chart area to enable the Chart Design tab in the Ribbon.
- After that, click on the Chart Design tab.
- Then, select the Switch Row/Column option from the Data group.
Consequently, you will see that the axis of your chart is swapped as demonstrated in the image below.
Read More: How to Swap Columns and Rows in Excel (6 Easy Methods)
2. Editing Data Sources to Swap Axis in Excel
Editing Data Sources is one of the most efficient ways to swap axis in Excel. Let’s say, we have a Profit Analysis of ABC Store for some of its products as our dataset. In our dataset, we have the Sales amount of the Products along with their respective Quantity. Our goal is to create a chart using this data and swap axis later on.
Let’s follow the steps mentioned below to do this.
Steps:
- Firstly, select the Sales column and the Quantity column.
- Following that, choose the Insert Scatter X, Y or Bubble Chart.
- Then, select the Bubble option from the drop-down.
As a result, you will have the following Bubble Chart on your worksheet as shown in the following image.
Here we have, Sales on X-axis and Quantity on Y-axis.
- Now, use the steps mentioned in Step 02 of the 1st method to format the chart and get the following output.
- After that, right-click on any part of the chart area.
- Then, choose the Select Data option.
As a result, the Select Data Source dialogue box will open on your worksheet.
- Subsequently, click on the Edit option in the Select Data Source dialogue box.
Consequently, you will have the Edit Series dialogue box available on your worksheet.
- Now, click on the field named Series X values and select the cells of the column named Quantity.
- Then, click on the field named Series Y values and select the cells of the Sales column.
- Finally, click on OK.
Consequently, you will see that the axis of your chart has interchanged and now we have Sales on the Y-Axis and Quantity on the X-axis.
Read More: How to Swap Cells in Excel (3 Easy Methods)
How to Switch Axis in Excel Line Graph
In Excel, we often need to create a Line Graph to display a set of data in the form of a straight line. In this section of the article, we will learn the procedure to swap axis in Excel Line Graph.
Steps:
- Firstly, select the dataset and go to the Insert tab from Ribbon.
- After that, choose the Insert Line or Area Chart option from the Charts group.
- Next, select the Line option from the drop-down.
Subsequently, you will have the following Line Chart available on your worksheet.
- Now, follow the steps discussed in Step 02 of the 1st method to format the chart and get the following output.
- Then, use the steps mentioned in Step 03 of the 1st method.
Consequently, you will see that the axis of the Line Graph is swapped as demonstrated in the following image.
How to Switch Axis in Excel Scatter Plot
While working in Excel, we often use a Scatter Plot diagram to show any interrelation of the 2 variables that are used on the X-axis and Y-axis of the chart. Now, we will discuss the steps to switch axis in Excel scatter plot in the following section.
Steps:
- Firstly, select the Sales column and the Quantity column as shown in the following image.
- Then, choose the Insert Scatter X, Y or Bubble Chart option.
- After that, select the Scatter option from the drop-down.
As a result, you will have the following Scatter Plot on your worksheet.
Here, we have Sales shown on the X-axis and Quantity on the Y-axis.
- Now, follow the steps mentioned in the 2nd method to switch axis.
Consequently, you will see that the axis of your chart has interchanged as shown in the following image. Now, we have Sales shown on the Y-axis and Quantity on the X-axis.
Read More: How to Swap Columns in Excel (5 Methods)
Practice Section
In the Excel Workbook, we have provided a Practice Section on the right side of the worksheet. Please practice it by yourself.
Conclusion
That’s all about today’s session. I strongly believe that this article was able to guide you to swap axis in Excel. Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any queries or recommendations for improving the article’s quality. To learn more about Excel, you can visit our website, ExcelDemy. Happy learning!
