The scale determines which numbers will form the start and end points of the axis line. For example, take a look at the chart in Figure 23-50. The bars are so close to one another in value that it is difficult to see the difference between them. Compare this chart to one showing the same data in Figure 23-51, but with an adjusted scale. Because the scale is smaller, the differences now appear more dramatic.

FIGURE 23-50
This chart does not show the differences between the values very well.

FIGURE 23-51
A change to the values of the axis scale makes it easier to see the differences between values.

To set the scale for an axis, follow these steps:

1. On the Layout tab, choose Axes?Primary Vertical Axis?More Primary Vertical Axis Options. The Format Axis dialog box opens, displaying the Axis Options, as shown in Figure 23-52.
2. Drag the Format Axis dialog box to the side so that you can see the results on the chart.
3. If you do not want the automatic value for one of the measurements, click Fixed and enter a different number in its text box.
   • Minimum is the starting number. The usual setting is 0, as shown in Figure 23-50, although in Figure 23-51, it is set to 2.8.
   • Maximum is the top number. This number is 4 in both Figure 23-50 and Figure 23-51.
   • Major unit determines the axis text. It is also the unit by which gridlines stretch out across the back wall of the chart. In Figure 23-50, gridlines appear at increments of 0.5 million units; in Figure 23-51, they appear by 0.2 million units.
   • Minor unit is the interval of smaller gridlines between the major ones. Most charts look better without minor units, because these units can make a chart look cluttered. You should leave this setting at Auto. You can also use this feature to place tick marks on the axes between the labels of the major units.

     FIGURE 23-52
     You can set axis options in the Format Axis dialog box, including the axis scale.

     

4. (Optional) If you want to activate any of these special features, select their checkboxes. Each of these checkboxes recalculates the numbers in the Minimum, Maximum, Major Unit, and Minor Unit text boxes.
   • Values in reverse order. This checkbox turns the scale backwards so that the greater values appear at the bottom or left.
   • Logarithmic scale. Rarely used by ordinary folks, this checkbox recalculates the Minimum, Maximum, Major Unit, and Minor Unit according to a power of 10 for the value axis, based on the range of data. (If this explanation doesn’t make any sense to you, then you’re not the target audience for this feature.)
   • Floor crosses at. When you select this feature, you can enter a value indicating where the axes should cross. You can specify an axis value of a particular number, or use Maximum axis value.
5. (Optional) You can set a display unit to simplify large numbers. For example, if you set display units to Thousands, then the number 1000 appears as “1” on the chart. If you then select the Show Display Units Label on Chart checkbox, an axis label will appear as “Thousands.”
6. (Optional) You can set tick-mark types for major and minor marks. These marks appear as little lines on the axis to indicate the units. You can use tick marks either with or without gridlines. (To set gridlines, use the Gridlines button’s menu on the Chart Tools Layout tab.)
7. If you are happy with the results, click Close.

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