Graph Wizard dialog: X-Axis tab

Use this dialog to configure the X-axis (i.e. the horizontal axis) of a graph. For example, you might want to specify a title for the X-axis.

Note: The fields that you use to specify a graph depend on the graph type selected.

For more information, see:

"About using graphs in Discoverer"

"About components of a Discoverer graph"

"How to edit a graph"

Show X-Axis title

Use this check box to display or hide the X-axis title defined in the box below. By default, the title is displayed below the X-axis.

Insert

Use this button to add report information derived from dynamic values to the X-axis title (e.g. workbook name, current date, current time). These dynamic values are updated automatically when you display, print, or export a graph.

X-Axis Title Font

Use this button to display the "Graph Wizard dialog: Font dialog tab", which enables you to change the font style of the X-axis title.

Select options for line on the X-Axis

• Line thickness

  Use this drop down list to change the weight of the X-axis line.

• Line color

  Use this button to display or hide a color pane that enables you to change the background color of the X-axis line.

Select options for the labels displayed on the X-Axis

Use these radio buttons to specify how X-axis tick labels are displayed. Tick labels display graph scale information along the X and Y axes (e.g. 100, 200, 300).

For more information about X-axis tick labels, see "About components of a Discoverer graph".

• Show labels for all tick marks on the axis

  Use this radio button to display labels for all items on the X-axis. Select this option if you have a small number of tick mark labels to display.

• Show labels for some tick marks on the axis

  Use this radio button to display some X-axis tick mark labels but not others. Select this option if you have a large number of tick mark labels to display. When you select this radio button, the following fields become active:

  • Automatically skip labels to fit

  • Start with tick mark

  • Tick marks to skip between labels

Automatically skip labels to fit

Use this radio button when you want to display only tick labels that fit on the graph without overlapping other labels.

Start with tick mark

Use this field to specify where to start the tick mark labels from. For example, type 3 to start from the third tick label from the left.

Tick marks to skip between labels

Use this field when you want to leave a gap between each tick mark label. For example, type 2 to leave a gap of two tick marks between each tick mark label.

Set the scale you would like to use on this axis

Use the following fields to change the scale of the X-axis.

• Minimum

  Use this field to change the lower axis range. Select the Set automatically check box if you want Discoverer to select the best range for you.

• Maximum

  Use this field to change the higher axis range. Select the Set automatically check box if you want Discoverer to select the best range for you.

• Increment

  Use this field to change the incremental axis range, or the granularity of the graph. Select the Set automatically check box if you want Discoverer to select the best range for you.

Logarithmic scale

Use this check box to change the default linear scale of the X-axis to a logarithmic scale. When you select this check box, the adjacent Base drop down list becomes active, which enables you to change the default logarithmic base value.

You might use a logarithmic scale when you have numeric data that is widely spaced and you want to maintain the visibility of the smaller values. For example, if you had data ranging in value from 10 to 100,000 and you use the default linear scale, smaller values might not register on the graph. If you changed to a logarithmic scale of base 10, the smaller values would register on the graph.

Note: The e value in the Base drop down list is equal to 2.71 (sometimes referred to as a natural logarithm).

Reference Lines

Use this button to display the Reference Lines dialog, which enables you to define up to three lines on a graph to emphasize particular data values on a graph. For example, you might add a reference line show the target sales value, to emphasize which regions achieved a target. For an example of a reference line on a graph, see "About components of a Discoverer graph".

Note: Reference lines on an X-Axis are typically used on circular graphs.

X-Axis Label Font

Use this button to display the "Graph Wizard dialog: Font dialog tab", which enables you to change the font style of the X-axis label.

Notes

• The following fields are grayed out for Polar graphs:
  • Show X-Axis title

  • Line thickness

• The Set the scale you would like to use on this axis and Logarithmic scale fields are displayed when you are create a Polar graph, Scatter graph, or Bubble graph.