OmniDocHow to set the horizontal axis text tilt and vertical axis span of an Excel chart
Explain clearly the rotation method for tilting numbers on the horizontal axis of an Excel chart, as well as the steps, prerequisites and check points for switching to a logarithmic scale (often searched for as an "exponential" scale) when the vertical axis has a large value span, with answers to frequently asked questions.
Key points of this article
- When the horizontal axis contains text and is crowded together, shorten or wrap the label first, and then rotate it to -45 degrees or -90 degrees without changing the original data.
- The logarithmic scale requires that all values are greater than 0. If there are empty cells, 0 or negative numbers in the table, they must be processed first.
- The adjacent scales of the logarithmic scale on the vertical axis have a fixed multiple relationship, which is suitable for data that changes by multiples; when the data span is only a few times, linear scale can be used.
- The logarithmic scale can only be used on the numerical axis, and the horizontal axis of the text category cannot be set to logarithmic.
- After setting, it is necessary to indicate in the legend that the vertical axis is a logarithmic scale to prevent readers from thinking that the length of the column is an equal-proportional quantitative difference.
When making Excel charts, the months and product names on the horizontal axis are often crowded together, and the text is forced to be tilted, or even only part of it is displayed. Another common problem is that the span of the vertical axis is too large: there are tens of numbers and millions of numbers in the same picture, and the columns with small values are almost invisible. Both situations are common when making sales reports, experimental records, or research data.
This article is for people who need to make their charts"see clearly". After reading this, you will be able to adjust the slanted text on the horizontal axis of the Excel chart to the appropriate angle, know how to change it to a logarithmic scale when the vertical axis span is large (many people search for "exponent", which refers to this kind of scale), and you can also determine which situations are not suitable for using logarithms.
The following operations take the desktop version of Excel as an example. The menu location will be slightly different depending on the version, but the idea is the same.
The horizontal axis numbers are tilted and the vertical axis has a large span. How to set it? One sentence conclusion
If the text on the horizontal axis is crowded together, shorten the label first and then rotate the angle; if the span of the vertical axis exceeds several orders of magnitude, change the vertical axis to a logarithmic scale. Both are done in axis format and do not require changes to the original data.
| your situation | Recommended practices | reason |
|---|---|---|
| The horizontal axis is the month, name and other text, which are crowded together or only part of it is displayed. | Shorten or wrap the label and rotate it to -45 degrees or -90 degrees | The data is not changed and the reading path is clear |
| The horizontal axis is a numerical value, and the intervals are uneven or the multiple relationship needs to be highlighted. | The horizontal axis is changed to a logarithmic scale (only the numerical horizontal axis is available, such as a scatter plot) | Isometric scale shows gears such as 1, 10, and 100 |
| The value span on the vertical axis reaches hundreds of times, and they are all positive numbers. | Change the vertical axis to a logarithmic scale and set the base to 10 | Changes in large and small values can be clearly seen |
| There are 0 or negative numbers in the data | Instead of logarithmic scale, use linear scale plot or secondary axis. | Logarithmic scale cannot represent 0 and negative numbers |
| Just want to highlight a certain range | Manually set the minimum and maximum values of the coordinate axis | It can magnify local differences, but it must be stated in the legend that the starting point is not 0 |
Before you start: Confirm these points first
- Confirm chart type. The horizontal axis of line charts and column charts is usually classified text, and logarithms cannot be set; logarithmic scales are mainly used for numerical axes, such as scatter charts. The vertical axis of a column chart can be set to a logarithm, but the length of the column no longer represents a proportional quantity, which is easy for readers to misread and requires additional explanation.
- Check if the data are all positive numbers. Logarithmic scale requires values greater than 0. Empty cells will be treated as missing, and 0 or negative numbers will cause points to fail to draw or graphics to be abnormal. Use filtering or sorting to look at the small values first.
- Determine whether logarithm is really needed. If the difference between the large and small values of the data is only a few times, a linear scale is sufficient. The logarithmic scale is more suitable for data that changes by folds, such as growth rate, concentration, etc.
- Back up the original table. The coordinate axis settings only affect the chart display and will not change the data in the cells. However, a copy of the worksheet is required before modification to facilitate comparison of the before and after effects.
- When the data comes from PDF, it is first converted into a table. If the numbers were originally printed in a PDF table, you can use the OmniDoc desktop client to export the PDF to Excel, and then draw the graph in Excel. After exporting, you still need to check the numbers against the original text.
Steps to rotate abscissa text in Excel
- Click the chart to select the entire chart so that the axis text is displayed.
- Right-click on the text on the horizontal axis and select Format Axis (the wording is slightly different in different versions, just look for the option containing "Axis" and "Format").
- In the pane that opens on the right, switch to the tab related to text options and find the settings for text direction or custom angle.
- Enter the angle, usually -45 degrees or -90 degrees, and observe whether the text in the chart still overlaps or is truncated.
- If the text is still too long, go back to the table and shorten the name; if you need to keep the complete name, press Alt+Enter in the cell to manually wrap the text, and the chart will be displayed as a wrap.
- Adjust the chart width or font size to coordinate the horizontal axis text with the proportion of the entire chart.
When the vertical axis span is large, how to change it to a logarithmic scale?
The "exponent" in a logarithmic scale refers to a fixed multiple of each scale, such as 1, 10, 100, 1000. It puts tens and millions on the same graph, allowing changes in small values to be seen.
Steps to set logarithmic scale
- Click the chart and then click the vertical axis (value axis) on the left to select it.
- Right-click on the vertical axis and select Format Axis.
- Find the scale type or logarithmic scale setting in the coordinate axis options, check the logarithmic scale, and set the base to 10.
- Check the scale changes: The scales will be arranged in multiples of 1, 10, and 100, and equidistant intervals represent the same multiple changes.
- If you want the horizontal axis to be logarithmic, first confirm that it is a numerical axis (such as a scatter chart), and then make the same settings in the coordinate axis options of the horizontal axis.
- Add a note in the title of the chart or below that states "the vertical axis is on a logarithmic scale" to prevent readers from misjudging the gap.
Check each item after completion
| Check items | How to see | What to do if there is a problem |
|---|---|---|
| Is the horizontal axis text complete? | See if the end of each tag is truncated or overlaps each other | Shorten labels, wrap lines, or increase chart width |
| Whether logarithmic scale takes effect | Whether the scale displays multiples such as 1, 10, and 100 | Make sure it is set on the vertical axis and check if the base is 10 |
| Are the data points complete? | Compare the original table to see if there are any missing points | Check for empty cells, 0's and negative numbers, the chart will automatically update after correction |
| Do the numerical values and graphics correspond? | Randomly select two or three data points and compare the scale readings | Check whether the data area is selected correctly and whether the rows and columns need to be interchanged. |
| Are the illustrations clearly explained? | Without reading the text, can readers know that the vertical axis is logarithmic? | Add a description below the title or figure |
📊 Core comparison
| method | Suitable situation | need attention |
|---|---|---|
| Rotate horizontal axis text | The category name is long and only needs to be adjusted for readability | It is difficult to read when the angle is too large. It is recommended to shorten the name first. |
| Vertical axis logarithmic scale | The range of values is large, and they are all positive numbers. | The column length is distorted, please add comments |
| Manually set coordinate range | Only focus on a certain range of values | When the starting point is not 0, the difference will be amplified and easily misleading. |
| Split into two pictures | Need to display large numbers and decimals at the same time, or contain 0 or negative numbers | As the number of charts increases, it is necessary to ensure that the descriptions of the two charts are consistent. |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Is a logarithmic scale an "exponential" scale?
Yes. Searches for "abscissa set to exponential" usually refer to logarithmic scale. The scales are arranged in multiples, but the original values are still shown in the chart.
2. The abscissa is text, can it be set to logarithm?
cannot. Logarithmic scaling only works on numeric axes. The horizontal axis of text categories can only be shortened, wrapped, or rotated; if the horizontal axis itself is a numerical value and needs to be displayed proportionally, a scatter chart can be used instead.
3. There are 0s in the data, what should I do?
Logarithmic scale cannot display 0 and negative numbers. First confirm whether 0 is real data; if so, use linear scale instead, or split the data into two graphs to display separately.
4. Will the logarithmic scale make readers misunderstand?
There will be this risk. On a logarithmic scale, columns of equal height represent different quantitative differences, so it is more appropriate to use it in a line chart; when a column chart uses a logarithmic scale, it should be stated in the legend, and it is recommended to include the original value label.
📝 Summary
When the numbers on the horizontal axis of the Excel chart are tilted, shorten or wrap the labels first, and then rotate them to an appropriate angle; when the vertical axis span is large, make sure the data are all positive and then use a logarithmic scale. After the settings are completed, check the text, scale, data points and legends one by one, and the chart will be clear to readers at a glance.
