Plotting Number Cases with Excel: A Two-Point Connected Line Visualization

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the steps, ensure you have the following prerequisites:

• Microsoft Excel installed on your computer
• A dataset with two columns and two rows

Steps to Create a Two-Point Connected Line Chart in Excel

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to create a two-point connected line chart in Excel:

Step 1: Prepare the Data

First, prepare your data in a tabular format with two columns and two rows. For instance, suppose we have two sets of data, "Data A" and "Data B," each with two corresponding dates. In that case, our dataset would look like this:

 
 Date,Data A,Data B
 1/1/2022,5,7
 1/2/2022,8,9
 
 

Step 2: Create a New Chart Sheet

Next, create a new chart sheet to plot the data. To do this, select any cell within your dataset, and then:

1. Go to the "Insert" tab in the Excel ribbon.
2. Click on the "Line" chart type under the "Charts" group.
3. Select the first chart type, "Scatter with only Markers," from the dropdown menu.

Step 3: Add the Second Data Series

Now, we need to add the second data series to our chart. To do this:

1. Right-click on any data point in the chart and select "Select Data" from the context menu.
2. In the "Select Data Source" dialog box, click on "Add" under the "Legend Entries (Series)" section.
3. In the "Edit Series" dialog box, enter a name for your second data series, such as "Data B," and then select the data range for the second column in your dataset.
4. Click "OK" to close the dialog boxes.

Step 4: Change the Chart Type to a Connected Line Chart

Finally, we need to change the chart type from a scatter chart with markers to a connected line chart. To do this:

1. Right-click on any data series line in the chart and select "Format Data Series" from the context menu.
2. In the "Format Data Series" pane, select the "Line" tab and choose the "Smooth line" style.
3. Click "Close" to close the dialog box.

In this article, we learned how to create a two-point connected line visualization in Excel to illustrate the difference between two sets of data. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily create a connected line chart to compare tabular records with just two data points.

References

For further reading, check out the following resources:

• Create a scatter chart with only markers or data points
• Change a chart type