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I have multiple blocks of time series data on an Excel sheet, with each block having its own set of dates. For example, I might have dates in column A, values in column B, and then dates in column D and values in column E. The values in B go with the dates in A, and the values in E go with the dates in D. The dates in A and D may not be the same. I would like to create a scatter chart with a time category axis that is the union of my two input date ranges in columns A and D.

If I select all the data and then go insert chart (in Excel 2010), Excel treats only column A as the X axis, and looks at D as just another set of values.

I can get Excel to do what I want by first just charting columns A and B, then selecting D and E and copy-pasting onto the chart. However, I would like to avoid this two-step procedure if possible.

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If you select a data range in Excel and generate a chart, Excel only uses the data on the far left for its X values. If you have multiple series with distinct X values, you have to add each set of X-Y values in a separate operation.

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But read "Intelligent Excel 2013 XY Charts" (peltiertech.com/WordPress/intelligent-excel-2013-xy-charts) for a description of how the newly released Excel 2013 allows you to plot alternating columns of data in an XY chart. –  Jon Peltier Feb 19 '13 at 12:39

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