Forum Discussion
X Axis labels displaying blank cells
Hello,
I am trying to figure out how to only have my chart display X axis labels that have a value. As you can see below, it is also including the blank cells in the chart. I need the chart to reference the entire column, even with blank cells, incase additional income streams are added in. Photos below of the chart and column x axis is referencing. This works on Google Sheets (photo also attached to show how it is supposed to look).
Google sheets photo: only shows labels with values and will add them in as more are added to the column.
The image you sent confirms that Google Sheets indeed handles blank cells in X-axis labels differently than Excel. In Google Sheets, the chart automatically excludes blank cells from the labels, while Excel includes them by default.
Here's a breakdown of the approaches mentioned earlier, considering the specific behavior in Google Sheets:
Approach 1: Using a Filter (Not applicable in Google Sheets)
This approach relies on Excel's filtering functionality within the Select Data menu, which isn't directly available in Google Sheets.
Approach 2: Using a Helper Column (Recommended for Google Sheets)
Create a helper column:
- Insert a new column next to your data column (e.g., insert column B beside column A).
- In the header cell of the helper column (e.g., B1), enter the following formula:=IF(A1="", "", A1)
- Replace A1 with the cell reference of your first data cell.
- Copy the formula down to all cells in the helper column.
Update the chart reference:
- Select your chart.
- Click on the Chart editor (three dots at the top right corner).
- Go to the Setup tab.
- Under Series, click on the pencil icon next to the X-axis labels.
- Update the Data range to reference the helper column instead of the original data column (e.g., change $A$1:$A$10 to $B$1:$B$10).
- Click Apply and close the Chart editor.
This approach remains suitable for Google Sheets. By creating a helper column that excludes blank cells and referencing it for the X-axis labels, you achieve the desired outcome while maintaining the ability to add new data points in the future.
Remember that while Google Sheets automatically handles blank cells in X-axis labels, using a helper column can provide more control over the formatting and ensure consistency if you plan to work with the spreadsheet in both Google Sheets and Excel.
