Shared and Aligned Axes for Multi-Plot Data in Grapher

Generate multiple plots with at least one shared axis in Grapher. This technique is invaluable for highlighting relationships, trends, and correlations across different datasets or aspects of your data while maintaining clear alignment. Crucially, you're not limited to a single plot type; you can combine various visualizations like line plots, bar charts, scatter plots, and more, all while ensuring consistent axis scaling. Whether you're comparing distributions, tracking changes over time, or presenting multi-faceted insights, understanding shared axes will elevate your data storytelling and make your visualizations more impactful and easier to interpret.

 

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Topics covered in this article:

Multiple plot types with two shared axes Multiple plot types with a shared X axes Shared axes options Link two Axes from multiple graphs  Turn on grid line sharing

 

Multiple plot types with two shared axes

Effectively comparing multiple datasets becomes simple when you use shared axes in Grapher. You can display various plot types—like bar charts and line graphs—on the same X and Y axis for perfect alignment. This approach streamlines your data insights and improves readability.

A graph is created with 1 Y axis and 1 X axis and multiple plots. Both the line plot and bar chart use the same axes.

1. Create your first plot using any of the Home | New Graph commands.
2. In the Open Worksheet dialog, select the data file and click Open.
3. Make any changes to the Bar Chart 1, Y Axis 1, or X Axis 1, as desired. 
   
4. Click anywhere on the graph to select it.
5. Click the Home| Add to Graph | Plot command ().
6. In the Select Plot Type dialog, click your desired plot type and then click OK. For this example, we've selected a Line Plot.
7. In the Choose Axes dialog, be sure to select X Axis 1 and Y Axis 1 and click OK.
   
8. Select the data file and click Open. The new plot is added to the original X axis and Y axis.

 

Multiple plots with a shared Y axes  [TOP]

Often, you'll want to compare different aspects of your data that share a common Y-axis, such as depth, categories, or experimental conditions, using similar or different plot types to best represent each measurement. In Grapher, you can easily combine plots like line graphs, bar charts, and scatter plots on the same Y-axis. This technique is incredibly powerful for illustrating relationships and trends across diverse datasets, all while maintaining perfect alignment and easy comparison.

1. Create the appropriate first graph.
2. Click to select X Axis 1 in the Object Manager.
3. In the Property Manager, click the Axis tab.
4. Change the Length to a smaller value. (For a normal portrait page layout, you may want to make this 3-4 inches in length.)
5. Make any other changes to the Bar Chart 1, Y Axis 1, or X Axis 1, as desired. 

The original graph contains 1 X axis, 1 Y axis, and 1 plot.

1. Click anywhere on the graph to select it.
2. Click the Home | Add to Graph | Plot command ().
3. In the Select Plot Type dialog, click your desired plot type to add and then click OK.
4. In the Choose Axes dialog, change Y Axis 1 to Create new axis.
   
5. Click the Position button.
   
6. In the Position New Axis dialog, click X Axis 1 and select Y Axis 1.
   
7. Ensure that At the top of is toggled and click OK.
   
8. Adjust the length of the new Y axis to 3-4 inches.
   
9. Click OK in the Choose Axes dialog.
10. Select the data file and click Open. The new plot is added to the original X axis. A new Y axis is now positioned above the first one.
11. Click Y Axis 2 in the Object Manager to select it.
12. In the Property Manager, click the Axis tab.
13. Change the Length to a smaller value, if desired.
14. To add a space between the two Y axes, change the Y position value to a slightly greater number. 

A stacked graph is created with 2 Y axes and 1 X axis. Both plots share the bottom X axis.

1. Create the appropriate bottom graph. For instance, if the bottom graph should be a bar chart, click the Home | New Graph | Bar | Vertical Bar Chart command.
2. Select the data file and click Open. The bottom graph is created.
3. Click to select Y Axis 1 in the Object Manager.
4. In the Property Manager, click the Axis tab.
5. Change the Length to a smaller value. (For a normal portrait page layout, you may want to make this 3-4 inches in length.)
6. Make any other changes to the Bar Chart 1, Y Axis 1, or X Axis 1, as desired. 

The original graph contains 1 X axis, 1 Y axis, and 1 plot.

1. Click anywhere on the graph to select it.
2. Click the Home | Add to Graph | Plot command ().
3. In the Select Plot Type dialog, click your desired plot type to add and then click OK.
4. In the Choose Axes dialog, change Y Axis 1 to Create new axis.
   
5. Click the Position button.
   
6. In the Position New Axis dialog, click X Axis 1 and select Y Axis 1.
   
7. Ensure that At the top of is toggled and click OK.
   
8. Adjust the length of the new Y axis to 3-4 inches.
   
9. Click OK in the Choose Axes dialog.
10. Select the data file and click Open. The new plot is added to the original X axis. A new Y axis is now positioned above the first one.
11. Click Y Axis 2 in the Object Manager to select it.
12. In the Property Manager, click the Axis tab.
13. Change the Length to a smaller value, if desired.
14. To add a space between the two Y axes, change the Y position value to a slightly greater number. 

A stacked graph is created with 2 Y axes and 1 X axis. Both plots share the bottom X axis.

Shared axes options  [TOP]

Looking to enhance your graph's presentation and analysis? These optional features offer powerful ways to create cohesive and insightful visualizations.

Link two Axes from multiple graphs

To effectively display multiple plot types that share one axis but utilize different scales, Grapher offers the ability to Link axes. This feature connects axes, ensuring consistent updates and coordinated changes across your diverse plots. Linking allows control over various aspects, including scaling, tick position, tick mark spacing, limits, and axis length. Any any edits to the controlling axis automatically update all linked axes.

• Link Axis: Choose which axis acts as the master controller.
• Scale: Automatically match the scale type (e.g., Linear, Log) of the dependent axis to the controlling axis.
• Tick Spacing: Keep major tick mark spacing consistent across linked axes.
• Limits: Synchronize the minimum and maximum display values. You can even set up an equation to transform limits (e.g., converting units).
• Tick Position: Align the actual tick mark locations between linked axes.
• Length: Make linked axes the same length as the controlling axis, or apply a scale factor to adjust their length proportionally.
• X Position: Move linked axes horizontally in sync with the controlling axis.

Linking Axes for Unit Conversion

Grapher's linked axis functionality extends to unit conversion, letting you represent the same data in different measurement systems on a single graph. By employing a simple equation, the dependent axis can dynamically transform values from the controlling axis, offering immediate clarity for diverse unit representations like temperature or distance.

1. Open your graph with your starting unit, for example Fahrenheit for Y Axis 1.
   
2. Click anywhere on the graph to select it.
3. Click Graph Tools | Axis | Y Axis to add a second Y axis.
4. In the Position Y Axis window select At the right end of, and check the Flip tick marks and labels checkbox.
   
5. Click OK.
6. In the Property Manager select the Ticks tab and adjust the major and minor ticks to display as you desire.
7. In the Property Manager select the Line tab, in the Grid Line Properties section, make sure the checkbox in the Major tick grid line field is unchecked.
8. In the Property Manager select the Link Axis tab.
9. In the Axes section, in the Link axis field select Y Axis 1 from the drop down.
10. In the Length/Position section, in the Y position field click the dropdown and select None.
11. In the Limits/Spacing section, check the Link limits field.
12. In the new Limits  Y = F(X) = field input the conversion equation.
    1. For example "(X-32)*(5/9)" to convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius.
13. Set the axis format and other link axis options as desired.
    1. Make sure your axis titles have the appropriate units displayed.

Turn on grid line sharing  [TOP]    [Shared axis options]

To enhance visual comparison and identify relationships across your graphs, you can share grid lines between multiple plots. This feature extends grid lines from one plot to others, providing a consistent visual reference point across all of your plots.

1. In the Object Manager, click to select the axis whose grid lines you'd like to share.
2. In the Property Manager, click the Line tab.
3. In the Grid Line Properties section, in the Parallel axis field, click the drop down and select All parallel axes.
4. Check the checkboxes in the Major tick grid line and Minor tick grid line as desired.
   • If you'd like the grid lines to appear over the gap between the axes, check the box next to Lines between axes.