Display Grid Lines Across Multiple Axes in Grapher

Updated
Grid lines provide the visual structure needed to map points to values with pinpoint accuracy. These lines are essential for helping viewers correlate data points with specific axis values, Grapher offers deep customization for both major and minor intervals.

Extend Grid Lines Across Parallel Axes

To create a unified grid that spans multiple axes, you must configure the properties of the grid lines within the axis settings.

Grapher can share grid lines across axes as well as label line plots by the plot name with just a couple clicks.png
  1. Create a plot with multiple axes:
    1. Use the Home | New Graph | <graph type> command to create a graph of your choice. 
    2. Add a second plot to your graph using the Graph Tools | Add to Graph | <plot type> command. 
      • 12_-_Grapher_Graphing_Software_Choose_Axes_Dialog.png
    3. In the Choose Axes dialog, choose to add a new X or Y Axis in the direction that you need.
    4. Keep the axis for which you intend to share grid lines. If you'd like to share grid lines from your Y axis across two X axes, create a new X Axis. Do not create a new Y axis. 
    5. Click OK. Your plot should now show a total of 3 axes with grid lines missing on one of the graphs. 

  2. Enable the Grid Display:

    1. Scroll to the Grid Line Properties section.

    2. Check the box next to Major tick grid line. You may also enable Minor tick grid line if higher granularity is required for your dataset.

  3. Turn on grid line sharing: 

    1. Locate the Parallel axis dropdown menu.

    2. To span a specific area: Select a single parallel axis from the list (e.g., X Axis 2).

    3. To span the entire graph: Select All parallel axes to automatically project the grid lines across every parallel axis in the plot.

      grapher-parallel-axis.webp
      In the Line tab, set the Grid Line Properties to apply to all Parallel axis.

 

Customizing Grid lines

Once the grid lines are extended across your axes, you can refine their appearance to ensure they support the data without distracting from it.

  • Style and Color: Use the Major grid lines sub-section to change the line style (e.g., solid to dashed) or reduce the opacity of the lines to keep the focus on the data trends.

  • Worksheet Grid Lines: If your grid should be driven by specific data values rather than axis ticks, utilize the Worksheet grid lines option to pull positions directly from a data file.

Related Axes Customizations

 

How to Do This in Grapher 15 and Older

Grapher 15 and earlier versions did not support this feature. There are two ways to display grid lines across multiple axes in these versions:
  • Method 1: Best for fewer plots or plots that are spaced apart
  • Method 2: Best for many adjacent plots, or for plots in which you want grid lines to appear within the spacing

Method 1: If your plots are spaced out and you don't want grid lines to appear within the spacing, this method will add grid lines to each Y axis.

  1. Click on the X axis to select it.
  2. In the Property Manager, click on the Line tab.
  3. In the Grid Line Properties section, set the Parallel axis to the first Y axis.
  4. Check the box next to Major tick grid line option.
  5. Click the Home | Add to Graph | Axis | X Axis command. 
  6. In the Position X Axis dialog, toggle At the top of or At the bottom of and select the second Y axis from the list.
  7. Check the Disable tick marks and Disable labels boxes to turn off the display of tick marks and labels.
  8. Click OK.
  9. Click on the new X axis in either the Object Manager or plot window to select it. 
  10. In the Property Manager, click the Link Axis tab.
  11. Click None in the Link axis field and select the first X Axis.
  12. Check the box in the Link axis scale and Link limits fields.
  13. Click on the Line tab.
  14. In the Grid Line Properties section, change the Parallel axis to the second Y axis.
  15. Check the box next to the Major tick grid line option. 
  16. In the Axis Line Properties section, expand the Axis line properties and change the line Style to Invisible to turn off the axis line display. Only the grid lines remain.
  17. Repeat steps 5-16 for each additional Y axis.

 

Method 2: If you have several plots or want grid lines to appear within your spacing, follow these steps.

  1. Select the graph or an item within the graph.
  2. Click Home | Add to Graph | Axis | Y Axis.
  3. In the Position Y Axis dialog, toggle At the left of, and select the X axis from the list.
  4. Check the Disable tick marks and Disable labels boxes and click OK.
  5. Select the new Y Axis.
  6. Click on the Axis tab in the Property Manager.
  7. Increase the Length until this new axis is the length of all of the other y axes combined.
  8. Click on the Line tab.
  9. In the Axis Line Properties section, expand the Axis line properties and change the line Style to Invisible to turn off the axis line display.
  10. Select the X Axis.
  11. On the Line page in the Property Manager, in the Grid Line Properties section, change the Parallel axis to the new Y axis.
  12. Check the box in the Major ticket grid line field, if needed.
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