X/Y Error Bars

Use the X or Y Error Bars dialog to display error bars for 2D charts.

If an element of a data series is selected, this command works on that data series only. If no element is selected, this command works on all data series.

To access this command...

Choose Insert - X Error Bars or Insert - Y Error Bars (Charts)

An error bar is an indicator line that spans over a range from x/y - NegativeErrorValue to x/y + PositiveErrorValue. In this term, x or y is the value of the data point. When "standard deviation" is selected, x or y is the mean value of the data series. NegativeErrorValue and PositiveErrorValue are the amounts calculated by the error bar function or given explicitly.

The Insert - X/Y Error Bars menu command is only available for 2D charts.

Error category

In the Error category area, you can choose different ways to display the error category.

None

Does not show any error bars.

Constant value

Displays constant values that you specify in the Parameters area.

Percentage

Displays a percentage. The display refers to the corresponding data point. Set the percentage in the Parameters area.

Functions

Select a function to calculate the error bars.

Standard Error: Displays the standard error.

Variance: Displays the variance calculated from the number of data points and respective values.

Standard Deviation: Displays the standard deviation (square root of the variance). Unlike other functions, error bars are centered on the mean.

Error Margin: Displays the highest error margin in percent according to the highest value of the data group. Set the percentage in the Parameters area.

Cell Range

Click Cell Range and then specify a cell range from which to take the positive and negative error bar values.

From Data Table

For a chart with its own data, the error bar values can be entered in the chart data table. The Data Table dialog shows additional columns titled Positive X or Y-Error-Bars and Negative X or Y-Error-Bars.

Same value for both

Enable to use the positive error values also as negative error values. You can only change the value of the "Positive (+)" box. That value gets copied to the "Negative (-)" box automatically.

Error Indicator

Specifies the error indicator.

Positive and Negative

Shows positive and negative error bars.

Positive

Shows only positive error bars.

Negative

Shows only negative error bars.

Trend Lines