Sorting data

Reordering XY data

If you choose connecting lines on an XY graph, Prism connects the points in the order they appear on the data table. If the data are not sorted on the data table, the connecting lines will jump back and forth across the graph. If you want the connecting lines to go from left to right across the graph, first sort the data table by X values.

To sort your data by X values:

•	Click on the Sort Rows button on the Change toolbar.

Reordering Grouped data

When plotting grouped data, the left-to-right order of bars in interleaved bar graphs is determined by the order of rows in the data table.

To change the order of rows:

•	Click on the Sort Rows button on the Change toolbar, and choose to sort by row titles (alphabetically) or to reverse the order.

This example shows the effect of reversing the order of the rows in the data table.

Grouped tables are defined by two grouping variables. If you want to reverse the order of how the columns are graphed, you don't need to change the data table. Instead, go to the graph and click the Change data set order button. One of the choices on its menu reverses the order of data sets.

This example shows the effect of reversing the plotting order of data sets.

Both examples start with the same graph. One changes the order of groups, the other of bars within each group.