Symptoms

When you create a Line chart in Microsoft Excel, the chart may contain a gap in a line.

Cause

This issue may occur when the data range for the Line chart contains a blank cell.

Workaround

To work around this issue, use one of the following methods.

Method 1

Plot empty cells as interpolated. To do this, follow these steps:

Excel 2000 - 2003

  1. Click your Line chart to start it.

  2. On the Tools menu, click Options.

  3. On the Chart tab, click Interpolated, and then click OK.

Excel 2007

  1. Select the chart, and right click anywhere within the chart.

  2. Click Select Data and then click Hidden and Empty Cells.

  3. Click to select Connect data points with line, and then Press OK twice.

Method 2

Use the NA function in the blank cell of the chart's data range. To do this, use one of the following methods:

  • In the blank cell, type #N/A.

  • In the formula bar for the blank cell, type =NA().

  • If the cell range for the Line chart uses a formula to obtain values from a different cell range, and if you do not want the Line chart to plot 0 (zero), type the following formula in the formula bar:

    =IF(SUM(range)=0,NA(),SUM(range))Note range is the cell range that is outside the cell range for the Line chart.

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