1.13 FAQ-124 How to change the order of tick labels of categorical graph?Change-Order-of-Tick-Labels
Last Update: 4/6/2020
When a graph is plotted from categorical data (when you right-click on a selected data column there is a check mark beside Set as Categorical), categorical index is assigned by the order of categories listed in the column (i.e. the first-occurring category is assigned a category index of 1, the next-occurring category is assigned an index of 2, and so on. This is an "Unsorted" list of categories.
![FAQ 124 sort order.png](//d2mvzyuse3lwjc.cloudfront.net/doc/en/QuickHelp/images/How_to_change_the_order_of_tick_labels_of_categorical_graph/FAQ_124_sort_order.png?v=62801)
Alternately, you can sort categories in ascending or descending order, which will change how category indices are assigned; or you can sort categories in an arbitrary manner, establishing a custom sort order.
To change the category sort order, you can:
- Right-click on the data column and make sure Set as Categorical is chosen in the shortcut menu, or select the column and click the Categorical Mini Toolbar button.
- Double-click on the Categories column label row to open the Categories dialog.
- In the Sort drop-down list, select Ascending or Descending.
- For further customization on categories entries, select the Customize Categories (Add, Delete, Set Arbitrary Order) check box to establish a custom order for categories.
![](//d2mvzyuse3lwjc.cloudfront.net/doc/en/QuickHelp/images/How_to_change_the_order_of_tick_labels_of_categorical_graph/Tip_icon.png?v=8477) | Beginning with Origin 2020b, you can toggle between display of Category and Category Index in the worksheet column by clicking the Show Category Indices button on the worksheet page-level Mini Toolbar.
|
Keywords:categorical, sort, tick labels, alphabetical, order
Minimum Origin Version Required: 2015 SR0
|