Need help "hiding" sections of a time series where there is no data

Would it be possible for you to post this particular data here, so that we can have a look? But in general, you should explore the Split Axes package, which may do what you want: Split the axis in two parts with a gap in-between, where you can scale the two parts independently. Within Igor got to Graph => Pacakges => Split Axes.

Here is an example. There is this blank space between 21 Feb and 1 Apr. I want to be able to change the x-axis such that the blank space will not be seen in the graph. I think you correct about split axis being what I need but I can't seem to figure out how to get it to work.

Can you tell us what did not work? You chose Split Axes, then in the appearing panel you chose 'bottom' as axis and pressed Split It? How does it look then? Also, if you post the data itself and not just a screenshot we could prepare an example for you (of course, only if you are willing to have your data available in a public space like this).

I meant that I can't seem to figure out how to get it to work properly. I think I am putting in the incorrect numbers for the "split position" and "split gap". But I can't figure out what they should be. I think the main problem is I don't under what "split position" and "split gap" are? How do I go about figuring what numbers I should key in, instead of randomly keying in numbers and hope they work?

I have attached a dataset for one of the species.

Hi,

Played with it a bit (procrastination is a wonderful thing).

Here are the settings I used for the basic split. 30% with gap and split markers.

I then went into axis settings and set the ranges.  I also set the tick marks to computed with start dates and 1 month major tick and 3 minor ticks.  For me, I tried to keep the distance of 1 month the same for both segments of the bottom axis so as not to deceive the eye with compressed time scales on one segment.

Andy

Thanks! I finally understand where I went wrong... I was supposed to rescale the two x axes. 

Can you please explain what "split position" means? Is it the estimated position on the axis that I want the split to start?

The split position is what percent (fraction) of the axis.  So for an axis that is 10 cm long a 30% split would have it occur at 3 cm from left.  That is the center of spit with the gap dimension settable. Once you set this you can further examine and refine by going to axis settings as normal - double click on axis.

Andy