# Discrete categories on y axis
**URL:** https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/discrete-categories-on-y-axis/6147
**Category:** Q&A
**Created:** [July 29, 2025, 10:13am UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/discrete-categories-on-y-axis/6147 "2025-07-29T10:13:46Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@RunningWild](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/RunningWild)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2025, 10:13am UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/discrete-categories-on-y-axis/6147/1 "2025-07-29T10:13:46Z")
Hi all,
I was looking at plots, and specifically horizontal bars. I was wondering, what if I wanted to have discrete categories on the y-axis?
In the cookbook it’s always numerical, and controlled by -B. Can I feed a file into B?
If I had 10 employees, e.g. Alice, Bob etc and I wanted their names on the y axis, and date on the x-axis how would I do this? Image of concept attached.
Thanks!
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### Author:  [@Joaquim](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/Joaquim)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2025, 10:46am UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/discrete-categories-on-y-axis/6147/2 "2025-07-29T10:46:21Z")
See [custom axes](https://docs.generic-mapping-tools.org/dev/reference/options.html#custom-axes)
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### Author:  [@RunningWild](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/RunningWild)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2025, 1:37pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/discrete-categories-on-y-axis/6147/3 "2025-08-07T13:37:36Z")
Thanks Joaquim, I was able to do it thanks to your guidance:
