How to create graph with specifically dated entires and an axis that only displays the years?

I have a 100+ row table with exact dates in one column (yyyy.mm.dd format), a few columns of relevant data that I do not want to graph, series of values/events belonging to each date in another column, and a running tally in the last column.

I want to create a graph where both the series of values and the gradual uptick in the running tally are displayed, as a set of columns and a line respectively. I'd also like them be correctly placed on the timeline based on their dates, and for the horizontal axis labels only show the year.

I've run into a few problems:

• I cannot specify the horizontal axis as a timeline rather than a series of exact values, so the entries are not correctly placed.
• I can't get the horizontal axis to only display the year, as the "units" option simply does not appear
• Regardless of what I set as the number format for the horizontal axis, the displayed date values will simply not change
• Trying to select the data range, using the entire table results in all the irrelevant data being also displayed on the horizontal axis labels
  • Only using the table columns I actually want to use pops an error message about the selected range not being the correct format.

The strange thing is, on an earlier version of excel, I was able to set this exact graph up relatively easily, and it worked as described at the top, only breaking more recently, along with the unit options disappearing.

Any advice that's not just a link to a microsoft forum post (I've checked, they either aren't answered or do not solve my problem) is welcome.

Excel Version: 2501

Build #: 18429.20132