def _xdate_setter(self, xdate_format='%Y-%m-%d'):
        """Makes x axis a date axis with auto format

        Parameters
        ----------

        xdate_format: String
        \tSets date formatting

        """

        if xdate_format:
            # We have to validate xdate_format. If wrong then bail out.
            try:
                self.autofmt_xdate()
                datetime.date(2000, 1, 1).strftime(xdate_format)

            except ValueError:
                self.autofmt_xdate()
                return

            self.__axes.xaxis_date()
            formatter = dates.DateFormatter(xdate_format)
            self.__axes.xaxis.set_major_formatter(formatter)
Makes x axis a date axis with auto format

        Parameters
        ----------

        xdate_format: String
        \tSets date formatting