Google column charts X-axis label different from value - google-visualization

Question

I'd like to create column chart with X axis numeric values 1, 2, 3, 4 ... N and Y value of course different on every column.
I can't find out how to change labels on X line under bars, to string. For example - 1 could be marked as Elephant, 2 as Horse etc.
I could use string as X values, but then there is no way to get zoom working. At least, I didn't find any way to get it working.
simple example with strings, I'd like to achieve same appearance as this one, but with numeric values on X axis.
google.charts.load('current', {packages: ['corechart', 'bar']});
google.charts.setOnLoadCallback(drawBasic);
function drawBasic() {
var data = new google.visualization.DataTable();
data.addColumn('number', 'animal');
data.addColumn('number', 'count');
data.addRows([
['Elephant', 5],
['Horse', 2],
['Dog', 7],
['Cat', 4],
]);
var options = {
explorer: {
axis: 'horizontal',
keepInBounds: true,
},
title: 'Testing',
hAxis: {
title: 'Animal',
},
vAxis: {
title: 'number'
}
};
var chart = new google.visualization.ColumnChart(
document.getElementById('chart_div'));
chart.draw(data, options);
}
Chart should look like this, but with working zoom:
Chart example

Answer 1

to use string labels on a continuous axis,
you will need to provide your own ticks
using object notation, provide the value (v:) and formatted value (f:)
{v: 1, f: 'Elephant'}
see following working snippet...
google.charts.load('current', {
callback: drawBasic,
packages: ['corechart']
});
function drawBasic() {
var data = new google.visualization.DataTable();
data.addColumn('number', 'animal');
data.addColumn('number', 'count');
data.addRows([
[1, 5],
[2, 2],
[3, 7],
[4, 4]
]);
var options = {
explorer: {
axis: 'horizontal'
},
title: 'Testing',
hAxis: {
ticks: [
{v: 1, f: 'Elephant'},
{v: 2, f: 'Horse'},
{v: 3, f: 'Dog'},
{v: 4, f: 'Cat'}
],
title: 'Animal',
},
vAxis: {
title: 'number'
}
};
var chart = new google.visualization.ColumnChart(
document.getElementById('chart_div')
);
chart.draw(data, options);
}
<script src="https://www.gstatic.com/charts/loader.js"></script>
<div id="chart_div"></div>