Tutorial 23: How to set chart type, chart area, plot area, X axis, Y axis, series and legend in C++

How to set chart type, chart area, plot area, X axis, Y axis, series and legend in C++

EasyXLS Excel library can be used to export Excel files in C++. The integration varies depending on the project technique, if .NET Framework can be used or not.

1. EasyXLS using COM+ for projects without .NET Framework

2. EasyXLS in C++.NET projects using .NET Framework

EasyXLS using COM+ for projects without .NET Framework

If you opt for the COM+ version of EasyXLS, be sure that you have EasyXLS installed and registered on your machine.

Find more about Getting Started with EasyXLS

Step 1: Download and install EasyXLS Excel Library for COM+

To download the trial version of EasyXLS Excel Library, press the below button:

If you already own a license key, you may login and download EasyXLS from your account.

Step 2: Verify if EasyXLS is registered

Check if EasyXLS component is present in Component Services.

Step 3: License file setup

Step required for EasyXLS v9.0 or later.

If you are using a trial, generate a trial license file from EasyXLS trials page. The trial license is valid for 30-days.

If you own a license key, you may login to the account that purchased the license and generate the license file from:
https://www.easyxls.com/my-orders

Setup the license file into your project using these guidelines.

Step 4: Run C++ code that sets various chart properties in Excel file

Execute the following C++ code that creates a cylinder column chart and format the chart area, plot area, chart legend, axis and chart series.

View Excel file

Copy code

/* -------------------------------------------------------------
 * Tutorial 23
 *
 * This tutorial shows how to create an Excel file in C++ with a 
 * chart and how to set chart type and formatting properties for
 * chart area, plot area, axis, series and legend.
 * -------------------------------------------------------------- */

#include "EasyXLS.h"
#include <conio.h>

int main()
{
    printf("Tutorial 23\n----------\n");

    HRESULT hr;

    // Initialize COM
    hr = CoInitialize(0);

    // Use the SUCCEEDED macro and get a pointer to the interface
    if (SUCCEEDED(hr))
    {
        // Create a pointer to the interface that exports Excel files
        EasyXLS::IExcelDocumentPtr workbook;
        hr = CoCreateInstance(__uuidof(EasyXLS::ExcelDocument),
                              NULL,
                              CLSCTX_ALL,
                              __uuidof(EasyXLS::IExcelDocument),
                              (void**)&workbook) ;

        if (SUCCEEDED(hr)){

            // Create an worksheet
            workbook->easy_addWorksheet_2("SourceData");

            // Get the table of data for the worksheet
            EasyXLS::IExcelWorksheetPtr xlsFirstTab = 
                    (EasyXLS::IExcelWorksheetPtr)workbook->easy_getSheet("SourceData");
            EasyXLS::IExcelTablePtr xlsTable1 = xlsFirstTab->easy_getExcelTable();

            // Add data in cells for report header
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(0, 0)->setValue("Show Date");
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(0, 1)->setValue("Available Places");
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(0, 2)->setValue("Available Tickets");
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(0, 3)->setValue("Sold Tickets");

            // Add data in cells for chart report values
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(1, 0)->setValue("03/13/2005 00:00:00");
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(1, 0)->setFormat(FORMAT_FORMAT_DATE);
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(2, 0)->setValue("03/14/2005 00:00:00");
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(2, 0)->setFormat(FORMAT_FORMAT_DATE);
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(3, 0)->setValue("03/15/2005 00:00:00");
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(3, 0)->setFormat(FORMAT_FORMAT_DATE);
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(4, 0)->setValue("03/16/2005 00:00:00");
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(4, 0)->setFormat(FORMAT_FORMAT_DATE);

            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(1, 1)->setValue("10000");
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(2, 1)->setValue("5000");
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(3, 1)->setValue("8500");
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(4, 1)->setValue("1000");

            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(1, 2)->setValue("8000");
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(2, 2)->setValue("4000");
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(3, 2)->setValue("6000");
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(4, 2)->setValue("1000");

            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(1, 3)->setValue("920");
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(2, 3)->setValue("1005");
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(3, 3)->setValue("342");
            xlsTable1->easy_getCell(4, 3)->setValue("967");

            // Set column widths
            xlsTable1->easy_getColumnAt(0)->setWidth(100);
            xlsTable1->easy_getColumnAt(1)->setWidth(100);
            xlsTable1->easy_getColumnAt(2)->setWidth(100);
            xlsTable1->easy_getColumnAt(3)->setWidth(100);

            // Add a chart sheet
            workbook->easy_addChart_5("Chart", "=SourceData!$A$1:$D$5", CHART_SERIES_IN_COLUMNS);

            // Get the previously added chart
            EasyXLS::IExcelChartSheetPtr xlsChartSheet = 
                    (EasyXLS::IExcelChartSheetPtr)workbook->easy_getSheetAt(1);
            EasyXLS::IExcelChartPtr xlsChart = xlsChartSheet->easy_getExcelChart();

            // Set chart type
            xlsChart->easy_setChartType(CHART_CHART_TYPE_CYLINDER_COLUMN);

            // Format chart area
            EasyXLS::IExcelChartAreaPtr xlsChartArea = xlsChart->easy_getChartArea();
            xlsChartArea->getLineColorFormat()->setLineColor(COLOR_DARKGRAY);
            xlsChartArea->getLineStyleFormat()->setDashType(LINESTYLEFORMAT_DASH_TYPE_SOLID);
            xlsChartArea->getLineStyleFormat()->setWidth(0.25f);

            // Format chart plot area
            EasyXLS::IExcelPlotAreaPtr xlsPlotArea = xlsChart->easy_getPlotArea();
            xlsPlotArea->getLineColorFormat()->setLineColor(COLOR_DARKGRAY);
            xlsPlotArea->getLineStyleFormat()->setDashType(LINESTYLEFORMAT_DASH_TYPE_SOLID);
            xlsPlotArea->getLineStyleFormat()->setWidth(0.25f);

            // Format chart legend
            EasyXLS::IExcelChartLegendPtr xlsChartLegend = xlsChart->easy_getLegend();
            xlsChartLegend->getFillFormat()->setBackground(COLOR_LAVENDERBLUSH);
            xlsChartLegend->getFontFormat()->setForeground(COLOR_BLUE);
            xlsChartLegend->getFontFormat()->setItalic(true);
            xlsChartLegend->setKeysArrangementDirection(CHART_KEYS_ARRANGEMENT_DIRECTION_HORIZONTAL);
            xlsChartLegend->setPlacement(CHART_LEGEND_CORNER);
            xlsChartLegend->getShadowFormat()->setShadow(SHADOWFORMAT_OFFSET_DIAGONAL_BOTTOM_RIGHT);

            // Format chart X axis
            EasyXLS::IExcelAxisPtr xlsXAxis = xlsChart->easy_getCategoryXAxis();
            xlsXAxis->getLineColorFormat()->setLineColor(COLOR_STEELBLUE);
            xlsXAxis->getLineStyleFormat()->setDashType(LINESTYLEFORMAT_DASH_TYPE_DASH_DOT);
            xlsXAxis->getLineStyleFormat()->setWidth(0.25f);
            xlsXAxis->getFontFormat()->setForeground(COLOR_RED);

            // Format chart Y axis
            EasyXLS::IExcelAxisPtr xlsYAxis = xlsChart->easy_getValueYAxis();
            xlsYAxis->getLineColorFormat()->setLineColor(COLOR_STEELBLUE);
            xlsYAxis->getLineStyleFormat()->setDashType(LINESTYLEFORMAT_DASH_TYPE_LONG_DASH);
            xlsYAxis->getLineStyleFormat()->setWidth(0.25f);
            xlsYAxis->getFontFormat()->setForeground(COLOR_BLUE);

            // Fomat chart series
            xlsChart->easy_getSeriesAt(0)->getFillFormat()->setBackground(COLOR_ROYALBLUE);
            xlsChart->easy_getSeriesAt(1)->getFillFormat()->setBackground(COLOR_YELLOW);
            xlsChart->easy_getSeriesAt(2)->getFillFormat()->setBackground(COLOR_LIGHTGREEN);

            // Export Excel file
            printf("Writing file C:\\Samples\\Tutorial23 - various Excel chart settings.xlsx.");
            workbook->easy_WriteXLSXFile("C:\\Samples\\Tutorial23 - various Excel chart settings.xlsx");

            // Confirm export of Excel file
            _bstr_t sError = workbook->easy_getError();
            if (strcmp(sError, "") == 0){
                printf("\nFile successfully created. Press Enter to Exit...");
            }
            else{
                printf("\nError encountered: %s", (LPCSTR)sError);
            }

            //Dispose memory
            workbook->Dispose();
        }
        else{
            printf("Object is not available!");
        }
    }
    else{
        printf("COM can't be initialized!");
    }

    // Uninitialize COM
    CoUninitialize();

    _getch();
    return 0;
}

C++ and .NET Framework
This tutorial is valid for C++ applications that cannot use .NET Framework. It is recommended, for better performances, that if the C++ application already uses or can use .NET Framework to make use of this similar code sample.

Overloaded methods
For methods with same name but different parameters, only the first method overload retains the original name. Subsequent overloads are uniquely renamed by appending to the method name '_2', '_3', etc (method, method_2, method_3), an integer that corresponds to the order of declaration that can be found in EasyXLS.h, a file that comes with EasyXLS installation.

EasyXLS in C++.NET projects using .NET Framework

If you opt for the .NET Framework version of EasyXLS, you need a C++.NET project and to include EasyXLS.dll into project.

Find more about Getting Started with EasyXLS

Step 1: Download EasyXLS Excel Library for .NET

To download the trial version of EasyXLS Excel Library, press the below button:

If you already own a license key, you may login and download EasyXLS from your account.

Install the downloaded EasyXLS installer for v8.6 or earlier.

Step 2: License file setup

Step 3: Include EasyXLS library into project

EasyXLS.dll must be added to your project. EasyXLS.dll can be found:
- Inside the downloaded archive at Step 1 for EasyXLS v9.0 or later
- Under installation path for EasyXLS v8.6 or earlier, in "Dot NET version" folder.

Step 4: Run C++ code that sets various chart properties in Excel file

Execute the following C++ code that creates a cylinder column chart and format the chart area, plot area, chart legend, axis and chart series.

View Excel file

Copy code

/*------------------------------------------------------------------
 | Tutorial 23
 |
 | This tutorial shows how to create an Excel file in C++.NET with a
 | chart and how to set chart type and formatting properties for
 | chart area, plot area, axis, series and legend.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------*/

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Drawing;
using namespace EasyXLS;
using namespace EasyXLS::Constants;
using namespace EasyXLS::Charts;
using namespace EasyXLS::Drawings::Formatting;

int main()
{
    Console::WriteLine("Tutorial 23\n----------\n");

    // Create an instance of the class that exports Excel files
    ExcelDocument ^workbook = gcnew ExcelDocument();

    // Create a worksheet
    workbook->easy_addWorksheet("SourceData");

    // Get the table of data for the worksheet
    ExcelWorksheet ^xlsFirstTab = safe_cast<ExcelWorksheet^>(workbook->easy_getSheet("SourceData"));
    ExcelTable ^xlsTable1 = xlsFirstTab->easy_getExcelTable();

    // Add data in cells for report header
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(0, 0)->setValue("Show Date");
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(0, 1)->setValue("Available Places");
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(0, 2)->setValue("Available Tickets");
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(0, 3)->setValue("Sold Tickets");

    // Add data in cells for chart report values
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(1, 0)->setValue("03/13/2005 00:00:00");
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(1, 0)->setFormat(EasyXLS::Constants::Format::FORMAT_DATE);
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(2, 0)->setValue("03/14/2005 00:00:00");
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(2, 0)->setFormat(EasyXLS::Constants::Format::FORMAT_DATE);
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(3, 0)->setValue("03/15/2005 00:00:00");
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(3, 0)->setFormat(EasyXLS::Constants::Format::FORMAT_DATE);
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(4, 0)->setValue("03/16/2005 00:00:00");
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(4, 0)->setFormat(EasyXLS::Constants::Format::FORMAT_DATE);

    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(1, 1)->setValue("10000");
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(2, 1)->setValue("5000");
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(3, 1)->setValue("8500");
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(4, 1)->setValue("1000");

    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(1, 2)->setValue("8000");
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(2, 2)->setValue("4000");
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(3, 2)->setValue("6000");
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(4, 2)->setValue("1000");

    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(1, 3)->setValue("920");
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(2, 3)->setValue("1005");
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(3, 3)->setValue("342");
    xlsTable1->easy_getCell(4, 3)->setValue("967");

    // Set column widths
    xlsTable1->easy_getColumnAt(0)->setWidth(100);
    xlsTable1->easy_getColumnAt(1)->setWidth(100);
    xlsTable1->easy_getColumnAt(2)->setWidth(100);
    xlsTable1->easy_getColumnAt(3)->setWidth(100);

    // Add a chart sheet
    workbook->easy_addChart("Chart", "=SourceData!$A$1:$D$5", Chart::SERIES_IN_COLUMNS);

    // Get the previously added chart
    ExcelChartSheet ^xlsChartSheet = safe_cast<ExcelChartSheet^>(workbook->easy_getSheetAt(1));
    ExcelChart ^xlsChart = xlsChartSheet->easy_getExcelChart();

    // Set chart type
    xlsChart->easy_setChartType(Chart::CHART_TYPE_CYLINDER_COLUMN);

    // Format chart area
    ExcelChartArea ^xlsChartArea = xlsChart->easy_getChartArea();
    xlsChartArea->getLineColorFormat()->setLineColor(Color::DarkGray);
    xlsChartArea->getLineStyleFormat()->setDashType(LineStyleFormat::DASH_TYPE_SOLID);
    xlsChartArea->getLineStyleFormat()->setWidth(0.25f);

    // Format chart plot area
    ExcelPlotArea ^xlsPlotArea =  xlsChart->easy_getPlotArea();
    xlsPlotArea->getLineColorFormat()->setLineColor(Color::DarkGray);
    xlsPlotArea->getLineStyleFormat()->setDashType(LineStyleFormat::DASH_TYPE_SOLID);
    xlsPlotArea->getLineStyleFormat()->setWidth(0.25f);

    // Format chart legend
    ExcelChartLegend ^xlsChartLegend = xlsChart->easy_getLegend();
    xlsChartLegend->getFillFormat()->setBackground(Color::LavenderBlush);
    xlsChartLegend->getFontFormat()->setForeground(Color::Blue);
    xlsChartLegend->getFontFormat()->setItalic(true);
    xlsChartLegend->setKeysArrangementDirection(Chart::KEYS_ARRANGEMENT_DIRECTION_HORIZONTAL);
    xlsChartLegend->setPlacement(Chart::LEGEND_CORNER);
    xlsChartLegend->getShadowFormat()->setShadow(ShadowFormat::OFFSET_DIAGONAL_BOTTOM_RIGHT);

    // Format chart X axis
    ExcelAxis ^xlsXAxis = xlsChart->easy_getCategoryXAxis();
    xlsXAxis->getLineColorFormat()->setLineColor(Color::SteelBlue);
    xlsXAxis->getLineStyleFormat()->setDashType(LineStyleFormat::DASH_TYPE_DASH_DOT);
    xlsXAxis->getLineStyleFormat()->setWidth(0.25f);
    xlsXAxis->getFontFormat()->setForeground(Color::Red);

    // Format chart Y axis
    ExcelAxis ^xlsYAxis = xlsChart->easy_getValueYAxis();
    xlsYAxis->getLineColorFormat()->setLineColor(Color::SteelBlue);
    xlsYAxis->getLineStyleFormat()->setDashType(LineStyleFormat::DASH_TYPE_LONG_DASH);
    xlsYAxis->getLineStyleFormat()->setWidth(0.25f);
    xlsYAxis->getFontFormat()->setForeground(Color::Blue);

    // Fomat chart series
    xlsChart->easy_getSeriesAt(0)->getFillFormat()->setBackground(Color::RoyalBlue);
    xlsChart->easy_getSeriesAt(1)->getFillFormat()->setBackground(Color::Yellow);
    xlsChart->easy_getSeriesAt(2)->getFillFormat()->setBackground(Color::LightGreen);

    // Export Excel file
    Console::WriteLine("Writing file C:\\Samples\\Tutorial23 - various Excel chart settings.xlsx.");
    workbook->easy_WriteXLSXFile("C:\\Samples\\Tutorial23 - various Excel chart settings.xlsx");

    // Confirm export of Excel file
    String ^sError = workbook->easy_getError();
    if (sError->Equals(""))
        Console::Write("\nFile successfully created. Press Enter to Exit...");
    else
        Console::Write(String::Concat("\nError encountered: ", sError, "\nPress Enter to Exit..."));

    // Dispose memory
    delete workbook;

    Console::ReadLine();

    return 0;
}

EasyXLS Excel libraries:
Excel Library for C++
full COM+ version to import, export or convert Excel files
Excel Writer for C++
COM+ version to create and export Excel files

File formats:
Office 365 MS Excel 2021 - 2024 MS Excel 2007 - 2019 MS Excel 97 - 2003

How to set chart type, chart area, plot area, X axis, Y axis, series and legend in C++

EasyXLS using COM+ for projects without .NET Framework

Step 1: Download and install EasyXLS Excel Library for COM+

Step 2: Verify if EasyXLS is registered

See also

Step 3: License file setup

Step 4: Run C++ code that sets various chart properties in Excel file

EasyXLS in C++.NET projects using .NET Framework

Step 1: Download EasyXLS Excel Library for .NET

Step 2: License file setup

Step 3: Include EasyXLS library into project

Step 4: Run C++ code that sets various chart properties in Excel file

Related sections

See also

Related methods

Related constants

EasyXLS Excel libraries:

File formats: