EasyXLS

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

EasyXLS Excel library can be used to export Excel files in C#. The library works with .NET Framework or .NET Core platform.

Step 1: Download EasyXLS Excel Library for .NET

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

Download EasyXLS™ Excel Library for C#

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 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 3: Create a C# project

If don't have a project, create one as ASP.NET web application, windows forms app, console application, class library or service.

Step 4: Include EasyXLS library into project

EasyXLS.dll must be added as reference 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.

Add EasyXLS reference

Step 5: 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.

/* -------------------------------------------------------------
 * 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.
 * ------------------------------------------------------------- */

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using EasyXLS;
using EasyXLS.Constants;
using EasyXLS.Charts;
using EasyXLS.Drawings.Formatting;

public class Tutorial23
{
    [STAThread]
    static void Main()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Tutorial 23\n-----------\n");

        // Create an instance of the class that exports Excel files
        ExcelDocument workbook = new ExcelDocument();
    
        // Create an worksheet
        workbook.easy_addWorksheet("SourceData");

        // Get the table of data for the worksheet
        ExcelTable xlsTable1 = ((ExcelWorksheet)workbook.easy_getSheet("SourceData")).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
        ExcelChart xlsChart = ((ExcelChartSheet)workbook.easy_getSheetAt(1)).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("\nError encountered: " + sError + "\nPress Enter to Exit...");

        // Dispose memory
        workbook.Dispose();

        Console.ReadLine();
    }
}

EasyXLS Excel libraries:

.NET
Excel Library for C#
full .NET version to import, export or convert Excel files
Excel Writer for C#
.NET version to create and export Excel files
Download EasyXLS™ Excel Library for C#

File formats:

Office 365
MS Excel 2021 - 2024
MS Excel 2007 - 2019
MS Excel 97 - 2003
XLSXXLSMXLSBXLS
XMLHTMLCSVTXT