How to: Create Excel 2016 Charts
- 8 minutes to read
Use the Worksheet.Charts.Add method to add a chart to a worksheet. A ChartType enumeration member defines the chart’s type.
Box and Whisker
Use the Series.LayoutOptions.BoxAndWhisker property to define options for a box and whisker data series.
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| BoxAndWhiskerSeriesOptions.ShowInnerPoints | Specifies whether to show inner data points that lie between the lower and upper whisker lines. |
| BoxAndWhiskerSeriesOptions.ShowOutlierPoints | Specifies whether to show outlier data points that lie either below the lower whisker line or above the upper whisker line. |
| BoxAndWhiskerSeriesOptions.ShowMeanLine | Specifies whether to display a line that connects the means of boxes in the series. |
| BoxAndWhiskerSeriesOptions.ShowMeanMarkers | Specifies whether to show the mean markers. |
| BoxAndWhiskerSeriesOptions.QuartileCalculationMethod | Defines the quartile calculation method. |
// Create a box and whisker chart and specify its location.
Chart chart = worksheet.Charts.Add(ChartType.BoxAndWhisker, worksheet["B2:E17"]);
chart.TopLeftCell = worksheet.Cells["G2"];
chart.BottomRightCell = worksheet.Cells["N17"];
// Set the minimum and maximum values for the value axis.
Axis axis = chart.PrimaryAxes[1];
axis.Scaling.AutoMax = false;
axis.Scaling.Max = 70;
axis.Scaling.AutoMin = false;
axis.Scaling.Min = 40;
// Specify series options.
foreach (Series series in chart.Series)
{
var options = series.LayoutOptions.BoxAndWhisker;
options.ShowInnerPoints = true;
options.ShowMeanLine = false;
options.ShowOutlierPoints = true;
options.ShowMeanMarkers = true;
options.QuartileCalculationMethod = QuartileCalculationMethod.ExclusiveMedian;
}
// Add the chart title.
chart.Title.Visible = true;
chart.Title.SetValue("Academic Performance Distribution");
Waterfall
Use the Series.LayoutOptions.Waterfall property to specify options for a waterfall data series.
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| WaterfallSeriesOptions.ShowConnectorLines | Specifies whether to display connector lines between data points. |
| WaterfallSeriesOptions.SubtotalDataPoints | Returns a collection of total points. |
// Create a waterfall chart and specify its location.
Chart chart = worksheet.Charts.Add(ChartType.Waterfall, worksheet["B2:C7"]);
chart.TopLeftCell = worksheet.Cells["E2"];
chart.BottomRightCell = worksheet.Cells["L17"];
// Hide the major gridlines for the value axis.
chart.PrimaryAxes[1].MajorGridlines.Visible = false;
// Specify series options.
var options = chart.Series[0].LayoutOptions.Waterfall;
options.ShowConnectorLines = true;
// Set the third data point as total.
options.SubtotalDataPoints.Add(2);
// Set the last data point as total.
options.SubtotalDataPoints.Add(5);
// Add the chart title.
chart.Title.Visible = true;
chart.Title.SetValue("Income Statement");
Histogram
Use the Series.LayoutOptions.Histogram property to specify options for a histogram data series.
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| HistogramSeriesOptions.BinType | Specifies how to calculate bins for a histogram. |
| HistogramSeriesOptions.BinCount | Defines the number of histogram bins. |
| HistogramSeriesOptions.BinWidth | Defines the bin size. |
| HistogramSeriesOptions.OverflowType, HistogramSeriesOptions.OverflowValue |
Allow you to create a bin for all values that are above a specific value. |
| HistogramSeriesOptions.UnderflowType, HistogramSeriesOptions.UnderflowValue |
Allow you to create a bin for all values that are below or equal to a specific value. |
| HistogramSeriesOptions.IntervalClosedSide | Specifies the bin closed side. |
// Create a histogram chart and specify its location.
Chart chart = worksheet.Charts.Add(ChartType.Histogram, worksheet["B2:B21"]);
chart.TopLeftCell = worksheet.Cells["D2"];
chart.BottomRightCell = worksheet.Cells["K18"];
// Specify histogram series options.
var options = chart.Series[0].LayoutOptions.Histogram;
options.BinType = HistogramBinType.BinWidth;
options.BinWidth = 24;
// Specify the gap width.
chart.Series[0].GapWidth = 10;
// Add the chart title.
chart.Title.Visible = true;
chart.Title.SetValue("Exam Score Distribution");
Pareto
Use the Series.LayoutOptions.Histogram property to specify bin options for a Pareto data series.
See histogram series options.
// Create a Pareto chart and specify its location.
Chart chart = worksheet.Charts.Add(ChartType.Pareto, worksheet["B2:C7"]);
chart.TopLeftCell = worksheet.Cells["E2"];
chart.BottomRightCell = worksheet.Cells["L17"];
// Specify series options.
var options = chart.Series[0].LayoutOptions.Histogram;
options.BinType = HistogramBinType.ByCategory;
// Specify the gap width.
chart.Series[0].GapWidth = 15;
// Add the chart title.
chart.Title.Visible = true;
chart.Title.SetValue("Key Causes of Late Projects");
Funnel
// Create a funnel chart and specify its location.
Chart chart = worksheet.Charts.Add(ChartType.Funnel, worksheet["B2:C6"]);
chart.TopLeftCell = worksheet.Cells["E2"];
chart.BottomRightCell = worksheet.Cells["L18"];
// Add the chart title.
chart.Title.Visible = true;
chart.Title.SetValue("Website Visitor Trend");
Sunburst
// Create a sunburst chart and specify its location.
Chart chart = worksheet.Charts.Add(ChartType.Sunburst, worksheet["B2:E18"]);
chart.TopLeftCell = worksheet.Cells["G2"];
chart.BottomRightCell = worksheet.Cells["N19"];
// Hide the chart title.
chart.Title.Visible = false;
Treemap
Use the Series.LayoutOptions.Treemap property to specify options for a treemap data series.
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| TreemapSeriesOptions.ParentLabelLayout | Defines the layout of parent labels. |
// Create a treemap chart and specify its location.
Chart chart = worksheet.Charts.Add(ChartType.Treemap, worksheet["B2:E14"]);
chart.TopLeftCell = worksheet.Cells["G2"];
chart.BottomRightCell = worksheet.Cells["N17"];
// Specify series options.
var options = chart.Series[0].LayoutOptions.Treemap;
options.ParentLabelLayout = TreemapParentLabelLayout.Banner;
// Add the chart title.
chart.Title.Visible = true;
chart.Title.SetValue("Daily Food Sales");
Chart Style and Colors
Use the following members to change chart appearance:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Chart.Style | Specifies the chart style. Supported styles are from Style1 to Style9. |
| Chart.ColorPalette | Defines chart colors. |
| Chart.LoadStyle | Allows you to apply a custom style to the chart. |
The example below demonstrates how to create a waterfall chart and specify its colors and style.
// Create a waterfall chart and specify its location.
Chart chart = worksheet.Charts.Add(ChartType.Waterfall, worksheet["B2:C7"]);
chart.TopLeftCell = worksheet.Cells["E2"];
chart.BottomRightCell = worksheet.Cells["L17"];
// Hide the major gridlines for the value axis.
chart.PrimaryAxes[1].MajorGridlines.Visible = false;
// Specify series options.
var options = chart.Series[0].LayoutOptions.Waterfall;
// Display connector lines.
options.ShowConnectorLines = true;
// Set the third data point as the total.
options.SubtotalDataPoints.Add(2);
// Set the last data point as the total.
options.SubtotalDataPoints.Add(5);
// Specify the chart style.
chart.Style = ChartStyle.Style3;
// Change chart colors.
chart.ColorPalette = ChartColorPalette.Colorful4;
// Add the chart title.
chart.Title.Visible = true;
chart.Title.SetValue("Income Statement");
Limitations
| Chart Type | Limitations |
|---|---|
| All charts | 1. The WPF Spreadsheet control can display only a linear gradient fill with two color stops for a chart area. Other gradient types are replaced with a solid fill. 2. A pattern fill applied to a chart area or data series is replaced with a solid fill. |
| Box and whisker | 1. Data labels are not displayed. 2. The Series.GapWidth property value is ignored. |
| Waterfall | Charts with empty data values are rendered incorrectly. |
| Treemap | 1. The Overlapping layout option is not supported. If you enable this option for a chart, the Spreadsheet control displays parent labels as banners above the categories. 2. Banner labels have no background fill. |
See Also