Chart Axis in Excel document

14 Oct 202422 minutes to read

Charts typically have two axes that are used to measure and categorize data.

• Horizontal axis (also known as category axis or x axis).
• Vertical axis (also known as value axis or y axis).

Using XlsIO, you can customize the axis in the chart.

Add

The following code snippet illustrates how to add the chart axis title.

C# [Cross-platform]

//Set the axis title
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Title = "Months";
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Title = "Precipitation,in.";
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Title = "Temperature,deg.F";

C# [Windows-specific]

//Set the axis title
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Title = "Months";
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Title = "Precipitation,in.";
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Title = "Temperature,deg.F";

VB.NET [Windows-specific]

'Set the axis title
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Title = "Months"
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Title = "Precipitation,in."
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Title = "Temperature,deg.F"

Formatting

Border

The following code snippet illustrates how to format the border of the chart axis.

C# [Cross-platform]

//Set the border 
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Border.LinePattern = ExcelChartLinePattern.CircleDot;
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Border.LineColor = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.Blue;
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Border.LineWeight = ExcelChartLineWeight.Hairline;

chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Border.LinePattern = ExcelChartLinePattern.CircleDot;
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Border.LineColor = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.Blue;
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Border.LineWeight = ExcelChartLineWeight.Hairline;

chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Border.LinePattern = ExcelChartLinePattern.Solid;
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Border.LineColor = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.Blue;
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Border.LineWeight = ExcelChartLineWeight.Hairline;

C# [Windows-specific]

//Set the border 
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Border.LinePattern = ExcelChartLinePattern.CircleDot;
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Border.LineColor = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.Blue;
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Border.LineWeight = ExcelChartLineWeight.Hairline;

chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Border.LinePattern = ExcelChartLinePattern.CircleDot;
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Border.LineColor = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.Blue;
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Border.LineWeight = ExcelChartLineWeight.Hairline;

chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Border.LinePattern = ExcelChartLinePattern.Solid;
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Border.LineColor = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.Blue;
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Border.LineWeight = ExcelChartLineWeight.Hairline;

VB.NET [Windows-specific]

'Set the border 
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Border.LinePattern = ExcelChartLinePattern.CircleDot
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Border.LineColor = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.Blue
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Border.LineWeight = ExcelChartLineWeight.Hairline

chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Border.LinePattern = ExcelChartLinePattern.CircleDot
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Border.LineColor = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.Blue
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Border.LineWeight = ExcelChartLineWeight.Hairline

chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Border.LinePattern = ExcelChartLinePattern.Solid
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Border.LineColor = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.Blue
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Border.LineWeight = ExcelChartLineWeight.Hairline

Font

The following code snippet illustrates how to format the font of the chart axis.

C# [Cross-platform]

//Set the font
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.Red;
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.FontName = "Calibri";
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.Bold = true;
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.Size = 8;

chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.Red;
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.FontName = "Calibri";
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.Bold = true;
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.Size = 8;

chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.Red;
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.FontName = "Calibri";
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.Bold = true;
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.Size = 8;

C# [Windows-specific]

//Set the font
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.Red;
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.FontName = "Calibri";
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.Bold = true;
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.Size = 8;

chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.Red;
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.FontName = "Calibri";
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.Bold = true;
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.Size = 8;

chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.Red;
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.FontName = "Calibri";
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.Bold = true;
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.Size = 8;

VB.NET [Windows-specific]

'Set the font
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.Red
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.FontName = "Calibri"
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.Bold = true
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.Size = 8

chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.Red
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.FontName = "Calibri"
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.Bold = true
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.Size = 8

chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.Red
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.FontName = "Calibri"
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.Bold = true
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.Size = 8

Rotation

The following code snippet illustrates how to rotate the text angle for the axis title area.

C# [Cross-platform]

//Set the rotation
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.TitleArea.TextRotationAngle = 270;
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.TitleArea.TextRotationAngle = 90;

C# [Windows-specific]

//Set the rotation
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.TitleArea.TextRotationAngle = 270;
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.TitleArea.TextRotationAngle = 90;

VB.NET [Windows-specific]

'Set the rotation
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.TitleArea.TextRotationAngle = 270
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.TitleArea.TextRotationAngle = 90

Number Format

The following code snippet illustrates how to set the number format in the chart axis.

C# [Cross-platform]

//Set the number format
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.NumberFormat = "0.0";
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.NumberFormat = "0.0";

C# [Windows-specific]

//Set the number format
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.NumberFormat = "0.0";
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.NumberFormat = "0.0";

VB.NET [Windows-specific]

'Set the number format
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.NumberFormat = "0.0"
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.NumberFormat = "0.0"

Axis Settings

Maximum Value

The following code snippet illustrates how to set the maximum value in the chart axis.

C# [Cross-platform]

//Set maximum value
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.MaximumValue = 14.0;
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.MaximumValue = 49.5;

C# [Windows-specific]

//Set maximum value
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.MaximumValue = 14.0;
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.MaximumValue = 49.5;

VB.NET [Windows-specific]

'Set maximum value
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.MaximumValue = 14.0
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.MaximumValue = 49.5

Minimum Value

The following code snippet illustrates how to set the minimum value in the chart axis.

C# [Cross-platform]

//Set minimum value
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.MinimumValue = 0;
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.MinimumValue = 46.5;

C# [Windows-specific]

//Set minimum value
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.MinimumValue = 0;
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.MinimumValue = 46.5;

VB.NET [Windows-specific]

'Set minimum value
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.MinimumValue = 0
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.MinimumValue = 46.5

NOTE

1) The MinimumValue and MaximumValue properties can only be read when they are explicitly set; otherwise, the default value of 0 is returned. This is the behavior of XlsIO.
2) When the IsAutoMax and IsAutoMin properties are set to true, the chart automatically determines its default maximum and minimum values.

Gridline Visibility

The following code snippet illustrates how to hide or show major and minor gridlines.

C# [Cross-platform]

//Showing major gridlines
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.HasMajorGridLines = true;

//Hiding minor gridlines
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.HasMinorGridLines = false;

C# [Windows-specific]

//Showing major gridlines
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.HasMajorGridLines = true;

//Hiding minor gridlines
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.HasMinorGridLines = false;

VB.NET [Windows-specific]

'Showing major gridlines
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.HasMajorGridLines = True

'Hiding minor gridlines
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.HasMinorGridLines = False

Max cross

The following code snippet illustrates how to set the max cross in the chart axis.

C# [Cross-platform]

//Set maxcross
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.IsMaxCross = true;

C# [Windows-specific]

//Set maxcross
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.IsMaxCross = true;

VB.NET [Windows-specific]

'Set maxcross
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.IsMaxCross = true

Tick Mark

The following code snippet illustrates how to set the tick mark in the chart axis.

C# [Cross-platform]

//Set major tick mark
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.MajorTickMark = ExcelTickMark.TickMark_Inside;
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.MajorTickMark = ExcelTickMark.TickMark_Outside;
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.MajorTickMark = ExcelTickMark.TickMark_Outside;

C# [Windows-specific]

//Set major tick mark
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.MajorTickMark = ExcelTickMark.TickMark_Inside;
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.MajorTickMark = ExcelTickMark.TickMark_Outside;
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.MajorTickMark = ExcelTickMark.TickMark_Outside;

VB.NET [Windows-specific]

'Set major tick mark
chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.MajorTickMark = ExcelTickMark.TickMark_Inside
chart.PrimaryValueAxis.MajorTickMark = ExcelTickMark.TickMark_Outside
chart.SecondaryValueAxis.MajorTickMark = ExcelTickMark.TickMark_Outside

The complete code snippet illustrating the above options is shown below.

C# [Cross-platform]

using (ExcelEngine excelEngine = new ExcelEngine())
{
	IApplication application = excelEngine.Excel;
	application.DefaultVersion = ExcelVersion.Xlsx;
	FileStream inputStream = new FileStream(Path.GetFullPath(@"Data/InputTemplate.xlsx"), FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read);
	IWorkbook workbook = application.Workbooks.Open(inputStream);
	IWorksheet sheet = workbook.Worksheets[0];
	IChartShape chart = sheet.Charts[0];

	//Set the axis title
	chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Title = "Months";
	chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Title = "Precipitation,in.";
	chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Title = "Temperature,deg.F";

	//Set the border 
	chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Border.LinePattern = ExcelChartLinePattern.CircleDot;
	chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Border.LineColor = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.Blue;
	chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Border.LineWeight = ExcelChartLineWeight.Hairline;

	chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Border.LinePattern = ExcelChartLinePattern.CircleDot;
	chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Border.LineColor = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.Blue;
	chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Border.LineWeight = ExcelChartLineWeight.Hairline;

	chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Border.LinePattern = ExcelChartLinePattern.Solid;
	chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Border.LineColor = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.Blue;
	chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Border.LineWeight = ExcelChartLineWeight.Hairline;

	//Set the font
	chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.Red;
	chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.FontName = "Calibri";
	chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.Bold = true;
	chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.Size = 8;

	chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.Red;
	chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.FontName = "Calibri";
	chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.Bold = true;
	chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.Size = 8;

	chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.Red;
	chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.FontName = "Calibri";
	chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.Bold = true;
	chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.Size = 8;

	//Set the rotation
	chart.PrimaryValueAxis.TitleArea.TextRotationAngle = 270;
	chart.SecondaryValueAxis.TitleArea.TextRotationAngle = 90;

	//Set the number format
	chart.PrimaryValueAxis.NumberFormat = "0.0";
	chart.SecondaryValueAxis.NumberFormat = "0.0";

	//Set maximum value
	chart.PrimaryValueAxis.MaximumValue = 14.0;
	chart.SecondaryValueAxis.MaximumValue = 49.5;

	//Set minimum value
	chart.PrimaryValueAxis.MinimumValue = 0;
	chart.SecondaryValueAxis.MinimumValue = 46.5;

	//Set maxcross
	chart.SecondaryValueAxis.IsMaxCross = true;

	//Set major tick mark
	chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.MajorTickMark = ExcelTickMark.TickMark_Inside;
	chart.PrimaryValueAxis.MajorTickMark = ExcelTickMark.TickMark_Outside;
	chart.SecondaryValueAxis.MajorTickMark = ExcelTickMark.TickMark_Outside;

	//Showing major gridlines
	chart.PrimaryValueAxis.HasMajorGridLines = true;
	
	//Hiding minor gridlines
	chart.PrimaryValueAxis.HasMinorGridLines = false;

	//Saving the workbook as stream
	FileStream outputStream = new FileStream(Path.GetFullPath("Output/Output.xlsx"), FileMode.Create, FileAccess.ReadWrite);
	workbook.SaveAs(outputStream);

	//Dispose streams
	outputStream.Dispose();
	inputStream.Dispose();
}

C# [Windows-specific]

using (ExcelEngine excelEngine = new ExcelEngine())
{
    IApplication application = excelEngine.Excel;
    application.DefaultVersion = ExcelVersion.Xlsx;
    IWorkbook workbook = application.Workbooks.Open("InputTemplate.xlsx");
    IWorksheet worksheet = workbook.Worksheets[0];
    IChartShape chart = worksheet.Charts[0];

    //Set the axis title
    chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Title = "Months";
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Title = "Precipitation,in.";
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Title = "Temperature,deg.F";

    //Set the border 
    chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Border.LinePattern = ExcelChartLinePattern.CircleDot;
    chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Border.LineColor = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.Blue;
    chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Border.LineWeight = ExcelChartLineWeight.Hairline;

    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Border.LinePattern = ExcelChartLinePattern.CircleDot;
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Border.LineColor = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.Blue;
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Border.LineWeight = ExcelChartLineWeight.Hairline;

    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Border.LinePattern = ExcelChartLinePattern.Solid;
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Border.LineColor = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.Blue;
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Border.LineWeight = ExcelChartLineWeight.Hairline;

    //Set the font
    chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.Red;
    chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.FontName = "Calibri";
    chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.Bold = true;
    chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.Size = 8;

    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.Red;
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.FontName = "Calibri";
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.Bold = true;
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.Size = 8;

    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.Red;
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.FontName = "Calibri";
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.Bold = true;
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.Size = 8;

    //Set the rotation
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.TitleArea.TextRotationAngle = 270;
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.TitleArea.TextRotationAngle = 90;

    //Set the number format
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.NumberFormat = "0.0";
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.NumberFormat = "0.0";

    //Set maximum value
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.MaximumValue = 14.0;
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.MaximumValue = 49.5;

    //Set minimum value
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.MinimumValue = 0;
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.MinimumValue = 46.5;

    //Set maxcross
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.IsMaxCross = true;

    //Set major tick mark
    chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.MajorTickMark = ExcelTickMark.TickMark_Inside;
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.MajorTickMark = ExcelTickMark.TickMark_Outside;
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.MajorTickMark = ExcelTickMark.TickMark_Outside;

    //Showing major gridlines
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.HasMajorGridLines = true;
    
    //Hiding minor gridlines
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.HasMinorGridLines = false;

    //Saving the workbook
    workbook.SaveAs("Output.xlsx");
}

VB.NET [Windows-specific]

Using excelEngine As New ExcelEngine()
    Dim application As IApplication = excelEngine.Excel
    application.DefaultVersion = ExcelVersion.Xlsx
    Dim workbook As IWorkbook = application.Workbooks.Open("InputTemplate.xlsx")
    Dim worksheet As IWorksheet = workbook.Worksheets(0)
    Dim chart As IChartShape = worksheet.Charts(0)

    'Set the axis title
    chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Title = "Months"
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Title = "Precipitation,in."
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Title = "Temperature,deg.F"

    'Set the border 
    chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Border.LinePattern = ExcelChartLinePattern.CircleDot
    chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Border.LineColor = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.Blue
    chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Border.LineWeight = ExcelChartLineWeight.Hairline

    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Border.LinePattern = ExcelChartLinePattern.CircleDot
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Border.LineColor = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.Blue
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Border.LineWeight = ExcelChartLineWeight.Hairline

    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Border.LinePattern = ExcelChartLinePattern.Solid
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Border.LineColor = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.Blue
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Border.LineWeight = ExcelChartLineWeight.Hairline

    'Set the font
    chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.Red
    chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.FontName = "Calibri"
    chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.Bold = True
    chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.Font.Size = 8

    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.Red
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.FontName = "Calibri"
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.Bold = True
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.Font.Size = 8

    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.Red
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.FontName = "Calibri"
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.Bold = True
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.Font.Size = 8

    'Set the rotation
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.TitleArea.TextRotationAngle = 270
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.TitleArea.TextRotationAngle = 90

    'Set the number format
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.NumberFormat = "0.0"
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.NumberFormat = "0.0"

    'Set maximum value
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.MaximumValue = 14.0
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.MaximumValue = 49.5

    'Set minimum value
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.MinimumValue = 0
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.MinimumValue = 46.5

    'Set maxcross
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.IsMaxCross = True

    'Set major tick mark
    chart.PrimaryCategoryAxis.MajorTickMark = ExcelTickMark.TickMark_Inside
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.MajorTickMark = ExcelTickMark.TickMark_Outside
    chart.SecondaryValueAxis.MajorTickMark = ExcelTickMark.TickMark_Outside

    'Showing major gridlines
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.HasMajorGridLines = True

    'Hiding minor gridlines
    chart.PrimaryValueAxis.HasMinorGridLines = False

    'Saving the workbook
    workbook.SaveAs("Output.xlsx")
End Using

A complete working example for the chart axis in C# is present on this GitHub page.