How to set trendlines for Excel chart series in C#, VB.NET?

4 mins read

This article explains how to set a shadow to the plot area in a chart using WinForms XlsIO.

What is Plot Area?

The plot area in a chart or graph refers to the area of the chart that graphically displays the data being charted. The plot area of a 2D chart contains the data markers, gridlines, data labels, trendlines, and optional chart items placed in the chart area. Whereas the plot area of a 3D chart contains all the above items along with walls, floor, axes, axis titles, and tick-mark labels in the chart.

$C:\Users\kondurukeerthi.kondu\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Word\Set_Shadow.png$

Shadow for plot area set using XlsIO

Code snippet to set shadow to plot area in chart using XlsIO

// Set shadow to plot area
chart.PlotArea.Shadow.ShadowColor = System.Drawing.Color.DarkOrange;
chart.PlotArea.Shadow.Size = 100;
chart.PlotArea.Shadow.Angle = 45;
chart.PlotArea.Shadow.Distance = 10;

Steps to add shadow to plot area in chart

Initialize chart

Create a chart object by calling the worksheet.Charts.Add method and specify the chart type to ExcelChartType.Line enum value.

// Create the chart
IChartShape chart = worksheet.Charts.Add();
// Set chart type to Line
chart.ChartType = ExcelChartType.Line;

Assign data

Set a range of data from the worksheet to chart’s DataRange property. To plot the series values in column and categories in row, set chart’s IsSeriesInRows property to false.

// Set region of chart data
chart.DataRange = worksheet["A1:D6"];
// Set chart series in column for assigned data region
chart.IsSeriesInRows = false;

Apply chart elements

Add basic chart elements like the chart title, legend and data labels.

ChartTitle of the chart object.
Set TRUE to the chart’s HasLegend property, to show the legend.

// Set chart Title
chart.ChartTitle = "Line Chart";
// Set Legend
chart.HasLegend = true;
chart.Legend.Position = ExcelLegendPosition.Bottom;
// Set dataLabels
IChartSerie serie1 = chart.Series[0];              
serie1.DataPoints.DefaultDataPoint.DataLabels.IsValue = true;

Set shadow to plot area

Set shadow to plot area in chart using properties in IShadow.

// Set shadow to plot area
chart.PlotArea.Shadow.ShadowColor = System.Drawing.Color.DarkOrange;
chart.PlotArea.Shadow.Size = 100;
chart.PlotArea.Shadow.Angle = 45;
chart.PlotArea.Shadow.Distance = 10;

Applicable properties for a shadow of plot area in chart

Basic properties applicable for a shadow of plot area in a chart

1. Angle

2. Blur

3. Distance

4. HasCustomShadowStyle

5. ShadowColor

6. ShadowInnerPresets

7. ShadowOuterPresets

8. ShadowPrespectivePresets

9. Size

10. Transperency

Note:

We can set shadow to plot area in chart using CustomShadowStyles method as well.

Download Complete Sample

Download input file with data

The following C#/VB complete code snippet explains how to set shadow to plot area in chart using XlsIO.

using Syncfusion.XlsIO;
using System.Reflection;
using System.IO;
 
namespace ChartSample
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            using (ExcelEngine excelEngine = new ExcelEngine())
            {
                IApplication application = excelEngine.Excel;
                application.DefaultVersion = ExcelVersion.Excel2016;
 
                // Open existing workbook with data entered
                Assembly assembly = typeof(Program).GetTypeInfo().Assembly;
                Stream fileStream = assembly.GetManifestResourceStream("ChartSample.InputTemplate.xlsx");
                IWorkbook workbook = application.Workbooks.Open(fileStream);
                IWorksheet worksheet = workbook.Worksheets[0];
 
                // Initialize chart
                IChartShape chart = worksheet.Charts.Add();
                chart.ChartType = ExcelChartType.Line;
 
                // Assign data
                chart.DataRange = worksheet["A1:D6"];
                chart.IsSeriesInRows = false;
 
                // Apply chart elements
                // Set chart title
                chart.ChartTitle = "Line Chart";
 
                // Set legend
                chart.HasLegend = true;
                chart.Legend.Position = ExcelLegendPosition.Bottom;
 
                // Set dataLabels
                IChartSerie serie1 = chart.Series[0];
                IChartSerie serie2 = chart.Series[1];
                IChartSerie serie3 = chart.Series[2];
 
                serie1.DataPoints.DefaultDataPoint.DataLabels.IsValue = true;
                serie2.DataPoints.DefaultDataPoint.DataLabels.IsValue = true;
                serie3.DataPoints.DefaultDataPoint.DataLabels.IsValue = true;
 
                // Set shadow to plot area
                chart.PlotArea.Shadow.ShadowColor = System.Drawing.Color.DarkOrange;
                chart.PlotArea.Shadow.Size = 100;
                chart.PlotArea.Shadow.Angle = 45;
                chart.PlotArea.Shadow.Distance = 10;
              
                // Positioning the chart in the worksheet
                chart.TopRow = 8;
                chart.LeftColumn = 1;
                chart.BottomRow = 23;
                chart.RightColumn = 8;
 
                // Saving the workbook
                Stream stream = File.Create("Output.xlsx");
                workbook.SaveAs(stream);
            }
        }
    }
}

Imports Syncfusion.XlsIO
Imports System.Reflection
Imports System.IO
 
Namespace ChartSample
 
    Class Program
 
        Private Shared Sub Main(ByVal args() As String)
            Dim excelEngine As ExcelEngine = New ExcelEngine
            Dim application As IApplication = excelEngine.Excel
            application.DefaultVersion = ExcelVersion.Excel2016
 
            'Open existing workbook with data entered
            Dim assembly As Assembly = GetType(Program).GetTypeInfo.Assembly
            Dim fileStream As Stream = assembly.GetManifestResourceStream("ChartSample.InputTemplate.xlsx")
            Dim workbook As IWorkbook = application.Workbooks.Open(fileStream)
            Dim worksheet As IWorksheet = workbook.Worksheets(0)
 
            'Initialize chart
            Dim chart As IChartShape = worksheet.Charts.Add
            chart.ChartType = ExcelChartType.Line
 
            'Assign data
            chart.DataRange = worksheet("A1:D6")
            chart.IsSeriesInRows = False
 
            'Apply chart elements
            'Set chart title
            chart.ChartTitle = "Line Chart"
 
            'Set legend
            chart.HasLegend = True
            chart.Legend.Position = ExcelLegendPosition.Bottom
 
            'Set datalabels
            Dim serie1 As IChartSerie = chart.Series(0)
            Dim serie2 As IChartSerie = chart.Series(1)
            Dim serie3 As IChartSerie = chart.Series(2)
 
            serie1.DataPoints.DefaultDataPoint.DataLabels.IsValue = True
            serie2.DataPoints.DefaultDataPoint.DataLabels.IsValue = True
            serie3.DataPoints.DefaultDataPoint.DataLabels.IsValue = True
 
            'Set shadow to plot area
            chart.PlotArea.Shadow.ShadowColor = System.Drawing.Color.DarkOrange
            chart.PlotArea.Shadow.Size = 100
            chart.PlotArea.Shadow.Angle = 45
            chart.PlotArea.Shadow.Distance = 10
 
            'Positioning the chart in the worksheet
            chart.TopRow = 8
            chart.LeftColumn = 1
            chart.BottomRow = 23
            chart.RightColumn = 8
 
            'Saving the workbook
            Dim stream As Stream = File.Create("Output.xlsx")
            workbook.SaveAs(stream)
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed learning about how to set trendlines for Excel chart series in C#, VB.NET.

You can refer to our WinForms Excel’s feature tour page to know about its other groundbreaking feature representations. You can also explore our WinForms Excel documentation to understand how to present and manipulate data.

For current customers, you can check out our WinForms components from the License and Downloads page. If you are new to Syncfusion, you can try our 30-day free trial to check out our WinForms Excel and other WinForms components.

If you have any queries or require clarifications, please let us know in comments below. You can also contact us through our support forums, Direct-Trac, or feedback portal. We are always happy to assist you!

Did you find this information helpful?

Yes

Comments (0)

How to set trendlines for Excel chart series in C#, VB.NET?

Access denied