# Manage Chart Workbooks in Presentations Using C++

> Discover Aspose.Slides for C++: effortlessly manage chart workbooks in PowerPoint and OpenDocument formats to streamline your presentation data.

Source: https://docs.aspose.com/slides/cpp/chart-workbook/
Updated: 2026-08-13


## **Overview**

This article explains how to work with chart workbooks in Aspose.Slides. It shows how to read and write chart data through workbook streams, use workbook cells as chart data labels, access worksheet collections, and specify the data source type for chart values.

It also covers working with external workbooks as chart data sources. The examples demonstrate how to create and assign an external workbook, retrieve the path of an external workbook linked to a chart, and edit chart data when the workbook is available.

## **Read and Write Chart Data from a Workbook**

Aspose.Slides provides the [ReadWorkbookStream](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/cpp/aspose.slides.charts/ichartdata/readworkbookstream/) and [WriteWorkbookStream](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/cpp/aspose.slides.charts/ichartdata/writeworkbookstream/) methods that allow you to read and write chart data workbooks (containing chart data edited with Aspose.Cells). **Note** that the chart data has to be organized in the same manner or must have a structure similar to the source.

``` cpp
#include <DOM/Chart/Chart.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartCategoryCollection.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartData.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartSeriesCollection.h>
#include <DOM/IShapeCollection.h>
#include <DOM/ISlide.h>
#include <DOM/ISlideCollection.h>
#include <DOM/Presentation.h>
#include <system/io/memory_stream.h>
using namespace Aspose::Slides;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Charts;
using namespace System::IO;

auto pres = System::MakeObject<Presentation>(u"chart.pptx");

auto chart = System::ExplicitCast<Chart>(pres->get_Slides()->idx_get(0)->get_Shapes()->idx_get(0));
auto data = chart->get_ChartData();

System::SharedPtr<System::IO::MemoryStream> stream = data->ReadWorkbookStream();
data->get_Series()->Clear();
data->get_Categories()->Clear();

stream->set_Position(0);
data->WriteWorkbookStream(stream);
```

This C++ code demonstrates the operation to set a chart data workbook:

``` cpp
#include <DOM/Chart/ChartType.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartData.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartDataWorkbook.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartSeries.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartSeriesCollection.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartSeriesGroup.h>
#include <DOM/IChart.h>
#include <DOM/IShapeCollection.h>
#include <DOM/ISlide.h>
#include <DOM/ISlideCollection.h>
#include <DOM/Presentation.h>
#include <Export/SaveFormat.h>
#include <system/io/file.h>
#include <system/io/memory_stream.h>
#include <system/smart_ptr.h>
using namespace Aspose::Slides;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Charts;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Export;
using namespace System;
using namespace System::IO;

auto pres = MakeObject<Presentation>(u"Test.pptx");

auto chart = pres->get_Slides()->idx_get(0)->get_Shapes()->AddChart(ChartType::Pie, 50.0f, 50.0f, 500.0f, 400.0f);
chart->get_ChartData()->get_ChartDataWorkbook()->Clear(0);

// Read the workbook prepared in Excel (or in Aspose.Cells) and set it as the chart data workbook.
auto workbookData = File::ReadAllBytes(u"a1.xlsx");
auto workbookStream = MakeObject<MemoryStream>(workbookData);

chart->get_ChartData()->WriteWorkbookStream(workbookStream);

chart->get_ChartData()->SetRange(u"Sheet1!$A$1:$B$9");
auto series = chart->get_ChartData()->get_Series()->idx_get(0);
series->get_ParentSeriesGroup()->set_IsColorVaried(true);
pres->Save(u"response2.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
```

## **Set a WorkBook Cell as a Chart Data Label**

1. Create an instance of the [Presentation](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/cpp/aspose.slides/presentation/) class.
1. Get a slide's reference through its index.
1. Add a Bubble chart with some data.
1. Access the chart series.
1. Set the workbook cell as a data label.
1. Save the presentation.

This C++ code shows you to set a workbook cell as a chart data label:

``` cpp
#include <DOM/Chart/ChartType.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartData.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartDataCell.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartDataWorkbook.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartSeries.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartSeriesCollection.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IDataLabel.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IDataLabelCollection.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IDataLabelFormat.h>
#include <DOM/IChart.h>
#include <DOM/IShapeCollection.h>
#include <DOM/ISlide.h>
#include <DOM/ISlideCollection.h>
#include <DOM/Presentation.h>
#include <Export/SaveFormat.h>
#include <system/object_ext.h>
using namespace Aspose::Slides;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Charts;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Export;

System::String lbl0 = u"Label 0 cell value";
System::String lbl1 = u"Label 1 cell value";
System::String lbl2 = u"Label 2 cell value";

// Instantiates a Presentation class that represents a presentation file 
auto pres = System::MakeObject<Presentation>(u"chart2.pptx");

auto slide = pres->get_Slides()->idx_get(0);

auto chart = pres->get_Slides()->idx_get(0)->get_Shapes()->AddChart(ChartType::Bubble, 50.0f, 50.0f, 600.0f, 400.0f, true);

auto series = chart->get_ChartData()->get_Series();

series->idx_get(0)->get_Labels()->get_DefaultDataLabelFormat()->set_ShowLabelValueFromCell(true);

auto wb = chart->get_ChartData()->get_ChartDataWorkbook();

series->idx_get(0)->get_Labels()->idx_get(0)->set_ValueFromCell(wb->GetCell(0, u"A10", System::ObjectExt::Box<System::String>(lbl0)));
series->idx_get(0)->get_Labels()->idx_get(1)->set_ValueFromCell(wb->GetCell(0, u"A11", System::ObjectExt::Box<System::String>(lbl1)));
series->idx_get(0)->get_Labels()->idx_get(2)->set_ValueFromCell(wb->GetCell(0, u"A12", System::ObjectExt::Box<System::String>(lbl2)));

pres->Save(u"resultchart.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
```

## **Manage Worksheets**

This C++ code demonstrates an operation where the [IChartDataWorkbook::get_Worksheets](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/cpp/aspose.slides.charts/ichartdataworkbook/get_worksheets/) method is used to access a worksheet collection:

```c++
#include <DOM/Chart/ChartType.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartData.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartDataWorkbook.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartDataWorksheet.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartDataWorksheetCollection.h>
#include <DOM/IChart.h>
#include <DOM/IShapeCollection.h>
#include <DOM/ISlide.h>
#include <DOM/ISlideCollection.h>
#include <DOM/Presentation.h>
#include <system/console.h>
#include <system/enumerator_adapter.h>
using namespace Aspose::Slides;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Charts;
using namespace System;

auto pres = System::MakeObject<Presentation>();
auto slide = pres->get_Slides()->idx_get(0);
auto chart = slide->get_Shapes()->AddChart(ChartType::Pie, 50.0f, 50.0f, 400.0f, 500.0f);
auto workbook = chart->get_ChartData()->get_ChartDataWorkbook();
auto worksheets = workbook->get_Worksheets();

for (auto ws : System::IterateOver(worksheets))
    System::Console::WriteLine(ws->get_Name());
```

## **Specify the Data Source Type**

This C++ code shows you how to specify a type for a data source:

```c++
#include <DOM/Chart/ChartType.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/DataSourceType.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartData.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartDataWorkbook.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartDataCell.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartSeries.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartSeriesCollection.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IStringChartValue.h>
#include <DOM/IChart.h>
#include <DOM/IShapeCollection.h>
#include <DOM/ISlide.h>
#include <DOM/ISlideCollection.h>
#include <DOM/Presentation.h>
#include <Export/SaveFormat.h>
using namespace Aspose::Slides;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Charts;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Export;

auto pres = System::MakeObject<Presentation>();

auto chart = pres->get_Slides()->idx_get(0)->get_Shapes()->AddChart(ChartType::Column3D, 50.0f, 50.0f, 600.0f, 400.0f, true);
auto chartData = chart->get_ChartData();
auto val = chart->get_ChartData()->get_Series()->idx_get(0)->get_Name();

val->set_DataSourceType(DataSourceType::StringLiterals);
val->set_Data(System::ObjectExt::Box<System::String>(u"LiteralString"));
val = chartData->get_Series()->idx_get(1)->get_Name();
val->set_Data(chartData->get_ChartDataWorkbook()->GetCell(0, u"B1", System::ObjectExt::Box<System::String>(u"NewCell")));

pres->Save(u"pres.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
```

## **Detect Unsupported Embedded Workbook Formats**

Aspose.Slides does not support the Excel binary workbook (.xlsb) format that can be embedded in some charts. You can use the `get_EmbeddedWorkbookType` method on [IChartData](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/cpp/aspose.slides.charts/ichartdata/) together with the [WorkbookType](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/cpp/aspose.slides.charts/workbooktype/) enumeration to detect unsupported formats and skip those charts.

```cpp
#include <DOM/Chart/ChartDataSourceType.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/WorkbookType.h>
#include <DOM/IChart.h>
#include <DOM/ISlide.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartData.h>
#include <DOM/IShape.h>
#include <DOM/IShapeCollection.h>
#include <DOM/Presentation.h>
#include <system/enumerator_adapter.h>
#include <system/object_ext.h>
using namespace Aspose::Slides;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Charts;

auto presentation = System::MakeObject<Presentation>(u"sample.pptx");
auto slide = presentation->get_Slide(0);

for (auto&& shape : System::IterateOver(slide->get_Shapes()))
{
    if (!System::ObjectExt::Is<IChart>(shape))
    {
        continue;
    }

    auto chart = System::ExplicitCast<IChart>(shape);
    auto chartData = chart->get_ChartData();

    if (chartData->get_DataSourceType() == ChartDataSourceType::InternalWorkbook &&
        chartData->get_EmbeddedWorkbookType() == WorkbookType::WorkbookBinaryMacro)
    {
        // Embedded workbook is in .xlsb format, which is not supported.
        continue;
    }

    // Read or modify the chart workbook data here.
}
```

## **External Workbook**

{{% alert color="info" %}} 
In [Aspose.Slides](https://releases.aspose.com/slides/cpp/release-notes/2019/aspose-slides-for-cpp-19-4-release-notes/) 19.4, we implemented support for external workbooks as a data source for charts.
{{% /alert %}} 

### **Create an External Workbook**

Using the **`ReadWorkbookStream`** and **`SetExternalWorkbook`** methods, you can either create an external workbook from scratch or make an internal workbook external.

This C++ code demonstrates the external workbook creation process:

```c++
#include <DOM/Chart/ChartType.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartData.h>
#include <DOM/IChart.h>
#include <DOM/IShapeCollection.h>
#include <DOM/ISlide.h>
#include <DOM/ISlideCollection.h>
#include <DOM/Presentation.h>
#include <Export/SaveFormat.h>
#include <system/io/file_mode.h>
#include <system/io/file_stream.h>
#include <system/io/memory_stream.h>
#include <system/io/path.h>
using namespace Aspose::Slides;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Charts;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Export;
using namespace System::IO;

auto pres = System::MakeObject<Presentation>();

const System::String workbookPath = u"externalWorkbook1.xlsx";

auto chart = pres->get_Slides()->idx_get(0)->get_Shapes()->AddChart(ChartType::Pie, 50.0f, 50.0f, 400.0f, 600.0f);
auto chartData = chart->get_ChartData();

{
    System::SharedPtr<System::IO::FileStream> fileStream = System::MakeObject<System::IO::FileStream>(workbookPath, System::IO::FileMode::Create);

    System::ArrayPtr<uint8_t> workbookData = chartData->ReadWorkbookStream()->ToArray();
    fileStream->Write(workbookData, 0, workbookData->get_Length());
}

chartData->SetExternalWorkbook(System::IO::Path::GetFullPath(workbookPath));

pres->Save(u"externalWorkbook.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
```

### **Set an External Workbook**

Using the **`IChartData::SetExternalWorkbook`** method, you can assign an external workbook to a chart as its data source. This method can also be used to update a path to the external workbook (if the latter has been moved).

While you cannot edit the data in workbooks stored in remote locations or resources, you can still use such workbooks as an external data source. If the relative path for an external workbook is provided, it gets converted to a full path automatically.

This C++ code shows you how to set an external workbook:

```c++
#include <DOM/Chart/ChartType.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartData.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartCategoryCollection.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartDataPointCollection.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartDataWorkbook.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartSeries.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartSeriesCollection.h>
#include <DOM/IChart.h>
#include <DOM/IShapeCollection.h>
#include <DOM/ISlide.h>
#include <DOM/ISlideCollection.h>
#include <DOM/Presentation.h>
#include <Export/SaveFormat.h>
#include <system/io/path.h>
using namespace Aspose::Slides;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Charts;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Export;
using namespace System::IO;

auto pres = System::MakeObject<Presentation>();

auto chart = pres->get_Slides()->idx_get(0)->get_Shapes()->AddChart(ChartType::Pie, 50.0f, 50.0f, 400.0f, 600.0f, false);
auto chartData = chart->get_ChartData();

chartData->SetExternalWorkbook(System::IO::Path::GetFullPath(u"externalWorkbook.xlsx"));

chartData->get_Series()->Add(chartData->get_ChartDataWorkbook()->GetCell(0, u"B1"), ChartType::Pie);
auto dataPoints = chartData->get_Series()->idx_get(0)->get_DataPoints();
auto workbook = chartData->get_ChartDataWorkbook();
dataPoints->AddDataPointForPieSeries(workbook->GetCell(0, u"B2"));
dataPoints->AddDataPointForPieSeries(workbook->GetCell(0, u"B3"));
dataPoints->AddDataPointForPieSeries(workbook->GetCell(0, u"B4"));

auto categories = chartData->get_Categories();
categories->Add(workbook->GetCell(0, u"A2"));
categories->Add(workbook->GetCell(0, u"A3"));
categories->Add(workbook->GetCell(0, u"A4"));
pres->Save(u"Presentation_with_externalWorkbook.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
```

The `updateChartData` parameter (under the `SetExternalWorkbook` method) is used to specify whether an excel workbook will be loaded or not. 

* When `updateChartData` value is set to `false`, only the workbook path gets updated—the chart data will not be loaded or updated from the target workbook. You may want to use this setting when in a situation where the target workbook is nonexistent or unavailable. 
* When `updateChartData` value is set to `true` , the chart data gets updated from the target workbook.

```c++
#include <DOM/Chart/ChartData.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/ChartType.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartData.h>
#include <DOM/IShapeCollection.h>
#include <DOM/ISlide.h>
#include <DOM/ISlideCollection.h>
#include <DOM/Presentation.h>
#include <Export/SaveFormat.h>
using namespace Aspose::Slides;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Charts;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Export;

auto pres = System::MakeObject<Presentation>();
auto slide = pres->get_Slides()->idx_get(0);
auto chart = slide->get_Shapes()->AddChart(ChartType::Pie, 50.0f, 50.0f, 400.0f, 600.0f, true);
System::SharedPtr<IChartData> chartData = chart->get_ChartData();

System::SharedPtr<ChartData> concreteChartData = System::AsCast<ChartData>(chartData);
concreteChartData->SetExternalWorkbook(u"http://path/doesnt/exists", false);

pres->Save(u"SetExternalWorkbookWithUpdateChartData.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
```

### **Get the External Data Source Workbook Path of a Chart**

1. Create an instance of the [Presentation](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/cpp/aspose.slides/presentation/) class.
1. Get a slide's reference through its index.
1. Create an object for the chart shape.
1. Create an object for the source (`ChartDataSourceType`) type that represents the chart's data source.
1. Specify the relevant condition based on the source type being the same as the external workbook data source type.

This C++ code demonstrates the operation:

```c++
#include <DOM/Chart/ChartDataSourceType.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartData.h>
#include <DOM/IChart.h>
#include <DOM/IShapeCollection.h>
#include <DOM/ISlide.h>
#include <DOM/ISlideCollection.h>
#include <DOM/Presentation.h>
#include <Export/SaveFormat.h>
using namespace Aspose::Slides;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Charts;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Export;

auto pres = System::MakeObject<Presentation>(u"pres.pptx");

auto slide = pres->get_Slides()->idx_get(1);
auto chart = System::ExplicitCast<IChart>(slide->get_Shapes()->idx_get(0));
ChartDataSourceType sourceType = chart->get_ChartData()->get_DataSourceType();
if (sourceType == ChartDataSourceType::ExternalWorkbook)
{
    System::String path = chart->get_ChartData()->get_ExternalWorkbookPath();
}

// Saves the presentation
pres->Save(u"Result.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
```

### **Edit Chart Data**

You can edit the data in external workbooks the same way you make changes to the contents of internal workbooks. When an external workbook cannot be loaded, an exception is thrown.

This C++ code is an implementation of the described process:

```c++
#include <DOM/Chart/Chart.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/ChartData.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartDataCell.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartDataPoint.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartDataPointCollection.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartSeries.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IChartSeriesCollection.h>
#include <DOM/Chart/IDoubleChartValue.h>
#include <DOM/IChart.h>
#include <DOM/IShapeCollection.h>
#include <DOM/ISlide.h>
#include <DOM/ISlideCollection.h>
#include <DOM/Presentation.h>
#include <Export/SaveFormat.h>
#include <system/string.h>
using namespace Aspose::Slides;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Charts;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Export;
using namespace System;

const String templatePath = u"../templates/presentation.pptx";
	const String outPath = u"../out/presentation-out.pptx";
	

	System::SharedPtr<Presentation> pres = System::MakeObject<Presentation>(templatePath);
	System::SharedPtr<Aspose::Slides::Charts::IChart> chart = System::AsCast<Aspose::Slides::Charts::IChart>(pres->get_Slides()->idx_get(0)->get_Shapes()->idx_get(0));
	System::SharedPtr<Aspose::Slides::Charts::ChartData> chartData = System::ExplicitCast<Aspose::Slides::Charts::ChartData>(chart->get_ChartData());
	

	chartData->get_Series()->idx_get(0)->get_DataPoints()->idx_get(0)->get_Value()->get_AsCell()->set_Value(System::ObjectExt::Box<int32_t>(100));
	pres->Save(outPath, Aspose::Slides::Export::SaveFormat::Pptx);
```

### **Recover a Workbook from the Chart Cache**

If a chart uses an external workbook that is missing or unavailable, Aspose.Slides can reconstruct the chart workbook from the data cached in the presentation. Create [LoadOptions](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/cpp/aspose.slides/loadoptions/), configure it with [set_SpreadsheetOptions](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/cpp/aspose.slides/loadoptions/set_spreadsheetoptions/), and call [ISpreadsheetOptions::set_RecoverWorkbookFromChartCache](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/cpp/aspose.slides/ispreadsheetoptions/set_recoverworkbookfromchartcache/) with `true` before opening the presentation.

The following C++ example opens a presentation whose chart references an unavailable external workbook and accesses the recovered data through [IChart::get_ChartData](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/cpp/aspose.slides.charts/ichart/get_chartdata/) and [IChartData::get_ChartDataWorkbook](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/cpp/aspose.slides.charts/ichartdata/get_chartdataworkbook/):

```cpp
auto spreadsheetOptions = MakeObject<SpreadsheetOptions>();
spreadsheetOptions->set_RecoverWorkbookFromChartCache(true);

auto loadOptions = MakeObject<LoadOptions>();
loadOptions->set_SpreadsheetOptions(spreadsheetOptions);

auto presentation = MakeObject<Presentation>(u"presentation.pptx", loadOptions);

auto shape = presentation->get_Slide(0)->get_Shape(0);
auto chart = System::ExplicitCast<IChart>(shape);

auto recoveredWorkbook = chart->get_ChartData()->get_ChartDataWorkbook();

// Read or modify the recovered workbook data here.

presentation->Dispose();
```

If the external workbook is unavailable and recovery is disabled, Aspose.Slides throws a `System::InvalidOperationException`. Enable recovery only when using the cached chart data is an acceptable fallback, because the cache may not contain changes made to the external workbook after the presentation was last updated.

## **FAQ**

**Can I determine whether a specific chart is linked to an external or an embedded workbook?**

Yes. A chart has a [data source type](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/cpp/aspose.slides.charts/chartdata/get_datasourcetype/) and a [path to an external workbook](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/cpp/aspose.slides.charts/chartdata/get_externalworkbookpath/); if the source is an external workbook, you can read the full path to make sure an external file is being used.

**Are relative paths to external workbooks supported, and how are they stored?**

Yes. If you specify a relative path, it is automatically converted to an absolute path. This is convenient for project portability; however, be aware that the presentation will store the absolute path in the PPTX file.

**Can I use workbooks located on network resources/shares?**

Yes, such workbooks can be used as an external data source. However, editing remote workbooks directly from Aspose.Slides is not supported—they can only be used as a source.

**Does Aspose.Slides overwrite the external XLSX when saving the presentation?**

No. The presentation stores a [link to the external file](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/cpp/aspose.slides.charts/chartdata/get_externalworkbookpath/) and uses it for reading data. The external file itself is not modified when the presentation is saved.

**What should I do if the external file is password-protected?**

Aspose.Slides does not accept a password when linking. A common approach is to remove protection in advance or prepare a decrypted copy (for example, using [Aspose.Cells](/cells/cpp/)) and link to that copy.

**Can multiple charts reference the same external workbook?**

Yes. Each chart stores its own link. If they all point to the same file, updating that file will be reflected in each chart the next time the data is loaded.