Configure chart axes
Overview
Control the axes used by a chart so its scale and labels suit the data. Set bounds and intervals, choose number formats, and adjust titles or label rotation. Use automatic settings where appropriate or set explicit values when charts need a common scale.
Usage example
This C# example uses Aspose.Slides for .NET. Plot sales values 20 and 40 against an explicit value-axis range of 0 to 60, with a major interval of 20 and integer labels. Explicit scales help compare multiple charts. No input file is needed. It saves chart-axes.pptx and chart-axes.png. Install the library using the installation guide.
using System;
using Aspose.Slides;
using Aspose.Slides.Export;
using Aspose.Slides.Charts;
using var presentation = new Presentation();
var slide = presentation.Slides[0];
var chart = slide.Shapes.AddChart(ChartType.ClusteredColumn, 40, 40, 620, 350);
chart.HasTitle = false;
chart.ChartData.Series.Clear();
chart.ChartData.Categories.Clear();
var workbook = chart.ChartData.ChartDataWorkbook;
workbook.Clear(0);
var firstCategory = workbook.GetCell(0, 1, 0, "North");
var secondCategory = workbook.GetCell(0, 2, 0, "South");
chart.ChartData.Categories.Add(firstCategory);
chart.ChartData.Categories.Add(secondCategory);
var nameCell = workbook.GetCell(0, 0, 1, "Sales");
var series = chart.ChartData.Series.Add(nameCell, chart.Type);
var firstValue = workbook.GetCell(0, 1, 1, 20);
var secondValue = workbook.GetCell(0, 2, 1, 40);
series.DataPoints.AddDataPointForBarSeries(firstValue);
series.DataPoints.AddDataPointForBarSeries(secondValue);
var valueAxis = chart.Axes.VerticalAxis;
valueAxis.IsAutomaticMinValue = false;
valueAxis.MinValue = 0;
valueAxis.IsAutomaticMaxValue = false;
valueAxis.MaxValue = 60;
valueAxis.IsAutomaticMajorUnit = false;
valueAxis.MajorUnit = 20;
valueAxis.IsNumberFormatLinkedToSource = false;
valueAxis.NumberFormat = "0";
presentation.Save("chart-axes.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx);
using var image = presentation.Slides[0].GetImage(1f, 1f);
image.Save("chart-axes.png", ImageFormat.Png);
FAQ
Can several charts use the same minimum and maximum?
Yes. Set explicit axis bounds on each chart to make their scales consistent.
Can I format axis numbers as percentages?
Yes. Disable linkage to the source number format and choose a percentage format. Store fractional values, such as 0.25 for 25%, when that matches the data.
How do category axes differ from value axes?
A category axis identifies groups such as North and South. A value axis represents a numeric scale and supports bounds and intervals. The axis settings available depend on the chart type.
Guides
Related feature: Format the chart plot area.