# Customize Chart Axes in Presentations Using PHP

> Discover how to use Aspose.Slides for PHP via Java to customize chart axes in PowerPoint presentations for reports and visualizations.

Source: https://docs.aspose.com/slides/php-java/chart-axis/
Updated: 2026-08-02


## **Overview**

This article explains how to customize chart axes in Aspose.Slides. It shows how to get actual axis values, swap data between axes, hide the vertical or horizontal axis for line charts, change the category axis type, set the date format for category axis values, rotate an axis title, set the axis position, and display a unit label on the value axis.

## **Get the Max Values on the Vertical Axis on Charts**
Aspose.Slides for PHP via Java allows you to obtain the minimum and maximum values on a vertical axis. Go through these steps:

1. Create an instance of the [Presentation](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/php-java/aspose.slides/Presentation) class.
1. Access the first slide.
1. Add a chart with default data.
1. Get the actual maximum value on the axis.
1. Get the actual minimum value on the axis.
1. Get the actual major unit of the axis.
1. Get the actual minor unit of the axis.
1. Get the actual major unit scale of the axis.
1. Get the actual minor unit scale of the axis.

This sample code—an implementation of the steps above—shows you how to get the required values :

```php
  $pres = new Presentation();
  try {
    $chart = $pres->getSlides()->get_Item(0)->getShapes()->addChart(ChartType::Area, 100, 100, 500, 350);
    $chart->validateChartLayout();
    $maxValue = $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->getActualMaxValue();
    $minValue = $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->getActualMinValue();
    $majorUnit = $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->getActualMajorUnit();
    $minorUnit = $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->getActualMinorUnit();
    # Saves the presentation
    $pres->save("MaxValuesVerticalAxis_out.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }
```

## **Swap the Data between Axes**
Aspose.Slides allows you to quickly swap the data between axes—the data represented on the vertical axis (y-axis) moves to the horizontal axis (x-axis) and vice versa. 

This PHP code shows you how to perform the data swap task between axes on a chart:

```php
  $pres = new Presentation();
  try {
    $chart = $pres->getSlides()->get_Item(0)->getShapes()->addChart(ChartType::ClusteredColumn, 100, 100, 400, 300);
    # Switches rows and columns
    $chart->getChartData()->switchRowColumn();
    # Saves presentation
    $pres->save("SwitchChartRowColumns_out.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }
```

## **Disable the Vertical Axis for Line Charts**

This PHP code shows you how to hide the vertical axis for a line chart:

```php
  $pres = new Presentation();
  try {
    $chart = $pres->getSlides()->get_Item(0)->getShapes()->addChart(ChartType::Line, 100, 100, 400, 300);
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->setVisible(false);
    $pres->save("chart.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }
```

## **Disable the Horizontal Axis for Line Charts**

This code shows you how to hide the horizontal axis for a line chart:

```php
  $pres = new Presentation();
  try {
    $chart = $pres->getSlides()->get_Item(0)->getShapes()->addChart(ChartType::Line, 100, 100, 400, 300);
    $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->setVisible(false);
    $pres->save("chart.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }
```

## **Change the Category Axis**

Using the **CategoryAxisType** property, you can specify your preferred category axis type (**date** or **text**). This code  demonstrates the operation:

```php
  $presentation = new Presentation("ExistingChart.pptx");
  try {
    $chart = $presentation->getSlides()->get_Item(0)->getShapes()->get_Item(0);
    $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->setCategoryAxisType(CategoryAxisType::Date);
    $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->setAutomaticMajorUnit(false);
    $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->setMajorUnit(1);
    $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->setMajorUnitScale(TimeUnitType::Months);
    $presentation->save("ChangeChartCategoryAxis_out.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($presentation)) {
      $presentation->dispose();
    }
  }
```

## **Set the Date Format for Category Axis Values**
Aspose.Slides for PHP via Java allows you to set the date format for a category axis value. The operation is demonstrated in this PHP code:

```php
  $pres = new Presentation();
  try {
    $chart = $pres->getSlides()->get_Item(0)->getShapes()->addChart(ChartType::Area, 50, 50, 450, 300);
    $wb = $chart->getChartData()->getChartDataWorkbook();
    $wb->clear(0);
    $chart->getChartData()->getCategories()->clear();
    $chart->getChartData()->getSeries()->clear();
    $chart->getChartData()->getCategories()->add($wb->getCell(0, "A2", convertToOADate(new GregorianCalendar(2015, 1, 1))));
    $chart->getChartData()->getCategories()->add($wb->getCell(0, "A3", convertToOADate(new GregorianCalendar(2016, 1, 1))));
    $chart->getChartData()->getCategories()->add($wb->getCell(0, "A4", convertToOADate(new GregorianCalendar(2017, 1, 1))));
    $chart->getChartData()->getCategories()->add($wb->getCell(0, "A5", convertToOADate(new GregorianCalendar(2018, 1, 1))));
    $series = $chart->getChartData()->getSeries()->add(ChartType::Line);
    $series->getDataPoints()->addDataPointForLineSeries($wb->getCell(0, "B2", 1));
    $series->getDataPoints()->addDataPointForLineSeries($wb->getCell(0, "B3", 2));
    $series->getDataPoints()->addDataPointForLineSeries($wb->getCell(0, "B4", 3));
    $series->getDataPoints()->addDataPointForLineSeries($wb->getCell(0, "B5", 4));
    $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->setCategoryAxisType(CategoryAxisType::Date);
    $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->setNumberFormatLinkedToSource(false);
    $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->setNumberFormat("yyyy");
    $pres->save("output.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }
```
```php

```

## **Set the Rotation Angle for a Chart Axis Title**
Aspose.Slides for PHP via Java allows you to set the rotation angle for a chart axis title. This PHP code demonstrates the operation:

```php
  $pres = new Presentation();
  try {
    $chart = $pres->getSlides()->get_Item(0)->getShapes()->addChart(ChartType::ClusteredColumn, 50, 50, 450, 300);
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->setTitle(true);
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->getTitle()->getTextFormat()->getTextBlockFormat()->setRotationAngle(90);
    $pres->save("output.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }
```

## **Set the Axis Position on a Category or Value Axis**
Aspose.Slides for PHP via Java allows you to set the position axis in a category or value axis. This PHP code shows how to perform the task:

```php
  $pres = new Presentation();
  try {
    $chart = $pres->getSlides()->get_Item(0)->getShapes()->addChart(ChartType::ClusteredColumn, 50, 50, 450, 300);
    $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->setAxisBetweenCategories(true);
    $pres->save("output.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }
```

## **Enable the Display Unit Label on the Chart Value Axis**
Aspose.Slides for PHP via Java allows you to configure a chart to show a unit label on its chart value axis. This PHP code demonstrates the operation:

```php
  $pres = new Presentation();
  try {
    $chart = $pres->getSlides()->get_Item(0)->getShapes()->addChart(ChartType::ClusteredColumn, 50, 50, 450, 300);
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->setDisplayUnit(DisplayUnitType::Millions);
    $pres->save("output.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }
```

## **FAQ**

### How do I set the value at which one axis crosses the other (axis crossing)?

Axes provide a [crossing setting](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/php-java/aspose.slides/axis/setcrosstype/): you can choose to cross at zero, at the maximum category/value, or at a specific numeric value. This is useful for shifting the X-axis up or down or for emphasizing a baseline.

### How can I position tick labels relative to the axis (alongside, outside, inside)?

Set the [label position](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/php-java/aspose.slides/axis/setmajortickmark/) to "cross", "outside", or "inside". This affects readability and helps conserve space, especially on small charts.