# Format Presentation Charts in PHP

> Learn chart formatting in Aspose.Slides for PHP via Java and elevate your PowerPoint presentation with professional, eye-catching styling.

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


## **Overview**

This article explains how to format charts in PowerPoint presentations by using Aspose.Slides. It shows how to customize key chart elements such as axes, grid lines, titles, legends, the plot area, and wall fills to improve the appearance and readability of chart data.

It also demonstrates how to set font properties for chart text, apply preset and custom numeric formats to chart data, and enable rounded corners for the chart area. Together, these examples show how to control both the visual style and data presentation of charts in a presentation.

## **Format Chart Entities**
Aspose.Slides for PHP via Java lets developers add custom charts to their slides from scratch. This article explains how to format different chart entities including chart category and value axis.

Aspose.Slides for PHP via Java provides a simple API for managing different chart entities and formatting them using custom values:

1. Create an instance of the [**Presentation**](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/php-java/aspose.slides/presentation/) class.
1. Obtain a slide's reference by its index.
1. Add a chart with default data along with the any of desired type (in this example we will use ChartType::LineWithMarkers).
1. Access the chart Value Axis and set the following properties:
   1. Setting **Line format** for Value Axis Major Grid lines
   1. Setting **Line format** for Value Axis Minor Grid lines
   1. Setting **Number Format** for Value Axis
   1. Setting **Min, Max, Major and Minor units** for Value Axis
   1. Setting **Text Properties** for Value Axis data
   1. Setting **Title** for Value Axis
   1. Setting **Line Format** for Value Axis
1. Access the chart Category Axis and set the following properties:
   1. Setting **Line format** for Category Axis Major Grid lines
   1. Setting **Line format** for Category Axis Minor Grid lines
   1. Setting **Text Properties** for Category Axis data
   1. Setting **Title** for Category Axis
   1. Setting **Label Positioning** for Category Axis
   1. Setting **Rotation Angle** for Category Axis labels
1. Access the chart Legend and set the **Text Properties** for them
1. Set show chart Legends without overlapping chart
1. Access the chart **Secondary Value Axis** and set the following properties:
   1. Enable the Secondary **Value Axis**
   1. Setting **Line Format** for Secondary Value Axis
   1. Setting **Number Format** for Secondary Value Axis
   1. Setting **Min, Max, Major and Minor units** for Secondary Value Axis
1. Now plot the first chart series on Secondary Value Axis
1. Set the chart back wall fill color
1. Set the chart plot area fill color
1. Write the modified presentation to a PPTX file

```php
  # Create an instance of Presentation class
  $pres = new Presentation();
  try {
    # Accessing the first slide
    $slide = $pres->getSlides()->get_Item(0);
    # Adding the sample chart
    $chart = $slide->getShapes()->addChart(ChartType::LineWithMarkers, 50, 50, 500, 400);
    # Setting Chart Title
    $chart->hasTitle();
    $chart->getChartTitle()->addTextFrameForOverriding("");
    $chartTitle = $chart->getChartTitle()->getTextFrameForOverriding()->getParagraphs()->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0);
    $chartTitle->setText("Sample Chart");
    $chartTitle->getPortionFormat()->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $chartTitle->getPortionFormat()->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->GRAY);
    $chartTitle->getPortionFormat()->setFontHeight(20);
    $chartTitle->getPortionFormat()->setFontBold(NullableBool::True);
    $chartTitle->getPortionFormat()->setFontItalic(NullableBool::True);
    # Setting Major grid lines format for value axis
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->getMajorGridLinesFormat()->getLine()->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->getMajorGridLinesFormat()->getLine()->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->BLUE);
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->getMajorGridLinesFormat()->getLine()->setWidth(5);
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->getMajorGridLinesFormat()->getLine()->setDashStyle(LineDashStyle->DashDot);
    # Setting Minor grid lines format for value axis
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->getMinorGridLinesFormat()->getLine()->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->getMinorGridLinesFormat()->getLine()->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->RED);
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->getMinorGridLinesFormat()->getLine()->setWidth(3);
    # Setting value axis number format
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->isNumberFormatLinkedToSource();
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->setDisplayUnit(DisplayUnitType::Thousands);
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->setNumberFormat("0.0%");
    # Setting chart maximum, minimum values
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->isAutomaticMajorUnit();
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->isAutomaticMaxValue();
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->isAutomaticMinorUnit();
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->isAutomaticMinValue();
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->setMaxValue(15.0);
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->setMinValue(-2.0);
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->setMinorUnit(0.5);
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->setMajorUnit(2.0);
    # Setting Value Axis Text Properties
    $txtVal = $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->getTextFormat()->getPortionFormat();
    $txtVal->setFontBold(NullableBool::True);
    $txtVal->setFontHeight(16);
    $txtVal->setFontItalic(NullableBool::True);
    $txtVal->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $txtVal->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setColor(new java("java.awt.Color", PresetColor->DarkGreen));
    $txtVal->setLatinFont(new FontData("Times New Roman"));
    # Setting value axis title
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->hasTitle();
    $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->getTitle()->addTextFrameForOverriding("");
    $valtitle = $chart->getAxes()->getVerticalAxis()->getTitle()->getTextFrameForOverriding()->getParagraphs()->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0);
    $valtitle->setText("Primary Axis");
    $valtitle->getPortionFormat()->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $valtitle->getPortionFormat()->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->GRAY);
    $valtitle->getPortionFormat()->setFontHeight(20);
    $valtitle->getPortionFormat()->setFontBold(NullableBool::True);
    $valtitle->getPortionFormat()->setFontItalic(NullableBool::True);
    # Setting Major grid lines format for Category axis
    $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->getMajorGridLinesFormat()->getLine()->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->getMajorGridLinesFormat()->getLine()->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->GREEN);
    $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->getMajorGridLinesFormat()->getLine()->setWidth(5);
    # Setting Minor grid lines format for Category axis
    $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->getMinorGridLinesFormat()->getLine()->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->getMinorGridLinesFormat()->getLine()->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->YELLOW);
    $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->getMinorGridLinesFormat()->getLine()->setWidth(3);
    # Setting Category Axis Text Properties
    $txtCat = $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->getTextFormat()->getPortionFormat();
    $txtCat->setFontBold(NullableBool::True);
    $txtCat->setFontHeight(16);
    $txtCat->setFontItalic(NullableBool::True);
    $txtCat->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $txtCat->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->BLUE);
    $txtCat->setLatinFont(new FontData("Arial"));
    # Setting Category Title
    $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->hasTitle();
    $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->getTitle()->addTextFrameForOverriding("");
    $catTitle = $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->getTitle()->getTextFrameForOverriding()->getParagraphs()->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0);
    $catTitle->setText("Sample Category");
    $catTitle->getPortionFormat()->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $catTitle->getPortionFormat()->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->GRAY);
    $catTitle->getPortionFormat()->setFontHeight(20);
    $catTitle->getPortionFormat()->setFontBold(NullableBool::True);
    $catTitle->getPortionFormat()->setFontItalic(NullableBool::True);
    # Setting category axis label position
    $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->setTickLabelPosition(TickLabelPositionType::Low);
    # Setting category axis label rotation angle
    $chart->getAxes()->getHorizontalAxis()->setTickLabelRotationAngle(45);
    # Setting Legends Text Properties
    $txtleg = $chart->getLegend()->getTextFormat()->getPortionFormat();
    $txtleg->setFontBold(NullableBool::True);
    $txtleg->setFontHeight(16);
    $txtleg->setFontItalic(NullableBool::True);
    $txtleg->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $txtleg->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setColor(new java("java.awt.Color", PresetColor->DarkRed));
    # Set show chart legends without overlapping chart
    $chart->getLegend()->setOverlay(true);
    # chart.ChartData.Series[0].PlotOnSecondAxis=true;
    $chart->getChartData()->getSeries()->get_Item(0)->setPlotOnSecondAxis(true);
    # Setting secondary value axis
    $chart->getAxes()->getSecondaryVerticalAxis()->isVisible();
    $chart->getAxes()->getSecondaryVerticalAxis()->getFormat()->getLine()->setStyle(LineStyle->ThickBetweenThin);
    $chart->getAxes()->getSecondaryVerticalAxis()->getFormat()->getLine()->setWidth(20);
    # Setting secondary value axis Number format
    $chart->getAxes()->getSecondaryVerticalAxis()->isNumberFormatLinkedToSource();
    $chart->getAxes()->getSecondaryVerticalAxis()->setDisplayUnit(DisplayUnitType::Hundreds);
    $chart->getAxes()->getSecondaryVerticalAxis()->setNumberFormat("0.0%");
    # Setting chart maximum, minimum values
    $chart->getAxes()->getSecondaryVerticalAxis()->isAutomaticMajorUnit();
    $chart->getAxes()->getSecondaryVerticalAxis()->isAutomaticMaxValue();
    $chart->getAxes()->getSecondaryVerticalAxis()->isAutomaticMinorUnit();
    $chart->getAxes()->getSecondaryVerticalAxis()->isAutomaticMinValue();
    $chart->getAxes()->getSecondaryVerticalAxis()->setMaxValue(20.0);
    $chart->getAxes()->getSecondaryVerticalAxis()->setMinValue(-5.0);
    $chart->getAxes()->getSecondaryVerticalAxis()->setMinorUnit(0.5);
    $chart->getAxes()->getSecondaryVerticalAxis()->setMajorUnit(2.0);
    # Setting chart back wall color
    $chart->getBackWall()->setThickness(1);
    $chart->getBackWall()->getFormat()->getFill()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $chart->getBackWall()->getFormat()->getFill()->getSolidFillColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->ORANGE);
    $chart->getFloor()->getFormat()->getFill()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $chart->getFloor()->getFormat()->getFill()->getSolidFillColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->RED);
    # Setting Plot area color
    $chart->getPlotArea()->getFormat()->getFill()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $chart->getPlotArea()->getFormat()->getFill()->getSolidFillColor()->setColor(new java("java.awt.Color", PresetColor->LightCyan));
    # Save Presentation
    $pres->save("FormattedChart.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }
```

## **Set Font Properties for a Chart**
Aspose.Slides for PHP via Java provides support for setting the font related properties for the chart. Please follow the steps below for setting the font properties for chart.

- Instantiate [Presentation](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/php-java/aspose.slides/presentation/) class object.
- Add chart on the slide.
- Set font height.
- Save modified presentation.

Below sample example is given.

```php
  # Create an instance of Presentation class
  $pres = new Presentation();
  try {
    $chart = $pres->getSlides()->get_Item(0)->getShapes()->addChart(ChartType::ClusteredColumn, 100, 100, 500, 400);
    $chart->getTextFormat()->getPortionFormat()->setFontHeight(20);
    $chart->getChartData()->getSeries()->get_Item(0)->getLabels()->getDefaultDataLabelFormat()->setShowValue(true);
    $pres->save("FontPropertiesForChart.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }
```

## **Set the Numeric Format**
Aspose.Slides for PHP via Java provides a simple API for managing chart data format:

1. Create an instance of the [Presentation](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/php-java/aspose.slides/Presentation) class.
1. Obtain a slide's reference by its index.
1. Add a chart with default data along with the any of desired type (this example uses **ChartType::ClusteredColumn**).
1. Set the preset number format from the possible preset values.
1. Traverse through the chart data cell in every chart series and set the chart data number format.
1. Save the presentation.
1. Set the custom number format.
1. Traverse through chart data cell inside every chart series and setting a different chart data number format.
1. Save the presentation.

```php
  # Create an instance of Presentation class
  $pres = new Presentation();
  try {
    # Access the first presentation slide
    $slide = $pres->getSlides()->get_Item(0);
    # Adding a default clustered column chart
    $chart = $slide->getShapes()->addChart(ChartType::ClusteredColumn, 50, 50, 500, 400);
    # Accessing the chart series collection
    $series = $chart->getChartData()->getSeries();
    # Traverse through every chart series
    foreach($series as $ser) {
      # Traverse through every data cell in series
      foreach($ser->getDataPoints() as $cell) {
        # Setting the number format
        $cell->getValue()->getAsCell()->setPresetNumberFormat(10);// 0.00%

      }
    }
    # Saving presentation
    $pres->save("PresetNumberFormat.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }
```

The possible preset number format values along with their preset index and that can be used are given below:

|**0**|General|
| :- | :- |
|**1**|0|
|**2**|0.00|
|**3**|#,##0|
|**4**|#,##0.00|
|**5**|$#,##0;$-#,##0|
|**6**|$#,##0;Red$-#,##0|
|**7**|$#,##0.00;$-#,##0.00|
|**8**|$#,##0.00;Red$-#,##0.00|
|**9**|0%|
|**10**|0.00%|
|**11**|0.00E+00|
|**12**|# ?/?|
|**13**|# /|
|**14**|m/d/yy|
|**15**|d-mmm-yy|
|**16**|d-mmm|
|**17**|mmm-yy|
|**18**|h:mm AM/PM|
|**19**|h:mm:ss AM/PM|
|**20**|h:mm|
|**21**|h:mm:ss|
|**22**|m/d/yy h:mm|
|**37**|#,##0;-#,##0|
|**38**|#,##0;Red-#,##0|
|**39**|#,##0.00;-#,##0.00|
|**40**|#,##0.00;Red-#,##0.00|
|**41**|_ * #,##0_ ;_ * "_ ;_ @_|
|**42**|_ $* #,##0_ ;_ $* "_ ;_ @_|
|**43**|_ * #,##0.00_ ;_ * "??_ ;_ @_|
|**44**|_ $* #,##0.00_ ;_ $* "??_ ;_ @_|
|**45**|mm:ss|
|**46**|h:mm:ss|
|**47**|mm:ss.0|
|**48**|##0.0E+00|
|**49**|@|

## **Set Chart Area Rounded Borders**
Aspose.Slides for PHP via Java provides support for setting chart area. Methods [**hasRoundedCorners**](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/php-java/aspose.slides/chart/hasroundedcorners/) and [**setRoundedCorners**](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/php-java/aspose.slides/chart/setroundedcorners/) have been added to the [Chart](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/php-java/aspose.slides/Chart) class. 

1. Instantiate [Presentation](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/php-java/aspose.slides/Presentation) class object.
1. Add chart on the slide.
1. Set fill type and fill color of chart
1. Set round corner property True.
1. Save modified presentation.

Below sample example is given. 

```php
  # Create an instance of Presentation class
  $pres = new Presentation();
  try {
    $slide = $pres->getSlides()->get_Item(0);
    $chart = $slide->getShapes()->addChart(ChartType::ClusteredColumn, 20, 100, 600, 400);
    $chart->getLineFormat()->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $chart->getLineFormat()->setStyle(LineStyle->Single);
    $chart->setRoundedCorners(true);
    $pres->save("output.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
  } finally {
    if (!java_is_null($pres)) {
      $pres->dispose();
    }
  }
```

## **FAQ**

### Can I set semi-transparent fills for columns/areas while keeping the border opaque?

Yes. Fill transparency and the outline are configured separately. This is useful for improving the readability of the grid and data in dense visualizations.

### How can I deal with data labels when they overlap?

Reduce the font size, disable nonessential label components (for example, categories), set the label offset/position, show labels only for selected points if necessary, or switch the format to "value + legend".

### Can I apply gradient or pattern fills to series?

Yes. Both solid and gradient/pattern fills are typically available. In practice, use gradients sparingly and avoid combinations that reduce contrast with the grid and text.



## Related articles

- [Customize Chart Axes in Presentations Using PHP](https://docs.aspose.com/slides/php-java/chart-axis/)
- [Customize Presentation Chart Entities in PHP](https://docs.aspose.com/slides/php-java/chart-entities/)