Create Excel Charts in C# and VB.NET

Excel charts enable users to visualize the spreadsheet data and with GemBox.Spreadsheet you can create various types of charts such as line, column, bar, and pie charts.

Excel charts are supported in XLSX, HTML, PDF, XPS, and image formats. To convert an existing workbook with charts into another file format, use the Convert example.

For more information about charts, see the Charts help page.

The following example shows how you can create an Excel chart in C# and VB.NET and select data for it.

Excel chart created in C# and VB.NET — Screenshot of created Excel chart

C#
VB.NET

View on GitHub

using GemBox.Spreadsheet;
using GemBox.Spreadsheet.Charts;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // If using Professional version, put your serial key below.
        SpreadsheetInfo.SetLicense("FREE-LIMITED-KEY");

        var workbook = new ExcelFile();
        var worksheet = workbook.Worksheets.Add("Chart");

        // Add data which will be used by the Excel chart.
        worksheet.Cells["A1"].Value = "Name";
        worksheet.Cells["A2"].Value = "John Doe";
        worksheet.Cells["A3"].Value = "Fred Nurk";
        worksheet.Cells["A4"].Value = "Hans Meier";
        worksheet.Cells["A5"].Value = "Ivan Horvat";

        worksheet.Cells["B1"].Value = "Salary";
        worksheet.Cells["B2"].Value = 3600;
        worksheet.Cells["B3"].Value = 2580;
        worksheet.Cells["B4"].Value = 3200;
        worksheet.Cells["B5"].Value = 4100;

        // Set header row and formatting.
        worksheet.Rows[0].Style.Font.Weight = ExcelFont.BoldWeight;
        worksheet.Columns[0].SetWidth(3, LengthUnit.Centimeter);
        worksheet.Columns[1].Style.NumberFormat = "\"$\"#,##0";

        // Make entire sheet print on a single page.
        worksheet.PrintOptions.FitWorksheetWidthToPages = 1;
        worksheet.PrintOptions.FitWorksheetHeightToPages = 1;

        // Create Excel chart and select data for it.
        var chart = worksheet.Charts.Add(%ChartType%, "D2", "M25");
        chart.SelectData(worksheet.Cells.GetSubrangeAbsolute(0, 0, 4, 1), true);

        workbook.Save("Chart.%OutputFileType%");
    }
}

Imports GemBox.Spreadsheet
Imports GemBox.Spreadsheet.Charts

Module Program

    Sub Main()

        ' If using Professional version, put your serial key below.
        SpreadsheetInfo.SetLicense("FREE-LIMITED-KEY")

        Dim workbook As New ExcelFile()
        Dim worksheet = workbook.Worksheets.Add("Chart")

        ' Add data which is used by the Excel chart.
        worksheet.Cells("A1").Value = "Name"
        worksheet.Cells("A2").Value = "John Doe"
        worksheet.Cells("A3").Value = "Fred Nurk"
        worksheet.Cells("A4").Value = "Hans Meier"
        worksheet.Cells("A5").Value = "Ivan Horvat"

        worksheet.Cells("B1").Value = "Salary"
        worksheet.Cells("B2").Value = 3600
        worksheet.Cells("B3").Value = 2580
        worksheet.Cells("B4").Value = 3200
        worksheet.Cells("B5").Value = 4100

        ' Set header row and formatting.
        worksheet.Rows(0).Style.Font.Weight = ExcelFont.BoldWeight
        worksheet.Columns(0).SetWidth(3, LengthUnit.Centimeter)
        worksheet.Columns(1).Style.NumberFormat = """$""#,##0"

        ' Make entire sheet print on a single page.
        worksheet.PrintOptions.FitWorksheetWidthToPages = 1
        worksheet.PrintOptions.FitWorksheetHeightToPages = 1

        ' Create Excel chart and select data for it.
        Dim chart = worksheet.Charts.Add(%ChartType%, "D2", "M25")
        chart.SelectData(worksheet.Cells.GetSubrangeAbsolute(0, 0, 4, 1), True)

        workbook.Save("Chart.%OutputFileType%")
    End Sub
End Module

Create Excel combo charts

An Excel combo (combination) chart is a special chart type that combines two or more chart types in a single chart.

As all other chart types, the combo chart is also supported in XLSX, HTML, PDF, XPS, and image formats.

The following example shows how you can create an Excel combo chart in C# and VB.NET and select data for it.

Excel combo chart created in C# and VB.NET — Screenshot of created Excel combo chart

C#
VB.NET

View on GitHub

using GemBox.Spreadsheet;
using GemBox.Spreadsheet.Charts;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // If using Professional version, put your serial key below.
        SpreadsheetInfo.SetLicense("FREE-LIMITED-KEY");

        var workbook = new ExcelFile();
        var worksheet = workbook.Worksheets.Add("Chart");

        // Add data which will be used by the Excel chart.
        worksheet.Cells["A1"].Value = "Name";
        worksheet.Cells["A2"].Value = "John Doe";
        worksheet.Cells["A3"].Value = "Fred Nurk";
        worksheet.Cells["A4"].Value = "Hans Meier";
        worksheet.Cells["A5"].Value = "Ivan Horvat";

        worksheet.Cells["B1"].Value = "Salary";
        worksheet.Cells["B2"].Value = 4023;
        worksheet.Cells["B3"].Value = 3263;
        worksheet.Cells["B4"].Value = 2851;
        worksheet.Cells["B5"].Value = 4694;

        worksheet.Cells["C1"].Value = "Max";
        worksheet.Cells["C2"].Value = 4500;
        worksheet.Cells["C3"].Value = 4300;
        worksheet.Cells["C4"].Value = 4000;
        worksheet.Cells["C5"].Value = 4900;

        worksheet.Cells["D1"].Value = "Min";
        worksheet.Cells["D2"].Value = 3000;
        worksheet.Cells["D3"].Value = 2800;
        worksheet.Cells["D4"].Value = 2500;
        worksheet.Cells["D5"].Value = 3400;

        // Set header row and formatting.
        worksheet.Rows[0].Style.Font.Weight = ExcelFont.BoldWeight;
        worksheet.Columns[0].SetWidth(3, LengthUnit.Centimeter);

        // Set value cells number formatting.
        foreach (var cell in worksheet.Cells.GetSubrange("B2", "D5"))
            cell.Style.NumberFormat = "\"$\"#,##0";

        // Make entire sheet print on a single page.
        worksheet.PrintOptions.FitWorksheetWidthToPages = 1;
        worksheet.PrintOptions.FitWorksheetHeightToPages = 1;

        // Create Excel combo chart and set category labels reference.
        var comboChart = worksheet.Charts.Add<ComboChart>("F2", "O25");
        comboChart.CategoryLabelsReference = "Chart!A2:A5";

        // Make chart legend visible.
        comboChart.Legend.IsVisible = true;
        comboChart.Legend.Position = ChartLegendPosition.Top;

        // Add column chart for displaying salary series.
        var salaryChart = comboChart.Add(%SalaryChartType%);
        salaryChart.Series.Add("=Chart!B1", "Chart!B2:B5");

        // Add line chart for displaying min and max series.
        var minMaxChart = comboChart.Add(%MinMaxChartType%);
        minMaxChart.Series.Add("=Chart!C1", "Chart!C2:C5");
        minMaxChart.Series.Add("=Chart!D1", "Chart!D2:D5");

        workbook.Save("Combo Chart.%OutputFileType%");
    }
}

Imports GemBox.Spreadsheet
Imports GemBox.Spreadsheet.Charts

Module Program

    Sub Main()

        ' If using Professional version, put your serial key below.
        SpreadsheetInfo.SetLicense("FREE-LIMITED-KEY")

        Dim workbook As New ExcelFile()
        Dim worksheet = workbook.Worksheets.Add("Chart")

        ' Add data which is used by the Excel chart.
        worksheet.Cells("A1").Value = "Name"
        worksheet.Cells("A2").Value = "John Doe"
        worksheet.Cells("A3").Value = "Fred Nurk"
        worksheet.Cells("A4").Value = "Hans Meier"
        worksheet.Cells("A5").Value = "Ivan Horvat"

        worksheet.Cells("B1").Value = "Salary"
        worksheet.Cells("B2").Value = 4023
        worksheet.Cells("B3").Value = 3263
        worksheet.Cells("B4").Value = 2851
        worksheet.Cells("B5").Value = 4694

        worksheet.Cells("C1").Value = "Max"
        worksheet.Cells("C2").Value = 4500
        worksheet.Cells("C3").Value = 4300
        worksheet.Cells("C4").Value = 4000
        worksheet.Cells("C5").Value = 4900

        worksheet.Cells("D1").Value = "Min"
        worksheet.Cells("D2").Value = 3000
        worksheet.Cells("D3").Value = 2800
        worksheet.Cells("D4").Value = 2500
        worksheet.Cells("D5").Value = 3400

        ' Set header row And formatting.
        worksheet.Rows(0).Style.Font.Weight = ExcelFont.BoldWeight
        worksheet.Columns(0).SetWidth(3, LengthUnit.Centimeter)

        ' Set value cells number formatting.
        For Each cell In worksheet.Cells.GetSubrange("B2", "D5")
            cell.Style.NumberFormat = """$""#,##0"
        Next

        ' Make entire sheet print on a single page.
        worksheet.PrintOptions.FitWorksheetWidthToPages = 1
        worksheet.PrintOptions.FitWorksheetHeightToPages = 1

        ' Create Excel combo chart And set category labels reference.
        Dim comboChart = worksheet.Charts.Add(Of ComboChart)("F2", "O25")
        comboChart.CategoryLabelsReference = "Chart!A2:A5"

        ' Make chart legend visible.
        comboChart.Legend.IsVisible = True
        comboChart.Legend.Position = ChartLegendPosition.Top

        ' Add column chart for displaying salary series.
        Dim salaryChart = comboChart.Add(%SalaryChartType%)
        salaryChart.Series.Add("=Chart!B1", "Chart!B2:B5")

        ' Add line chart for displaying min and max series.
        Dim minMaxChart = comboChart.Add(%MinMaxChartType%)
        minMaxChart.Series.Add("=Chart!C1", "Chart!C2:C5")
        minMaxChart.Series.Add("=Chart!D1", "Chart!D2:D5")

        workbook.Save("Combo Chart.%OutputFileType%")
    End Sub
End Module

Update Excel combo charts

After creating a chart, you may need to add an additional data series to the chart or update the existing ones.

A chart series can either contain data from a cell range or constant values.

The following example shows how you can add a new series and update the existing series in an Excel chart.

Excel combo chart updated in C# and VB.NET — Screenshot of updated Excel combo chart

C#
VB.NET

View on GitHub

using System;
using GemBox.Spreadsheet;
using GemBox.Spreadsheet.Charts;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // If using Professional version, put your serial key below.
        SpreadsheetInfo.SetLicense("FREE-LIMITED-KEY");

        var workbook = ExcelFile.Load("%#Combo.xlsx%");
        var worksheet = workbook.Worksheets["Chart"];
        var comboChart = worksheet.Charts[0] as ComboChart;

        // Update existing series.
        // When setting the values directly the ValuesReference will end up as null.
        var salerySeries = comboChart.Series[0];
        salerySeries.SetValues(3000, 3500, 4000, 4500);

        // Add new data.
        worksheet.Cells["Q1"].Value = "Average";
        foreach (var cell in worksheet.Cells.GetSubrange("Q2:Q5"))
        {
            string row = cell.Row.Name;
            cell.Formula = $"=AVERAGE(C{row},D{row})";
            cell.Style.NumberFormat = "\"$\"#,##0";
        }
        worksheet.Calculate();

        // Add new series.
        var lineChart = comboChart[1] as LineChart;
        var avgSeries = lineChart.Series.Add("=Chart!Q1", "Chart!Q2:Q5");
        avgSeries.Marker.MarkerType = MarkerType.Diamond;
        avgSeries.Marker.Size = 10;

        workbook.Save("Updated Combo.%OutputFileType%");
    }
}

Imports System
Imports GemBox.Spreadsheet
Imports GemBox.Spreadsheet.Charts

Module Program

    Sub Main()

        ' If using Professional version, put your serial key below.
        SpreadsheetInfo.SetLicense("FREE-LIMITED-KEY")

        Dim workbook = ExcelFile.Load("%#Combo.xlsx%")
        Dim worksheet = workbook.Worksheets("Chart")
        Dim comboChart = TryCast(worksheet.Charts(0), ComboChart)

        ' Update existing series.
        ' When setting the values directly the ValuesReference will end up as null.
        Dim salerySeries = comboChart.Series(0)
        salerySeries.SetValues(3000, 3500, 4000, 4500)

        ' Add new data.
        worksheet.Cells("Q1").Value = "Average"
        For Each cell In worksheet.Cells.GetSubrange("Q2:Q5")
            Dim row As String = cell.Row.Name
            cell.Formula = $"=AVERAGE(C{row},D{row})"
            cell.Style.NumberFormat = """$""#,##0"
        Next
        worksheet.Calculate()

        ' Add new series.
        Dim lineChart = TryCast(comboChart(1), LineChart)
        Dim avgSeries = lineChart.Series.Add("=Chart!Q1", "Chart!Q2:Q5")
        avgSeries.Marker.MarkerType = MarkerType.Diamond
        avgSeries.Marker.Size = 10

        workbook.Save("Updated Combo.%OutputFileType%")

    End Sub
End Module

Next steps

GemBox.Spreadsheet is a .NET component that enables you to read, write, edit, convert, and print spreadsheet files from your .NET applications using one simple API.

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Published: December 13, 2018 | Modified: August 19, 2022 | Author: Marko Kozlina

Create Excel Charts in C# and VB.NET

Create Excel combo charts

Update Excel combo charts

See also

Next steps