Tutorial 23: How to set chart type, chart area, plot area, X axis, Y axis, series and legend in Python

How to set chart type, chart area, plot area, X axis, Y axis, series and legend in Python

EasyXLS Excel library can be used to export Excel files with Python on Windows, Linux, Mac or other operating systems. The integration vary depending on the operating system or if the bridge for .NET Framework of Java is chosen:

1. EasyXLS on Windows using .NET Framework with Python

2. EasyXLS on Linux, Mac, Windows using Java with Python

EasyXLS on Windows using .NET Framework with Python

If you opt for the .NET version of EasyXLS, the below code requires Pythonnet, a bridge between Python and .NET Framework.

Find more about Getting Started with EasyXLS

Step 1: Download EasyXLS Excel Library for .NET

To download the trial version of EasyXLS Excel Library, press the below button:

If you already own a license key, you may login and download EasyXLS from your account.

Install the downloaded EasyXLS installer for v8.6 or earlier.

Step 2: Install Pythonnet

For the installation you need to run "pip" command as it follows. Pip is a package-management system used to install and manage software packages written in Python.
<Python installation path>\Scripts>pip install "pythonnet.whl"

Step 3: Include EasyXLS library into project

EasyXLS.dll must be added to your project. EasyXLS.dll can be found:
- Inside the downloaded archive at Step 1 for EasyXLS v9.0 or later
- Under installation path for EasyXLS v8.6 or earlier, in "Dot NET version" folder.

Step 4: Run Python code that sets various chart properties in Excel file

Execute the following Python code that creates a cylinder column chart and format the chart area, plot area, chart legend, axis and chart series.

View Excel file

Copy code

"""-------------------------------------------------------------
Tutorial 23

This tutorial shows how to create an Excel file in Python with a
chart and how to set chart type and formatting properties for 
chart area, plot area, axis, series and legend.
-------------------------------------------------------------"""

import clr
import gc

clr.AddReference('EasyXLS')
from EasyXLS import *
from System.Drawing import *
from EasyXLS.Drawings.Formatting import *
from EasyXLS.Constants import *

print("Tutorial 23\n-----------\n")

# Create an instance of the class that exports Excel files
workbook = ExcelDocument()

# Create an worksheet
workbook.easy_addWorksheet("SourceData")

# Get the table of data for the worksheet
xlsTable1 = workbook.easy_getSheet("SourceData").easy_getExcelTable()

# Add data in cells for report header
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(0, 0).setValue("Show Date")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(0, 1).setValue("Available Places")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(0, 2).setValue("Available Tickets")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(0, 3).setValue("Sold Tickets")

# Add data in cells for chart report values
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(1, 0).setValue("03/13/2005 00:00:00")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(1, 0).setFormat(Format.FORMAT_DATE)
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(2, 0).setValue("03/14/2005 00:00:00")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(2, 0).setFormat(Format.FORMAT_DATE)
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(3, 0).setValue("03/15/2005 00:00:00")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(3, 0).setFormat(Format.FORMAT_DATE)
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(4, 0).setValue("03/16/2005 00:00:00")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(4, 0).setFormat(Format.FORMAT_DATE)

xlsTable1.easy_getCell(1, 1).setValue("10000")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(2, 1).setValue("5000")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(3, 1).setValue("8500")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(4, 1).setValue("1000")

xlsTable1.easy_getCell(1, 2).setValue("8000")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(2, 2).setValue("4000")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(3, 2).setValue("6000")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(4, 2).setValue("1000")

xlsTable1.easy_getCell(1, 3).setValue("920")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(2, 3).setValue("1005")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(3, 3).setValue("342")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(4, 3).setValue("967")

# Set column widths
xlsTable1.easy_getColumnAt(0).setWidth(100)
xlsTable1.easy_getColumnAt(1).setWidth(100)
xlsTable1.easy_getColumnAt(2).setWidth(100)
xlsTable1.easy_getColumnAt(3).setWidth(100)

# Add a chart sheet
workbook.easy_addChart("Chart", "=SourceData!$A$1:$D$5", Chart.SERIES_IN_COLUMNS)

# Get the previously added chart
xlsChart = workbook.easy_getSheetAt(1).easy_getExcelChart()

# Set chart type
xlsChart.easy_setChartType(Chart.CHART_TYPE_CYLINDER_COLUMN)

# Format chart area
xlsChartArea = xlsChart.easy_getChartArea()
xlsChartArea.getLineColorFormat().setLineColor(Color.DarkGray)
xlsChartArea.getLineStyleFormat().setDashType(LineStyleFormat.DASH_TYPE_SOLID)
xlsChartArea.getLineStyleFormat().setWidth(0.25)

# Format chart plot area
xlsPlotArea =  xlsChart.easy_getPlotArea()
xlsPlotArea.getLineColorFormat().setLineColor(Color.DarkGray)
xlsPlotArea.getLineStyleFormat().setDashType(LineStyleFormat.DASH_TYPE_SOLID)
xlsPlotArea.getLineStyleFormat().setWidth(0.25)

# Format chart legend
xlsChartLegend = xlsChart.easy_getLegend()
xlsChartLegend.getFillFormat().setBackground(Color.LavenderBlush)
xlsChartLegend.getFontFormat().setForeground(Color.Blue)
xlsChartLegend.getFontFormat().setItalic(True)
xlsChartLegend.setKeysArrangementDirection(Chart.KEYS_ARRANGEMENT_DIRECTION_HORIZONTAL)
xlsChartLegend.setPlacement(Chart.LEGEND_CORNER)
xlsChartLegend.getShadowFormat().setShadow(ShadowFormat.OFFSET_DIAGONAL_BOTTOM_RIGHT)

# Format chart X axis
xlsXAxis = xlsChart.easy_getCategoryXAxis()
xlsXAxis.getLineColorFormat().setLineColor(Color.SteelBlue)
xlsXAxis.getLineStyleFormat().setDashType(LineStyleFormat.DASH_TYPE_DASH_DOT)
xlsXAxis.getLineStyleFormat().setWidth(0.25)
xlsXAxis.getFontFormat().setForeground(Color.Red)

# Format chart Y axis
xlsYAxis = xlsChart.easy_getValueYAxis()
xlsYAxis.getLineColorFormat().setLineColor(Color.SteelBlue)
xlsYAxis.getLineStyleFormat().setDashType(LineStyleFormat.DASH_TYPE_LONG_DASH)
xlsYAxis.getLineStyleFormat().setWidth(0.25)
xlsYAxis.getFontFormat().setForeground(Color.Blue)

# Fomat chart series 
xlsChart.easy_getSeriesAt(0).getFillFormat().setBackground(Color.RoyalBlue)
xlsChart.easy_getSeriesAt(1).getFillFormat().setBackground(Color.Yellow)
xlsChart.easy_getSeriesAt(2).getFillFormat().setBackground(Color.LightGreen)

# Export Excel file
print("Writing file C:\\Samples\\Tutorial23 - various Excel chart settings.xlsx.")
workbook.easy_WriteXLSXFile("C:\\Samples\\Tutorial23 - various Excel chart settings.xlsx")

# Confirm export of Excel file
sError = workbook.easy_getError()

if sError == "":
    print("\nFile successfully created.\n\n")
else:
    print("\nError encountered: " + sError + "\n\n")

# Dispose memory
gc.collect()

EasyXLS on Linux, Mac, Windows using Java with Python

If you opt for the Java version of EasyXLS, a similar code as above requires Py4J, Pyjnius or any other bridge between Python and Java.

Find more about Getting Started with EasyXLS

Step 1: Download EasyXLS Excel Library for Java

To download the trial version of EasyXLS Excel Library, press the below button:

If you already own a license key, you may login and download EasyXLS from your account.

Install the downloaded EasyXLS installer for v8.6 or earlier.

Step 2: Install Py4j

For the Py4j installation you need to run "pip" command as it follows. Pip is a package-management system used to install and manage software packages written in Python.
<Python installation path>\Scripts>pip install "py4j.whl"

Step 3: Create additional Java program

The following Java code needs to be running in the background prior to executing the Python code.

Copy code

import py4j.GatewayServer;

public class GatewayServerApp {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    GatewayServerApp app = new GatewayServerApp();
    // app is now the gateway.entry_point
    GatewayServer server = new GatewayServer(app);
    server.start();
  }
}

Step 4: Add py4j library to CLASSPATH

py4j.jar must be added to your classpath of the additional Java program. py4j.jar can be found after installing Py4j, in "<Python installation path>\share\py4j" folder.

Step 5: Add EasyXLS library to CLASSPATH

EasyXLS.jar must be added to your classpath of the additional Java program. EasyXLS.jar can be found:
- Inside the downloaded archive at Step 1 for EasyXLS v9.0 or later
- Under installation path for EasyXLS v8.6 or earlier, in "Lib" folder.

Step 6: Run additional Java program

Start the gateway server application and it will implicitly start Java Virtual Machine as well.

Step 7: Run Python code that sets various chart properties in Excel file

Execute a code as below Python code that creates a cylinder column chart and format the chart area, plot area, chart legend, axis and chart series.

View Excel file

Copy code

"""-------------------------------------------------------------
Tutorial 23

This tutorial shows how to create an Excel file in Python with a
chart and how to set chart type and formatting properties for 
chart area, plot area, axis, series and legend.
-------------------------------------------------------------"""

import gc

from py4j.java_gateway import JavaGateway
from py4j.java_gateway import java_import 
gateway = JavaGateway()

java_import(gateway.jvm,'EasyXLS.*')
java_import(gateway.jvm,'EasyXLS.Constants.*')
java_import(gateway.jvm,'EasyXLS.Drawings.Formatting.*')
java_import(gateway.jvm,'java.awt.Color')

print("Tutorial 23\n-----------\n")

# Create an instance of the class that exports Excel files
workbook = gateway.jvm.ExcelDocument()

# Create an worksheet
workbook.easy_addWorksheet("SourceData")

# Get the table of data for the worksheet
xlsTable1 = workbook.easy_getSheet("SourceData").easy_getExcelTable()

# Add data in cells for report header
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(0, 0).setValue("Show Date")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(0, 1).setValue("Available Places")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(0, 2).setValue("Available Tickets")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(0, 3).setValue("Sold Tickets")

# Add data in cells for chart report values
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(1, 0).setValue("03/13/2005 00:00:00")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(1, 0).setFormat(gateway.jvm.Format.FORMAT_DATE)
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(2, 0).setValue("03/14/2005 00:00:00")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(2, 0).setFormat(gateway.jvm.Format.FORMAT_DATE)
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(3, 0).setValue("03/15/2005 00:00:00")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(3, 0).setFormat(gateway.jvm.Format.FORMAT_DATE)
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(4, 0).setValue("03/16/2005 00:00:00")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(4, 0).setFormat(gateway.jvm.Format.FORMAT_DATE)

xlsTable1.easy_getCell(1, 1).setValue("10000")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(2, 1).setValue("5000")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(3, 1).setValue("8500")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(4, 1).setValue("1000")

xlsTable1.easy_getCell(1, 2).setValue("8000")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(2, 2).setValue("4000")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(3, 2).setValue("6000")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(4, 2).setValue("1000")

xlsTable1.easy_getCell(1, 3).setValue("920")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(2, 3).setValue("1005")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(3, 3).setValue("342")
xlsTable1.easy_getCell(4, 3).setValue("967")

# Set column widths
xlsTable1.easy_getColumnAt(0).setWidth(100)
xlsTable1.easy_getColumnAt(1).setWidth(100)
xlsTable1.easy_getColumnAt(2).setWidth(100)
xlsTable1.easy_getColumnAt(3).setWidth(100)

# Add a chart sheet
workbook.easy_addChart("Chart", "=SourceData!$A$1:$D$5", gateway.jvm.Chart.SERIES_IN_COLUMNS)

# Get the previously added chart
xlsChart = workbook.easy_getSheetAt(1).easy_getExcelChart()

# Set chart type
xlsChart.easy_setChartType(gateway.jvm.Chart.CHART_TYPE_CYLINDER_COLUMN)

# Format chart area
xlsChartArea = xlsChart.easy_getChartArea()
xlsChartArea.getLineColorFormat().setLineColor(gateway.jvm.Color.darkGray)
xlsChartArea.getLineStyleFormat().setDashType(gateway.jvm.LineStyleFormat.DASH_TYPE_SOLID)
xlsChartArea.getLineStyleFormat().setWidth(0.25)

# Format chart plot area
xlsPlotArea =  xlsChart.easy_getPlotArea()
xlsPlotArea.getLineColorFormat().setLineColor(gateway.jvm.Color.darkGray)
xlsPlotArea.getLineStyleFormat().setDashType(gateway.jvm.LineStyleFormat.DASH_TYPE_SOLID)
xlsPlotArea.getLineStyleFormat().setWidth(0.25)

# Format chart legend
xlsChartLegend = xlsChart.easy_getLegend()
xlsChartLegend.getFillFormat().setBackground(gateway.jvm.Color.pink)
xlsChartLegend.getFontFormat().setForeground(gateway.jvm.Color.blue)
xlsChartLegend.getFontFormat().setItalic(True)
xlsChartLegend.setKeysArrangementDirection(gateway.jvm.Chart.KEYS_ARRANGEMENT_DIRECTION_HORIZONTAL)
xlsChartLegend.setPlacement(gateway.jvm.Chart.LEGEND_CORNER)
xlsChartLegend.getShadowFormat().setShadow(gateway.jvm.ShadowFormat.OFFSET_DIAGONAL_BOTTOM_RIGHT)

# Format chart X axis
xlsXAxis = xlsChart.easy_getCategoryXAxis()
xlsXAxis.getLineColorFormat().setLineColor(gateway.jvm.Color.lightGray)
xlsXAxis.getLineStyleFormat().setDashType(gateway.jvm.LineStyleFormat.DASH_TYPE_DASH_DOT)
xlsXAxis.getLineStyleFormat().setWidth(0.25)
xlsXAxis.getFontFormat().setForeground(gateway.jvm.Color.red)

# Format chart Y axis
xlsYAxis = xlsChart.easy_getValueYAxis()
xlsYAxis.getLineColorFormat().setLineColor(gateway.jvm.Color.lightGray)
xlsYAxis.getLineStyleFormat().setDashType(gateway.jvm.LineStyleFormat.DASH_TYPE_LONG_DASH)
xlsYAxis.getLineStyleFormat().setWidth(0.25)
xlsYAxis.getFontFormat().setForeground(gateway.jvm.Color.blue)

# Fomat chart series
xlsChart.easy_getSeriesAt(0).getFillFormat().setBackground(gateway.jvm.Color.blue)
xlsChart.easy_getSeriesAt(1).getFillFormat().setBackground(gateway.jvm.Color.yellow)
xlsChart.easy_getSeriesAt(2).getFillFormat().setBackground(gateway.jvm.Color.green)

# Export Excel file
print("Writing file C:\\Samples\\Tutorial23 - various Excel chart settings.xlsx.")
workbook.easy_WriteXLSXFile("C:\\Samples\\Tutorial23 - various Excel chart settings.xlsx")

# Confirm export of Excel file
sError = workbook.easy_getError()

if sError == "":
    print("\nFile successfully created.\n")
else:
    print("\nError encountered: " + sError + "\n\n")

# Dispose memory
gc.collect()

EasyXLS Excel libraries:
Excel Library for Python .NET
full .NET version to import, export or convert Excel files
Excel Writer for Python .NET
.NET version to create and export Excel files


Excel Library for Python Java
full Java version to import, export or convert Excel files
Excel Writer for Python Java
Java version to create and export Excel files

File formats:
MS Excel 97 - 2003 MS Excel 2007 - 2019 MS Excel 2021 Office 365

How to set chart type, chart area, plot area, X axis, Y axis, series and legend in Python

EasyXLS on Windows using .NET Framework with Python

Step 1: Download EasyXLS Excel Library for .NET

Step 2: Install Pythonnet

Step 3: Include EasyXLS library into project

Step 4: Run Python code that sets various chart properties in Excel file

EasyXLS on Linux, Mac, Windows using Java with Python

Step 1: Download EasyXLS Excel Library for Java

Step 2: Install Py4j

Step 3: Create additional Java program

Step 4: Add py4j library to CLASSPATH

Step 5: Add EasyXLS library to CLASSPATH

Step 6: Run additional Java program

Step 7: Run Python code that sets various chart properties in Excel file

Related sections

See also

Related methods

Related constants

EasyXLS Excel libraries:

File formats: