How To Set a Custom Range for Value Axis with MSChart Control (189159)

SUMMARY

When plotting points with the Microsoft Chart control, the scale for the value axis is scaled to represent only the range of numbers needed to display the data points being charted. For example, if the data points you are charting are between 1000 and 1010, the full range of 0 through 1010 is not needed and may not be used.

MORE INFORMATION

At times it may be desirable or necessary to specify a custom range for the value axis. Microsoft Chart offers properties that allow the user to customize this setting. To set a custom range, three properties must be set: Auto, Minimum, and Maximum. Below are the steps to create a sample application that demonstrates how to configure the chart's scale programmatically.

Step-by-Step Example

Open a new Standard EXE project. Form1 is created by default.
Choose Components from the Project menu, and add a reference to "Microsoft Chart Control."
Add a Chart control to Form1 (sample data is automatically supplied).
Add a CommandButton to Form1.

Paste the following code into Form1's code module:

      Private Sub Command1_Click()
         ' Set chart type to 2d bar
         Form1.MSChart1.chartType = VtChChartType2dBar

         ' Use manual scale to display y axis (value axis)
         With Form1.MSChart1.Plot.Axis(VtChAxisIdY).ValueScale
            .Auto = False
            .Minimum = -100
            .Maximum = 100
         End With
      End Sub

Run the sample project.
Note that the range of the Y axis is 0 to 100.
Click the CommandButton.
Note that the range of the Y axis now reflects the -100 to 100 range that was set programmatically.