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

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

1. Open a new Standard EXE project. Form1 is created by default.
2. Choose Components from the Project menu, and add a reference to "Microsoft Chart Control."
3. Add a Chart control to Form1 (sample data is automatically supplied).
4. Add a CommandButton to Form1.
5. 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
   						

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