SYNOPSIS

To create a simple Excel file with a Area chart using Spreadsheet::WriteExcel:

#!/usr/bin/perl -w
use strict;
use Spreadsheet::WriteExcel;
my $workbook = Spreadsheet::WriteExcel->new( 'chart.xls' );
my $worksheet = $workbook->add_worksheet();
my $chart = $workbook->add_chart( type => 'area' );
# Configure the chart.
$chart->add_series(
categories => '=Sheet1!$A$2:$A$7',
values => '=Sheet1!$B$2:$B$7',
);
# Add the worksheet data the chart refers to.
my $data = [
[ 'Category', 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ],
[ 'Value', 1, 4, 5, 2, 1, 5 ],
];
$worksheet->write( 'A1', $data );
__END__

DESCRIPTION

This module implements Area charts for Spreadsheet::WriteExcel. The chart object is created via the Workbook "add_chart()" method:

    my $chart = $workbook->add_chart( type => 'area' );

Once the object is created it can be configured via the following methods that are common to all chart classes:

    $chart->add_series();
    $chart->set_x_axis();
    $chart->set_y_axis();
    $chart->set_title();

These methods are explained in detail in Spreadsheet::WriteExcel::Chart. Class specific methods or settings, if any, are explained below.

Area Chart Methods

There aren't currently any area chart specific methods. See the TODO section of Spreadsheet::WriteExcel::Chart.

EXAMPLE

Here is a complete example that demonstrates most of the available features when creating a chart.

    #!/usr/bin/perl -w
    use strict;
    use Spreadsheet::WriteExcel;
    my $workbook  = Spreadsheet::WriteExcel->new( 'chart_area.xls' );
    my $worksheet = $workbook->add_worksheet();
    my $bold      = $workbook->add_format( bold => 1 );
    # Add the worksheet data that the charts will refer to.
    my $headings = [ 'Number', 'Sample 1', 'Sample 2' ];
    my $data = [
        [ 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ],
        [ 1, 4, 5, 2, 1, 5 ],
        [ 3, 6, 7, 5, 4, 3 ],
    ];
    $worksheet->write( 'A1', $headings, $bold );
    $worksheet->write( 'A2', $data );
    # Create a new chart object. In this case an embedded chart.
    my $chart = $workbook->add_chart( type => 'area', embedded => 1 );
    # Configure the first series. (Sample 1)
    $chart->add_series(
        name       => 'Sample 1',
        categories => '=Sheet1!$A$2:$A$7',
        values     => '=Sheet1!$B$2:$B$7',
    );
    # Configure the second series. (Sample 2)
    $chart->add_series(
        name       => 'Sample 2',
        categories => '=Sheet1!$A$2:$A$7',
        values     => '=Sheet1!$C$2:$C$7',
    );
    # Add a chart title and some axis labels.
    $chart->set_title ( name => 'Results of sample analysis' );
    $chart->set_x_axis( name => 'Test number' );
    $chart->set_y_axis( name => 'Sample length (cm)' );
    # Insert the chart into the worksheet (with an offset).
    $worksheet->insert_chart( 'D2', $chart, 25, 10 );
    __END__

AUTHOR

John McNamara [email protected]

COPYRIGHT

Copyright MM-MMX, John McNamara.

All Rights Reserved. This module is free software. It may be used, redistributed and/or modified under the same terms as Perl itself.