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Q192902: HOWTO: Change Colors to Patterns with the MSChart Control

Article: Q192902
Product(s): Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows
Version(s): 5.0,6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbCtrl kbVBp kbVBp500 kbVBp600 kbOSWin95 kbOSWin98 kbGrpDSVB kbDSupport kbOSWinME
Last Modified: 27-JAN-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

By default, the MSChart control uses colors to differentiate between data sets.
This works well on a color monitor or printer, but if a printout to a monochrome
printer is created, the colors may be hard to distinguish. Using the code
provided, you can programmatically change the MSChart control to use patterns
instead of colors.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Modifying some properties is all that needs to be done to get the MSChart
control to use patterns.

Step-by-Step Example
--------------------

1. Create a new Standard EXE project in Visual Basic. Form1 is created by
  default.

2. Choose Components from the Project menu to show the Components Dialog.

3. In Visual Basic 5.0, select "Microsoft Chart Control." In Visual Basic 6.0,
  select "Microsoft Chart Control 6.0 (OLEDB)."

4. Place an instance of the Chart control and a CommandButton on Form1.

5. Place the following code in the General Declaration Section of Form1:

       Private Sub Command1_Click()
       MSChart1.Plot.SeriesCollection(1).DataPoints(-1).Brush.Style _
          = VtBrushStylePattern
       MSChart1.Plot.SeriesCollection(1).DataPoints(-1).Brush.Index _
          = VtBrushPatternBoldDownDiagonal
       MSChart1.Plot.SeriesCollection(1).DataPoints(-1).Brush.FillColor.Set _
          255, 255, 255

       MSChart1.Plot.SeriesCollection(2).DataPoints(-1).Brush.Style _
          = VtBrushStylePattern
       MSChart1.Plot.SeriesCollection(2).DataPoints(-1).Brush.Index _
          = VtBrushPatternBoldHorizontal
       MSChart1.Plot.SeriesCollection(2).DataPoints(-1).Brush.FillColor.Set _
          255, 255, 255

       MSChart1.Plot.SeriesCollection(3).DataPoints(-1).Brush.Style _
          = VtBrushStylePattern
       MSChart1.Plot.SeriesCollection(3).DataPoints(-1).Brush.Index _
          = VtBrushPatternBoldUpDiagonal
       MSChart1.Plot.SeriesCollection(3).DataPoints(-1).Brush.FillColor.Set _
          255, 255, 255

       MSChart1.Plot.SeriesCollection(4).DataPoints(-1).Brush.Style _
          = VtBrushStylePattern
       MSChart1.Plot.SeriesCollection(4).DataPoints(-1).Brush.Index _
          = VtBrushPatternBoldVertical
       MSChart1.Plot.SeriesCollection(4).DataPoints(-1).Brush.FillColor.Set _
          255, 255, 255
       End Sub

6. Run the project and click Command1 and note that the chart now uses
  monochrome patterns instead of colors.

REFERENCES
==========

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q168749 HOWTO: Print the Contents of the MS Chart Control

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbCtrl kbVBp kbVBp500 kbVBp600 kbOSWin95 kbOSWin98 kbGrpDSVB kbDSupport kbOSWinME 
Technology        : kbVBSearch kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword6 kbZNotKeyword2 kbVB500Search kbVB600Search kbVBA500 kbVBA600 kbVB500 kbVB600
Version           : :5.0,6.0
Issue type        : kbhowto

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