Manage Shape Options

In DsExcel, you can customize the shape format in three different ways. This includes setting the fill format for the inserted shape using the properties and methods of the IFillFormat interface, configuring the shape's line using the properties and methods of the ILineFormat interface and applying 3D formatting to the shape using the properties and methods of the IThreeDFormat interface.

Solid Fill

To format the shape with Solid fill, first you need to use the Solid method of the IFillFormat interface to specify the fill format and then set the Color property and Transparency property to set the shape's fill color and transparency degree respectively.

Refer to the following example code to fill the shape with solid fill.

//Solid Fill
IShape shape = worksheet.Shapes.AddShape(AutoShapeType.Balloon, 10, 10, 100, 100);
IColorFormat color = shape.Fill.Color;
color.RGB = Color.Red;
shape.Fill.Solid();

Gradient Fill

Gradient fill is a graphical effect which provides the 3D color look as one color blends into another. In gradient fill, you first need to set the shape fill to the gradient fill using the OneColorGradient method, TwoColorGradient method or PresetGradient method of the IFillFormat interface. When you're done, you can then insert, delete or modify gradient stops; set the fill style rotation along with the shape and the angle of the gradient fill using the GradientStops property, RotateWithObject property and GradientAngle property of the IFillFormat interface.

Four types of gradient fills, namely line, radial, rectangular and path are supported by DsExcel. By default, the 'Line' gradient fill is applied.

Refer to the following example code to fill the shape with gradient fill using PresetGradient method.

//Gradient Fill
IShape shape1 = worksheet.Shapes.AddShape(AutoShapeType.Heart, 120, 10, 100, 100);
shape1.Fill.PresetGradient(GradientStyle.Vertical, 3, PresetGradientType.Silver);
shape1.Fill.RotateWithObject = false;

Refer to the following example code to fill the shape with gradient fill using TwoColorGradient method.

// Initialize workbook
Workbook workbook = new Workbook();
// Fetch default worksheet
IWorksheet worksheet = workbook.Worksheets[0];

// Add a shape
IShape rectangle = worksheet.Shapes.AddShape(AutoShapeType.Rectangle, 20, 20, 300, 100);

// Init a two color gradient fill         
rectangle.Fill.TwoColorGradient(GradientStyle.Horizontal, 1);

//save to an excel file
workbook.Save("LineGradient.xlsx");

To set the radial, rectangular or path gradient fill, you also need to set the GradientPathType along with using the TwoColorGradient method.

Refer to the following example code to fill the shape with 'Radial' gradient fill.

// Initialize workbook
Workbook workbook = new Workbook();
// Fetch default worksheet
IWorksheet worksheet = workbook.Worksheets[0];

// Add a shape
IShape rectangle = worksheet.Shapes.AddShape(AutoShapeType.Rectangle, 20, 20, 300, 100);

// Init a two color gradient fill        
rectangle.Fill.TwoColorGradient(GradientStyle.FromCenter, 1);

// Set gradient path type
rectangle.Fill.GradientPathType = PathShapeType.Radial;

//save to an excel file
workbook.Save("RadialGradient.xlsx");

Pattern Fill

In pattern fill, you first need to set the shape fill to pattern fill using the Patterned method of the IFillFormat interface. Afterwards, you can set the background color and the pattern color using Color property and PatternColor property of the IFillFormat interface.

Refer to the following example code to fill the shape with pattern fill.

//Pattern Fill
IShape shape2 = worksheet.Shapes.AddShape(AutoShapeType.Rectangle, 240, 10, 100, 100);
shape2.Fill.Patterned(GrapeCity.Documents.Excel.Drawing.PatternType.Percent10);
shape2.Fill.Color.ObjectThemeColor = ThemeColor.Accent2;
shape2.Fill.PatternColor.ObjectThemeColor = ThemeColor.Accent6;

Picture Fill

In picture fill, you can use the AddShape method of the IShapes interface to first add the shape that you want to fill with a picture. Further, you can also set the picture format including characteristics like picture height, picture width, brightness, contrast ratio, re-coloring, x-axis and y-axis offset etc using the properties of the IPictureFormat interface.

Refer to the following example code to fill the shape with picture.

// Add shape of picture type
IShape shape = worksheet.Shapes.AddShape(AutoShapeType.Rectangle, 20, 20, 100, 100);
string path = @"Images\flower.jpg";
FileStream stream = System.IO.File.Open(path, FileMode.Open);
shape.Fill.UserPicture(stream, ImageType.JPG);
stream.Dispose();
// Recolor the picture
shape.PictureFormat.ColorType = PictureColorType.Grayscale;
// Set picture's brightness and contrast ratio.
shape.PictureFormat.Brightness = 0.6;
shape.PictureFormat.Contrast = 0.3;
// Set height, width, x-axis offset and y-axis offset of the specified picture.
shape.PictureFormat.Crop.PictureOffsetX = 10;
shape.PictureFormat.Crop.PictureOffsetY = -5;
shape.PictureFormat.Crop.PictureWidth = 120;
shape.PictureFormat.Crop.PictureHeight = 80;

Texture Fill

In texture fill, you can fill the shape with texture using the PresetTextured method, or UserTextured method of the IFillFormat interface. Further, you can also use the TextureAlignment property, TextureHorizontalScale property, TextureOffsetX property, TextureOffsetY property and TextureVerticalScale property to configure the layout of the texture.

Refer to the following example code to fill the shape with texture fill.

//Texture Fill
IShape shape3 = worksheet.Shapes.AddShape(AutoShapeType.Rectangle, 360, 10, 100, 100);
shape3.Fill.PresetTextured(PresetTexture.Canvas);
shape3.Fill.TextureAlignment = TextureAlignment.Center;
shape3.Fill.TextureOffsetX = 2.5;
shape3.Fill.TextureOffsetY = 3.2;
shape3.Fill.TextureHorizontalScale = 0.9;
shape3.Fill.TextureVerticalScale = 0.2;
shape3.Fill.Transparency = 0.5;

Line

Line is a kind of border around the shape. You can create lines around shapes inserted on cells of a spreadsheet using the properties and methods of ILineFormat interface.

Refer to the following example code to configure the line and line style for the shape.

// To set shape's line style.
IShape shape = worksheet.Shapes.AddShape(AutoShapeType.Rectangle, 10, 10, 100, 100);
shape.Line.DashStyle = LineDashStyle.Dash;
shape.Line.Style = LineStyle.Single;
shape.Line.Weight = 2;
shape.Line.Color.ObjectThemeColor = ThemeColor.Accent6;
shape.Line.Transparency = 0.3;

Note: Shape's Line also supports solid fill, gradient fill and pattern fill and its usage is similar to the Shape Fill.

3D Formatting

DsExcel allows you to format the three-dimensional layout for the inserted shape by setting its rotation degree around x,y and z axis.

Refer to the following example code to apply 3D formatting to the embedded shape.

// To set shape's rotation degree arround x, y, z axis.
IShape shape = worksheet.Shapes.AddShape(AutoShapeType.Rectangle, 50, 10, 100, 100);
shape.ThreeD.RotationX = 50;
shape.ThreeD.RotationY = 20;
shape.ThreeD.RotationZ = 30;
shape.ThreeD.Depth = 7;
shape.ThreeD.Z = 20;