GcExcel .NET allows you to embed drawing objects like shapes and pictures on cells of a worksheet. You can work with shape and picture by accessing the properties and methods of the IShape interface and the IShapes interface.

With GcExcel library, you can create different shape types such as Connector, Shape and Picture.

Connector

A connector is used when you need to connect or disconnect two general shapes. In GcExcel, you can use the BeginConnect method, EndConnect method, BeginDisconnect method and EndDisconnect method of the IConnectorFormat interface to attach and detach the ends of the connector to other shapes.

Refer to the following example code to connect general shapes using the connector format.

// To config the connector shape.
IShape shapeBegin = worksheet.Shapes.AddShape(AutoShapeType.Rectangle, 1, 1, 100, 100);
IShape endBegin = worksheet.Shapes.AddShape(AutoShapeType.Rectangle, 200, 200, 100, 100);
IShape connectorShape = worksheet.Shapes.AddConnector(ConnectorType.Straight, 1, 1, 101, 101);
connectorShape.Width = 10;
// To detach the ends of the connector to other shapes.
connectorShape.ConnectorFormat.BeginConnect(shapeBegin, 3);
connectorShape.ConnectorFormat.EndConnect(endBegin, 0);

Shape

A shape is a drawing object and a member of the Shapes collection. In GcExcel, the Shapes collection represents the collection of shapes in a specified worksheet. All the drawing objects including chart, comment, picture, slicer, general shape and shape group are defined as Shape.

A name can also be assigned to a shape, be it a chart, picture, connector or any autoshape, by using different methods provided in IShapes interface. By assigning a name to a shape, it be directly accessed and its properties can be modified rather than traversing through the list of all shapes.

Refer to the below example code to assign a name to an autoshape.

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

//Create shape with custom name
IShape shape = worksheet.Shapes.AddShape("Balloon", AutoShapeType.Balloon, 50, 50, 100, 200);

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

Refer to the below example code to assign a name to a chart.

 //create a new workbook
 Workbook workbook = new Workbook();

 IWorksheet worksheet = workbook.Worksheets[0];

 //set chart name
 IShape shape = worksheet.Shapes.AddChart("Area chart with custom name", ChartType.Area, 250, 20, 360, 230);
 worksheet.Range["A1:C13"].Value = new object[,] {
{ null, "Blue Series", "Orange Series" },
{ "Jan", 0, 59.1883603948205 },
{ "Feb", 44.6420211591501, 52.2280901938606 },
{ "Mar", 45.2174930051225, 49.8093056416248 },
{ "Apr", 62, 37.3065749226828 },
{ "May", 53, 34.4312192530766 },
{ "Jun", 31.8933622049831, 69.7834561753736 },
{ "Jul", 41.7930895085093, 63.9418103906982 },
{ "Aug", 73, 57.4049534494926 },
{ "Sep", 49.8773891668518, 33 },
{ "Oct", 50, 74 },
{ "Nov", 54.7658428630216, 22.9587876597096 },
{ "Dec", 32, 54 },
};

 //Get chart by name
 IShape areaChart = worksheet.Shapes["Area chart with custom name"];
 areaChart.Chart.SeriesCollection.Add(worksheet.Range["A1:C13"], RowCol.Columns);
 areaChart.Chart.ChartTitle.Text = "Area Chart";

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

Picture

You can insert pictures on cells of a spreadsheet by using the AddPicture method of the IShapes interface. The IPictureFormat interface in GcExcel allows users to customize and format pictures while working in a spreadsheet.

Refer to the following example code when working with picture in GcExcel:

// Add a picture through stream
string path = @"Images\flower.jpg";
FileStream stream = System.IO.File.Open(path, FileMode.Open);
IShape picture = worksheet.Shapes.AddPicture(stream, ImageType.JPG, 480, 10, 100, 100);

// Add a picture through file
//IShape picture = worksheet.Shapes.AddPicture(@"Images\flower.jpg", 480, 10, 100, 100);

// Fill the inserted picture
picture.Fill.Solid();
picture.Fill.Color.RGB = Color.AliceBlue;
//Customize the inserted picture
picture.PictureFormat.Crop.PictureWidth = 80;

Refer to the below example code to assign a name to a picture.

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

//add picture with custom name
IShape shape = worksheet.Shapes.AddPicture("Custom Name to Image", "image.png", 10, 10, 250, 150);

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

Working with shapes and pictures in the GcExcel library involves the following tasks:

Customize Shape Format and Shape Text

Hyperlink on Shape

Group or Ungroup Shapes

Shape Adjustment

Background Image

Size and Position of Image

Image Transparency

Control Position of Overlapping Shapes

Linked Picture