Is is possible to create a chart from an external data source like a text
file or a csv file with VBA and keep the data external?

If anyone has any experience with this topic, I would really appreciate some
examples.


The data I am working with is formatted as such:

METER, CHANNEL
12, 8
47, 10
349, 8


TIA...
Mark Ivey

Chart data can exist in another (closed) workbook, even a CVS, but not in a
text file.
If there are no other factors apart from merely keeping the chart & data
separate, it would be easier to keep data in an ordinary xls.

Manually or programmatically, the csv/xls would need to be open while
actually making the chart and linking source data. Thereafter it can remain
closed, though you will probably get messages about links.

You could link cells in the data file to cells in the chart file.
Programmatically that could in theory be done without opening the data file
with =['c:\path\fileName.csv]SheetName'!A1 as cell formulas; but why bother,
simpler to open the data csv to establish the links then close.

If the original data is in a text file probably easiest to copy the data to
cells, as source for the chart. Thereafter there are various ways of
removing the data from the cells though data would in effect exist
thereafter in the chart file.

Just a few thoughts

Regards,
Peter T


"Mark Ivey" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:43F4B21F-65BB-41C0-BA60-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Is is possible to create a chart from an external data source like a text
> file or a csv file with VBA and keep the data external?
>
> If anyone has any experience with this topic, I would really appreciate
some
> examples.
>
>
> The data I am working with is formatted as such:
>
> METER, CHANNEL
> 12, 8
> 47, 10
> 349, 8
>
>
> TIA...
> Mark Ivey
>

Thanks for the reply Peter...

In a nutshell, here is what I am trying to accomplish.

I would like to build the chart from this external data (which was generated
previously in my code) and then cut and paste the chart as a jpg or
something like that (so it will not be dependent on the outside source after
creation.

Do you have any code samples on how to build a chart from a CSV file?

TIA...
Mark


"Peter T" <peter_t@discussions> wrote in message
news:Odm9#(E-Mail Removed)...
> Chart data can exist in another (closed) workbook, even a CVS, but not in
> a
> text file.
> If there are no other factors apart from merely keeping the chart & data
> separate, it would be easier to keep data in an ordinary xls.
>
> Manually or programmatically, the csv/xls would need to be open while
> actually making the chart and linking source data. Thereafter it can
> remain
> closed, though you will probably get messages about links.
>
> You could link cells in the data file to cells in the chart file.
> Programmatically that could in theory be done without opening the data
> file
> with =['c:\path\fileName.csv]SheetName'!A1 as cell formulas; but why
> bother,
> simpler to open the data csv to establish the links then close.
>
> If the original data is in a text file probably easiest to copy the data
> to
> cells, as source for the chart. Thereafter there are various ways of
> removing the data from the cells though data would in effect exist
> thereafter in the chart file.
>
> Just a few thoughts
>
> Regards,
> Peter T
>
>
> "Mark Ivey" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:43F4B21F-65BB-41C0-BA60-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Is is possible to create a chart from an external data source like a text
>> file or a csv file with VBA and keep the data external?
>>
>> If anyone has any experience with this topic, I would really appreciate
> some
>> examples.
>>
>>
>> The data I am working with is formatted as such:
>>
>> METER, CHANNEL
>> 12, 8
>> 47, 10
>> 349, 8
>>
>>
>> TIA...
>> Mark Ivey
>>
>
>

> Do you have any code samples on how to build a chart from a CSV file?

If the CSV file is open it's be the same as from an ordinary xls

Sub MakeChart()
Dim cht As Chart
Dim sr As Series
Dim rngSource

'assumes the csv is open
Set rngSource = Workbooks("Test.csv").Worksheets(1).Range("A1:B4")

With Range("B2")
Set cht = ActiveSheet.ChartObjects.Add(.Left, .Top, 180#, 90#).Chart
End With


cht.SetSourceData rngSource
' only if the data layout lends itself to above method,
' (there are alternatives to setting the data)

' do whatever else to the chart here

cht.CopyPicture Appearance:=xlScreen, _
Format:=xlPicture, _
Size:=xlScreen

With cht.Parent
ActiveSheet.Cells(.TopLeftCell.Row, _
.BottomRightCell.Column + 1).Select
ActiveSheet.Paste
End With

' cht.Parent.Delete

End Sub

The above also includes code to copy and paste the chart as a picture. Might
be worth visually checking the chart first and tweaking as necessary, then
copy as picture & paste. in another routine.

It's also possible to have a normal chart with it's own data not linked to
any cells at all. Potentially can be quite a lot of code but with the
advantage the chart can be reformatted like a normal chart and, if ever
necessary, the data retrieved in case the original data is lost or modified.

Of course, simplest of all (to keep the chart totally separate from original
data) would be simply to copy the data into the chart file.

Regards,
Peter T


"Mark Ivey" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:36265FE6-6CDB-4EBF-97A2-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Thanks for the reply Peter...
>
> In a nutshell, here is what I am trying to accomplish.
>
> I would like to build the chart from this external data (which was
generated
> previously in my code) and then cut and paste the chart as a jpg or
> something like that (so it will not be dependent on the outside source
after
> creation.
>
> Do you have any code samples on how to build a chart from a CSV file?
>
> TIA...
> Mark
>
>
> "Peter T" <peter_t@discussions> wrote in message
> news:Odm9#(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Chart data can exist in another (closed) workbook, even a CVS, but not
in
> > a
> > text file.
> > If there are no other factors apart from merely keeping the chart & data
> > separate, it would be easier to keep data in an ordinary xls.
> >
> > Manually or programmatically, the csv/xls would need to be open while
> > actually making the chart and linking source data. Thereafter it can
> > remain
> > closed, though you will probably get messages about links.
> >
> > You could link cells in the data file to cells in the chart file.
> > Programmatically that could in theory be done without opening the data
> > file
> > with =['c:\path\fileName.csv]SheetName'!A1 as cell formulas; but why
> > bother,
> > simpler to open the data csv to establish the links then close.
> >
> > If the original data is in a text file probably easiest to copy the data
> > to
> > cells, as source for the chart. Thereafter there are various ways of
> > removing the data from the cells though data would in effect exist
> > thereafter in the chart file.
> >
> > Just a few thoughts
> >
> > Regards,
> > Peter T
> >
> >
> > "Mark Ivey" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:43F4B21F-65BB-41C0-BA60-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >> Is is possible to create a chart from an external data source like a
text
> >> file or a csv file with VBA and keep the data external?
> >>
> >> If anyone has any experience with this topic, I would really appreciate
> > some
> >> examples.
> >>
> >>
> >> The data I am working with is formatted as such:
> >>
> >> METER, CHANNEL
> >> 12, 8
> >> 47, 10
> >> 349, 8
> >>
> >>
> >> TIA...
> >> Mark Ivey
> >>
> >
> >

Hi Mark -

It's probably not too complicated, unless your data is much more intricate
than you've let on. Record a macro while you open the text file as a new
workbook, create a chart from this data, then export the chart to GIF or PNG
format (don't use JPG). Or you could copy the chart as a picture and paste
it into the sheet. After the chart is created, you can delete the data.

If you wanted to get more intricate, you could read the file in VBA, and use
the data as arrays to populate the chart, as long as there aren't too many
points. But Excel charts work more reliably when the data comes from a
worksheet.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
_______


"Mark Ivey" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:36265FE6-6CDB-4EBF-97A2-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Thanks for the reply Peter...
>
> In a nutshell, here is what I am trying to accomplish.
>
> I would like to build the chart from this external data (which was
> generated previously in my code) and then cut and paste the chart as a jpg
> or something like that (so it will not be dependent on the outside source
> after creation.
>
> Do you have any code samples on how to build a chart from a CSV file?
>
> TIA...
> Mark
>
>
> "Peter T" <peter_t@discussions> wrote in message
> news:Odm9#(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Chart data can exist in another (closed) workbook, even a CVS, but not in
>> a
>> text file.
>> If there are no other factors apart from merely keeping the chart & data
>> separate, it would be easier to keep data in an ordinary xls.
>>
>> Manually or programmatically, the csv/xls would need to be open while
>> actually making the chart and linking source data. Thereafter it can
>> remain
>> closed, though you will probably get messages about links.
>>
>> You could link cells in the data file to cells in the chart file.
>> Programmatically that could in theory be done without opening the data
>> file
>> with =['c:\path\fileName.csv]SheetName'!A1 as cell formulas; but why
>> bother,
>> simpler to open the data csv to establish the links then close.
>>
>> If the original data is in a text file probably easiest to copy the data
>> to
>> cells, as source for the chart. Thereafter there are various ways of
>> removing the data from the cells though data would in effect exist
>> thereafter in the chart file.
>>
>> Just a few thoughts
>>
>> Regards,
>> Peter T
>>
>>
>> "Mark Ivey" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:43F4B21F-65BB-41C0-BA60-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Is is possible to create a chart from an external data source like a
>>> text
>>> file or a csv file with VBA and keep the data external?
>>>
>>> If anyone has any experience with this topic, I would really appreciate
>> some
>>> examples.
>>>
>>>
>>> The data I am working with is formatted as such:
>>>
>>> METER, CHANNEL
>>> 12, 8
>>> 47, 10
>>> 349, 8
>>>
>>>
>>> TIA...
>>> Mark Ivey
>>>
>>
>>

Peter,

Thank you very much for this example. I have a few more minor touches I need
to make to get all the data as I would like. Then I can use this example to
get it how I want the final product.

Many thanks....


Mark Ivey


"Peter T" <peter_t@discussions> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Do you have any code samples on how to build a chart from a CSV file?
>
> If the CSV file is open it's be the same as from an ordinary xls
>
> Sub MakeChart()
> Dim cht As Chart
> Dim sr As Series
> Dim rngSource
>
> 'assumes the csv is open
> Set rngSource = Workbooks("Test.csv").Worksheets(1).Range("A1:B4")
>
> With Range("B2")
> Set cht = ActiveSheet.ChartObjects.Add(.Left, .Top, 180#, 90#).Chart
> End With
>
>
> cht.SetSourceData rngSource
> ' only if the data layout lends itself to above method,
> ' (there are alternatives to setting the data)
>
> ' do whatever else to the chart here
>
> cht.CopyPicture Appearance:=xlScreen, _
> Format:=xlPicture, _
> Size:=xlScreen
>
> With cht.Parent
> ActiveSheet.Cells(.TopLeftCell.Row, _
> .BottomRightCell.Column + 1).Select
> ActiveSheet.Paste
> End With
>
> ' cht.Parent.Delete
>
> End Sub
>
> The above also includes code to copy and paste the chart as a picture.
> Might
> be worth visually checking the chart first and tweaking as necessary, then
> copy as picture & paste. in another routine.
>
> It's also possible to have a normal chart with it's own data not linked to
> any cells at all. Potentially can be quite a lot of code but with the
> advantage the chart can be reformatted like a normal chart and, if ever
> necessary, the data retrieved in case the original data is lost or
> modified.
>
> Of course, simplest of all (to keep the chart totally separate from
> original
> data) would be simply to copy the data into the chart file.
>
> Regards,
> Peter T
>
>
> "Mark Ivey" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:36265FE6-6CDB-4EBF-97A2-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Thanks for the reply Peter...
>>
>> In a nutshell, here is what I am trying to accomplish.
>>
>> I would like to build the chart from this external data (which was
> generated
>> previously in my code) and then cut and paste the chart as a jpg or
>> something like that (so it will not be dependent on the outside source
> after
>> creation.
>>
>> Do you have any code samples on how to build a chart from a CSV file?
>>
>> TIA...
>> Mark
>>
>>
>> "Peter T" <peter_t@discussions> wrote in message
>> news:Odm9#(E-Mail Removed)...
>> > Chart data can exist in another (closed) workbook, even a CVS, but not
> in
>> > a
>> > text file.
>> > If there are no other factors apart from merely keeping the chart &
>> > data
>> > separate, it would be easier to keep data in an ordinary xls.
>> >
>> > Manually or programmatically, the csv/xls would need to be open while
>> > actually making the chart and linking source data. Thereafter it can
>> > remain
>> > closed, though you will probably get messages about links.
>> >
>> > You could link cells in the data file to cells in the chart file.
>> > Programmatically that could in theory be done without opening the data
>> > file
>> > with =['c:\path\fileName.csv]SheetName'!A1 as cell formulas; but why
>> > bother,
>> > simpler to open the data csv to establish the links then close.
>> >
>> > If the original data is in a text file probably easiest to copy the
>> > data
>> > to
>> > cells, as source for the chart. Thereafter there are various ways of
>> > removing the data from the cells though data would in effect exist
>> > thereafter in the chart file.
>> >
>> > Just a few thoughts
>> >
>> > Regards,
>> > Peter T
>> >
>> >
>> > "Mark Ivey" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> > news:43F4B21F-65BB-41C0-BA60-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> >> Is is possible to create a chart from an external data source like a
> text
>> >> file or a csv file with VBA and keep the data external?
>> >>
>> >> If anyone has any experience with this topic, I would really
>> >> appreciate
>> > some
>> >> examples.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> The data I am working with is formatted as such:
>> >>
>> >> METER, CHANNEL
>> >> 12, 8
>> >> 47, 10
>> >> 349, 8
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> TIA...
>> >> Mark Ivey
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>
>