Style files

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This page provides detailed information about how you can customize the style of think-cell elements. You can create the default settings that you want and ensure that your presentations are visually consistent and on brand by customizing think-cell style files. Customizing a style file allows you to:

  • Customize the fill, line, and marker options available for think-cell elements.
  • Customize the default colors, styles, and color schemes for think-cell charts, shapes, text labels, and other features.
  • Deploy custom PowerPoint presentation templates, or customize the default styles for your organization.
Contents

Set up think-cell style files

think-cell style files are XML files that specify the styles for think-cell elements and features. If you're new to XML, you may want to visit Microsoft Support to get a basic understanding of how XML files are structured.

Open and edit style files

You can open and edit think-cell style files using any text editor. We recommend using a dedicated code editor, such as Visual Studio Code with the Red Hat XML extension, as they can provide auto-completion suggestions and automatically validate the code using think-cell's XML schema.

The XML schema specifies the possible customization options and the correct syntax and spelling for each element and attribute. You can find all the schemas for all your style files in your think-cell installation directory, in the xml-schemas folder. The schemas are also XML files, but there's no reason to view them: they simply allow your XML editor to do proper syntax checks, highlight errors, and provide auto-completion suggestions. In a think-cell style file, the URL of the style file's XML schema is specified in the the last value of the style element's xsi:schemaLocation attribute.

To edit a style file, follow these steps:

  1. Open your think-cell installation directory. To find your think-cell installation directory, in PowerPoint, go to Insert > think-cell > Tools Tools Menu icon > Help > About. The About think-cell dialog displays the installation directory path.
  2. Make a copy of the styles folder and place the copy in your Documents folder. The copy allows you to make changes to the files in the folder without needing administrator rights and ensures that you keep the original files.
  3. In your copy of the styles folder, open the style file that you want to edit.
  4. In the style file, edit the style element's attributes.
    • Change the name in the name attribute. When think-cell is using a style file, the name of the style file appears in the Tools Tools Menu icon menu, as specified in the name attribute.
    • Your style file may reference a custom base style with a basedOn attribute located after the name attribute. In that case, do not delete or change the value of the basedOn attribute in the copy of your style file.

  1. In the style element, customize your styles as described in this chapter.
  2. Before loading the style file in a presentation, review and fix any warnings or errors that your XML editor displays.

The sections and elements in this chapter are ordered based on the syntax of the think-cell style files. So, when you add an element to the style file, ensure that it is located after elements that appear earlier in the chapter and before elements that appear later in the chapter.

If you want to create your own style file, we recommend that you make a copy of the default style file and use it as a starting point for your customizations. To create a style file based on the default style file, follow the instructions above, and in the third step, open your copy of the default style file.

Your think-cell installation directory includes an example style file that showcases a variety of complex customizations, with annotations that guide you through the process. To view the style file, open styles/Customization Possibilities Showcase/Customization Possibilities Showcase.xml.

The style file customizations described in this chapter assume that you are using think-cell 14. If your think-cell version is older than a style file's version, loading that style file will result in an error. However, older style files remain valid in newer versions of think-cell. If you want to add elements from this chapter to a style file created for an older think-cell version, do the following:

  1. In the style element, change the values of the xmlns and xsi:schemaLocation attributes to match the build number in the default style file of your think-cell version.
  2. Update the style file with any missing required elements so that the style file syntax is valid in the newer think-cell version.

Load a style file in a presentation

The active think-cell style file in a presentation depends on your organization's think-cell installation and the presentation's slide master. To see the name of the active style file, go to Insert > think-cell > Tools Tools Menu icon > Current Style. To load a new style file in a presentation, follow these steps:

  1. On the ribbon, go to Insert > think-cell > Tools Tools Menu icon > Change Style.
  2. In the Change Style menu, select the style file that you want. If the style file that you want doesn't appear in the menu, select Other to open the Load Style File dialog, then navigate to the location of the style file, select the style file, and select Open. You can load a style file located anywhere on your computer or network.

When you change the active style file, the new style applies to the think-cell elements you insert after changing the style file. To match the style of an existing element to the new style, change the element's style using the mini toolbar or reinsert the element.

Load, view, and remove style files using API functions

Windows only

On Windows, you can use think-cell's API functions to programmatically load, view, and remove think-cell style files. LoadStyle loads a style file in a slide master or slide layout. LoadStyleForRegion loads a style file so that it applies only to a specific area of a slide layout. GetStyleName returns the name of the style file that is active in a slide master or slide layout. RemoveStyles removes all style files from a slide layout.

Load a style file: LoadStyle
Signature
VBA
tcPpAddIn.LoadStyle( _ 
    CustomLayoutOrMaster As Object, _ 
    FileName As String 
)
C#
void tcPpAddIn.LoadStyle(
    object CustomLayoutOrMaster,
    string FileName
);
Description

This function loads a style file in a slide layout or slide master. You can pass PowerPoint.CustomLayout or PowerPoint.Master as the CustomLayoutOrMaster parameter.

If you use the LoadStyle function to load a style file in a slide master, that style file will override other style files active in the slide master or the slide layouts under that slide master. Similarly, if you use LoadStyle to load a style file in a slide layout, it will override other style files active in that layout.

To avoid overriding style files, first load a style file that you want active in the slide master, then load any other style files that you want active in specific slide layouts. If you want to load a style file in an area of a slide layout using the LoadStyleForRegion function, use that function after you finish using LoadStyle (see Load a style file in an area of the layout: LoadStyleForRegion).

LoadStyle Example
VBA

To use the LoadStyle function, add the following sample code to a module in PowerPoint (see Visual Basic for Applications). Replace the following:

  • <INSTALLATION_PATH>: think-cell installation directory
  • <FILE_NAME>: The style file's name
Option Explicit
 
Sub LoadStyle_Sample() 

    ' Get the think-cell add-in object 
    Dim tcPpAddIn As Object 
    Set tcPpAddIn = Application.COMAddIns("thinkcell.addin").Object 

    Dim master As Master
    Set master = Application.ActivePresentation.Designs(1).SlideMaster

    Dim style As String
    style = "C:\<INSTALLATION_PATH>\styles\<FILE_NAME>.xml"

    Call tcPpAddIn.LoadStyle(master, style)
End Sub
Load a style file in an area of the layout: LoadStyleForRegion
Signature
VBA
tcPpAddIn.LoadStyleForRegion( _ 
    CustomLayout As PowerPoint.CustomLayout, _ 
    FileName As String, _
    Left as Single, _
    Top as Single, _
    Width as Single, _
    Height as Single _
)
C#
void tcPpAddIn.LoadStyleForRegion(
    PowerPoint.CustomLayout CustomLayout,
    string FileName,
    float Left,
    float Top,
    float Width,
    float Height
);
Description

LoadStyleForRegion loads a style file in the slide layout CustomLayout and restricts it so that it applies only to an area on the layout. You can specify the restricted area using the Left, Top, Width, and Height parameters. On the rest of the slide, the style file that you loaded in the slide layout or the slide master with the LoadStyle function is active.

You can specify the parameters Left, Top, Width, and Height as fractions of the slide height and width. Left and Top specify the distance of the left and top edges of the restricted area from the left and top edges of the slide layout, respectively. We recommend specifying the parameters as fractions of the slide height and width. Alternatively, you can also specify the parameters in PowerPoint points, where 1 pt = 12700 EMU (see Style file terminology).

For example, to load a style file in an area that covers the right two-thirds of the layout, use the following code:

Left = CustomLayout.Width / 3
Top = 0
Width = CustomLayout.Width * 2 / 3
Height = CustomLayout.Height
Add images or shapes to a specific area of the slide layout

With LoadStyleForRegion, you can add unique images or shapes to an area of a slide layout and load a style file that applies only to that area. To do this, add the image or shape to a slide or slide layout; query the image or shape's Left, Top, Width, and Height properties programmatically; and use the values with LoadStyleForRegion to restrict the style file to the same area that the image or shape covers.

think-cell supports a maximum of two style files per layout:

  • A style file you load with LoadStyleForRegion, which applies to a specific area on the layout
  • Another style file you load with LoadStyle, which applies to the rest of the layout
LoadStyleForRegion Example
VBA

To use the LoadStyleForRegion function, add the following sample code to a module in PowerPoint (see Visual Basic for Applications). Replace the following:

  • <INSTALLATION_PATH>: think-cell installation directory
  • <FILE_NAME>: The style file's name
Option Explicit
 
Sub LoadStyleForRegion_Sample() 

    ' Get the think-cell add-in object 
    Dim tcPpAddIn As Object 
    Set tcPpAddIn = Application.COMAddIns("thinkcell.addin").Object 

    Dim layout As CustomLayout
    Set layout = Application.ActivePresentation.Designs(1).SlideMaster.CustomLayouts(2)

    ' Define a region covering the left half of the layout
    Dim left, top, width, height As Single
    left = 0
    top = 0
    width = layout.Width / 2
    height = layout.Height

    Dim style As String
    style = "C:\<INSTALLATION_PATH>\styles\<FILE_NAME>.xml"

    Call tcPpAddIn.LoadStyleForRegion(layout, style, left, top, width, height)
End Sub
View the name of the active style file: GetStyleName
Signature
VBA
tcPpAddIn.GetStyleName( _ 
    CustomLayoutOrMaster As Object _ 
) As String
C#
string tcPpAddIn.GetStyleName(
    object CustomLayoutOrMaster
);
Description

GetStyleName returns the name of the style file active in the slide master or slide layout. You can specify the slide master or slide layout by passing PowerPoint.Master or PowerPoint.CustomLayout as the CustomLayoutOrMaster parameter. The function returns the name that is specified in the name attribute of the style element of the style file (see Open and edit style files).

If no style file is active in the layout or slide master, the function returns an empty string. Note that think-cell requires that all slide masters have an active style file.

If you loaded a style file in a slide layout using the LoadStyleForRegion function, GetStyleName function does not return the name of that style file.

GetStyleName Example
VBA

To use the GetStyleName function, add the following sample code to a module in PowerPoint. To learn more, see Visual Basic for Applications.

Option Explicit

Sub GetStyleName_Sample()

    ' Get the think-cell add-in object 
    Dim tcPpAddIn As Object
    Set tcPpAddIn = Application.COMAddIns("thinkcell.addin").Object
    
    ' Get the Master of the first slide of the current presentation
    Dim master As Master
    Set master = Application.ActivePresentation.Slides(1).Master
    
    ' Print the name of the style loaded to the debug console
    Dim name As String
    name = tcPpAddIn.GetStyleName(master)
    Debug.Print name
End Sub
Remove all style files active in a layout: RemoveStyles
Signature
VBA
tcPpAddIn.RemoveStyles( _ 
    CustomLayout As PowerPoint.CustomLayout _ 
)
C#
void tcPpAddIn.RemoveStyles(
    PowerPoint.CustomLayout CustomLayout
);
Description

RemoveStyles removes the style file that is active in the slide layout CustomLayout. If the slide layout has two style files that you loaded using the LoadStyle and LoadStyleForRegion functions, RemoveStyles removes both style files. Afterwards, the style file that is active in the slide master will apply to the slide layout. You can't remove style files active in a slide master, because think-cell requires that all slide masters have an active style file.

RemoveStyles Example
VBA

To use the RemoveStyles function, add the following sample code to a module in PowerPoint . To learn more, see Visual Basic for Applications.

Option Explicit
 
Sub RemoveStyles_Sample() 

    ' Get the think-cell add-in object 
    Dim tcPpAddIn As Object 
    Set tcPpAddIn = Application.COMAddIns("thinkcell.addin").Object 

    Dim layout As CustomLayout
    Set layout = Application.ActivePresentation.Designs(1).SlideMaster.CustomLayouts(2)

    Call tcPpAddIn.RemoveStyles(layout)
End Sub

Style file terminology

This section explains terms related to think-cell charts and XML structure that appear in this chapter. The following are an overview of XML terms with examples and descriptions and a glossary of chart terms.

Overview of XML terms

To customize think-cell styles, in a style file, you add or edit elements, child elements, attributes, and values. These are the main structural units that make up an XML file. To better understand the meaning and use of these four terms, consider the following XML example and table of definitions.

<solidFill name="Text 1">
  <schemeClr val="bg1"/>
</solidFill>

Term

Definition

In the XML snippet

Element

The fundamental unit that specifies a style in the style file. Elements have opening and closing tags.

solidFill is an element. It specifies a color fill style.

<solidFill name="Text 1"> is the opening tag, and </solidFill> is the closing tag.

Child element

An element located between another element's opening and closing tags. Child elements specify properties of their parent elements.

schemeClr is a child element. It specifies that the solidFill element is a PowerPoint theme color.

<schemeClr val="bg1"/> is a self-closing tag, so it doesn't require an additional closing tag.

Attribute

A string that is located in an element's opening tag to specify properties for that element. An attribute is followed by an equal sign.

name and val are attributes of their respective elements.

  • name specifies a name for solidFill.
  • val specifies a theme color for schemeClr.

Value

A string or number that specifies properties of an attribute. Values are placed in quotation marks.

Text 1 and bg1 are values of their respective attributes.

  • Text 1 is the name that appears in the Fill menu.
  • bg1 specifies the background color of the active PowerPoint theme as the color that schemeClr uses.

Chart creation glossary

English Metric Unit (EMU): English Metric Unit. A unit of measurement used primarily in Microsoft Office applications. A millimeter is 36,000 EMUs. A font point is 12,700 EMUs, so an 8 pt font is 101,600 EMUs.

fill: A solid color, pattern, texture, color gradient, or transparent area that applies to the interior of a shape.

label: Text that identifies or describes segments or other chart features.

legend: A table that displays the fills, markers, or line styles that identify chart series and the corresponding series labels.

marker: A shape, such as a circle, triangle, or diamond, that represents data in line and scatter charts. A marker's position denotes value and its shape denotes a data series.

scheme: A predefined set of fills, markers, or line styles used to identify data series in a chart.

segment: A rectangular part of a column or bar chart, Mekko chart, or waterfall chart that represents the value of a cell in the datasheet.

Customize available style options

This section describes how to customize the available style options: the line and font styles that think-cell uses by default and the reference lists of available fills, line styles, markers, and shapes.

The reference lists are inventories of the styles—that is, fills, line styles, markers, and shapes—that you specify later in the style file. To specify a style for a think-cell element in the style file, you need to first add this style to its corresponding reference list.

The available style options that you specify also determine the options that appear on the mini toolbar.

Customize the list of fills

Customize the list of fills that think-cell uses. Elements that specify default colors, create fill schemes for charts, and set the colors of various lines and shapes will reference the list of fills. The fills appear on the mini toolbar on the Fill menu (see Fills). To customize the list of fills, follow these steps:

  1. In the style file, find the fillLst element.
  2. In the fillLst element, specify the fills by adding or editing noFill, solidFill, and pattFill child elements. To learn more about each child element, see the following element reference.
  3. To add divider lines that separate sets of fills on the Fill menu, in the fillLst element, add the separator child element.
Element reference
Create the fill list: fillLst

Create the list of fills that other elements in the style file can reference. The list appears on the mini toolbar on the Fill menu.

  • In the fillLst element, specify colors by adding solidFill child elements and specify patterns by adding pattFill child elements.
  • In the fillLst element, specify a transparent fill option by adding the noFill child element.
  • In the fillLst element, add divider lines that separate sets of fills in the Fill menu by adding the separator child element.
  • In each child element, set a unique name in the name attribute. Other elements reference fills using the fill's name value.

Child element

Description

Attributes

noFill
  • Required.
  • Specifies a transparent fill option.

name

Required. Specifies a unique name for the fill.

solidFill

name

Required. Specifies a unique name for the fill.

pattFill
  • Required.
  • Specifies a pattern fill based on two colors and a pattern.
  • Optional: To specify the background and foreground colors for the pattern fill, add the child elements fgClr and bgClr. If the the relevant child element is not present, pattFill uses black as the foreground fill color and white as the background fill color.

name

Required. Specifies a unique name for the fill.

prst

Optional. References a preset pattern. If not present, pattFill uses the pct5 pattern.

Possible values:

A value described in the Office Open XML's preset pattern values attribute list.

separator

  • Optional.
  • Specifies a divider line that separate sets of fills in the Fill menu.

Specify a color: solidFill

Specify the fill colors in the fill list. Set PowerPoint theme colors or specific RGB colors.

  • In the solidFill element, specify the color by adding one of the following child elements.

Child element

Description

Attributes

schemeClr
  • Required.
  • Specifies a fill color using the colors from the active PowerPoint theme.
  • schemeClr, srgbClr, sdrgbClr, scrgbClr, and prstClr are mutually exclusive.
  • Optional: To specify brightness modulation, add the lumMod and lumOff child elements.
  • We recommend using the value of the val attribute in schemeClr also as the value of the name attribute in solidFill. Then, PowerPoint's name for that color appears on the Fill menu in the same language as PowerPoint’s display language. For example, if you use bg1 both as the val value of a schemeClr and the name value of a solidFill, that color appears on the Fill menu as Background 1 if the display language is English and as Hintergrund 1 if the display language is German.

val

Required. Specifies the built-in theme color

Possible values:

  • accent1
  • accent2
  • accent3
  • accent4
  • accent5
  • accent6
  • bg1
  • bg2
  • dk1
  • dk2
  • folHlink
  • hlink
  • lt1
  • lt2
  • tx1
  • tx2

srgbClr
  • Required.
  • Specifies a fill color using RGB values.
  • schemeClr, srgbClr, sdrgbClr, scrgbClr, and prstClr are mutually exclusive.
  • Optional: To specify brightness modulation, add the lumMod and lumOff child elements.

val

Required. Specifies the intensity of red, green, and blue using hexadecimal values.

Possible values:

Any six-digit hexadecimal color value between 000000 and ffffff. Case-insensitive.

sdrgbClr

r, g, b

Required. Specify the intensity of red, green, and blue, respectively.

Possible values:

Any number between 0 and 255.

scrgbClr

r, g, b

Required. Specify the intensity of red, green, and blue, respectively as a percentage.

Possible values:

Any percentage between 0% and 100%.

prstClr
  • Required.
  • Specifies a fill color using the Office Open XML preset colors.
  • schemeClr, srgbClr, sdrgbClr, scrgbClr, and prstClr are mutually exclusive.
  • Optional: To specify brightness modulation, add the lumMod and lumOff child elements.

val

Required. Specifies a fill color based on XML presets.

Possible values:

A value described in the Office Open XML's preset fill color values list.
Lighten or darken a color: lumMod and lumOff

To customize the luminance, or brightness, of any solid fill color, in a schemeClr, srgbClr, sdrgbClr, scrgbClr, or prstClr child element, add the lumMod and lumOff child elements.

  • To make a fill color darker, add the lumMod child element.
  • To make a fill color lighter, we recommend using lumOff together with lumMod. When used together, we recommend that the combined val values of lumMod and lumOff attributes add up to 100%.
  • For example, to darken a color by 10%, add lumMod and set its val attribute to 90%. To lighten a color by 10%, add both elements, then set the val attribute of lumMod to 90% and the val attribute of lumOff to 10%.
  • Here are some examples showing how PowerPoint creates lighter and darker variations of the same base color in its Theme Colors menu:
    • Lighter 80%: <lumMod val="20%"/> <lumOff val="80%/>
    • Lighter 60%: <lumMod val="40%"/> <lumOff val="60%/>
    • Lighter 40%: <lumMod val="60%"/> <lumOff val="40%/>
    • Darker 25%: <lumMod val="75%"/>
    • Darker 50%: <lumMod val="50%"/>

To see how lumMod and lumOff customizations appear in a list of fills, see the example screenshots in the Fill list example.

Child element

Description

Attributes

lumMod
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the luminance modulation of the fill color.

val

Required. Specifies a color's luminance modulation as a percentage.

Possible values:

Any percentage between 0% and 100%.

lumOff
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the luminance offset of the fill color.
  • We recommend using lumOff together with lumMod. When used together, we recommend that the combined val values of lumMod and lumOff attributes add up to 100%.

val

Required. Specifies a color's luminance offset as a percentage.

Possible values:

Any percentage between -100% and 100%.
Specify a pattern: pattFill

Specify the fill patterns in the fill list.

  • In each pattFill element, specify the foreground and background fill by adding one or both of the fgClr and bgClr child elements, respectively.
  • If a pattFill element has missing child elements, it uses black as the foreground fill color and white as the background fill color.
  • In each fgClr and bgClr child element, specify the fill color by adding one of schemeClr, srgbClr, sdrgbClr, scrgbClr, or prstClr.

Child element

Description

Attributes

fgClr
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the foreground fill color of a pattern.
  • If not present, think-cell uses black as the foreground color.
  • Requires one of the following child elements to specify the fill color: schemeClr, srgbClr, sdrgbClr, scrgbClr, or prstClr.

None

bgClr
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the background fill color of a pattern.
  • If not present, think-cell uses white as the background color.
  • Requires one of the following child elements to specify the fill color: schemeClr, srgbClr, sdrgbClr, scrgbClr, or prstClr.
Fill list example

The following example shows an XML code snippet displaying the fillLst child elements and how the specified fill list appears on the mini toolbar.

<fillLst>
 <noFill name="No Fill"/>
 <solidFill name="tx1">
   <schemeClr val="tx1"/>
 </solidFill>
 <solidFill name="bg1">
  <schemeClr val="bg1"/>
 </solidFill>
 <solidFill name="accent1">
  <schemeClr val="accent1"/>
 </solidFill>
 <solidFill name="accent2">
  <schemeClr val="accent2"/>
 </solidFill>
 <solidFill name="accent3">
  <schemeClr val="accent3"/>
 </solidFill>
 <solidFill name="Green">
  <sdrgbClr r="0" g="255" b="0"/>
 </solidFill>
 <solidFill name="Yellow">
  <scrgbClr r="100%" g="100%" b="0%"/>
 </solidFill>
 <solidFill name="Blue">
	<prstClr val="blue"/>
 </solidFill>
 <solidFill name="Red">
  <srgbClr val="CC0000"/>
 </solidFill>
 <separator/>
 <solidFill name="Accent 1, Lighter 20%">
  <schemeClr val="accent1">
   <lumMod val="80%"/>
   <lumOff val="20%"/>
  </schemeClr>
 </solidFill>
 <solidFill name="Accent 1, Darker 20%">
  <schemeClr val="accent1">
   <lumMod val="80%"/>
   </schemeClr>
 </solidFill>
 <separator/>
 <solidFill name="Gray">
  <prstClr val="silver"/>
 </solidFill>
 <solidFill name="Purple">
  <prstClr val="purple"/>
 </solidFill>
 <separator/>
 <pattFill name="10%" prst="pct10">
  <fgClr>
   <schemeClr val="tx1"/>
  </fgClr>
  <bgClr>
   <schemeClr val="bg1"/>
  </bgClr>
 </pattFill>
 <pattFill name="25%" prst="pct25">
  <fgClr>
   <schemeClr val="tx1"/>
  </fgClr>
  <bgClr>
   <schemeClr val="bg1"/>
  </bgClr>
  </pattFill>
 <pattFill name="50%" prst="pct50">
  <fgClr>
   <schemeClr val="tx1"/>
  </fgClr>
  <bgClr>
   <schemeClr val="bg1"/>
	</bgClr>
 </pattFill>
 <pattFill name="Light downward diagonal" prst="ltDnDiag">
  <fgClr>
   <schemeClr val="tx1"/>
  </fgClr>
  <bgClr>
   <schemeClr val="bg1"/>
  </bgClr>
 </pattFill>
 <pattFill name="Wide upward diagonal" prst="wdUpDiag">
  <fgClr>
   <schemeClr val="tx1"/>
  </fgClr>
  <bgClr>
   <schemeClr val="bg1"/>
  </bgClr>
 </pattFill>
</fillLst>

Customize the list of line styles

Customize the list of line styles that think-cell uses. Elements that specify custom lines, create line schemes, and specify line styles for various chart features will reference the list of lines (see Change the line style and weight). The line styles appear on the mini toolbar on the Line Style menu. To customize the list of lines, follow these steps:

  1. In the style file, find the lnLst element.
  2. In the lnLst element, specify the lines by adding or editing ln child elements. To learn more about the ln child element, see the following element reference.
Element reference
Create the line list: lnLst

Create the list of lines that other elements in the style file can reference. The list appears on the mini toolbar on the Line Style menu.

  • In the lnLst element, specify line styles by adding at least one ln child element.
  • In each ln element, specify the line weight in the w attribute and set a unique name in the name attribute. Other elements reference lines using the line's name value.

Child element

Description

Attributes

ln
  • Required.
  • Specifies a line name and line weight.
  • Requires a prstDash child element to specify the line type.

name

Required. Specifies a unique name for the line.

w

Required. Specifies the line weight in EMUs (36000 = 1 mm).

Maximum possible value: 152400

Specify a line style: ln

Specify the line types in the line list.

  • In each ln element, add a prstDash child element.
  • In each prstDash child element, specify a solid or dashed line type based on preset XML values.

Child element

Description

Attributes

prstDash
  • Required.
  • Specifies a solid or dashed line type.

val

Required. Specifies the line type based on Office Open XML's preset line type values.

Possible values:

  • dash = Dash
  • dashDot = Dash dot
  • lgDash = Long dash
  • lgDashDot = Long dash dot
  • lgDashDotDot = Long dash dot dot
  • solid = Solid line
  • sysDashDotDot = Dash dot dot

  • sysDot = Dot
Line style list example

The following example shows an XML code snippet displaying the lnLst child elements and how the specified line list appears on the mini toolbar.

<lnLst>
 <ln name="Solid 0.5 pt" w="6350">
  <prstDash val="solid"/>
 </ln>
 <ln name="Solid 1 pt" w="12700">
  <prstDash val="solid"/>
 </ln>
 <ln name="Solid 1.5 pt" w="19050">
  <prstDash val="solid"/>
 </ln>
 <ln name="Long Dash 0.5 pt" w="6350">
  <prstDash val="lgDash"/>
 </ln>
 <ln name="Long Dash 1 pt" w="12700">
  <prstDash val="lgDash"/>
 </ln>
 <ln name="Long Dash 1.5 pt" w="19050">
  <prstDash val="lgDash"/>
 </ln>
 <ln name="Dash 0.5 pt" w="6350">
  <prstDash val="dash"/>
 </ln>
 <ln name="Dash 1 pt" w="12700">
  <prstDash val="dash"/>
 </ln>
 <ln name="Dash 1.5 pt" w="19050">
  <prstDash val="dash"/>
 </ln>
 <ln name="Dot 0.5 pt" w="6350">
  <prstDash val="sysDot"/>
 </ln>
 <ln name="Dot 1 pt" w="12700">
  <prstDash val="sysDot"/>
 </ln>
 <ln name="Dot 1.5 pt" w="19050">
  <prstDash val="sysDot"/>
 </ln>
 <ln name="Long Dash Dot 1 pt" w="12700">
  <prstDash val="lgDashDot"/>
 </ln>
 <ln name="Dash Dot 1 pt" w="12700">
  <prstDash val="dashDot"/>
 </ln>
 <ln name="Long Dash Dot Dot 1 pt" w="12700">
  <prstDash val="lgDashDotDot"/>
 </ln>
 <ln name="Dash Dot Dot 1 pt" w="12700">
  <prstDash val="sysDashDotDot"/>
 </ln>
</lnLst>

Customize the list of markers

Customize the list of markers that think-cell uses. Elements you use throughout the style file will reference the list of markers to specify default markers and create marker schemes for line, scatter, and Gantt charts (see Marker shape). The markers appear on the mini toolbar on the Marker Style menu. To customize the list of markers, follow these steps:

  1. In the style file, find the markerLst element.
  2. In the markerLst element, specify the markers by adding or editing marker child elements. To learn more about the marker child element, see the following element reference.
Element reference
Create the marker list: markerLst

Create the list of markers that other elements in the style file can reference. The list appears on the mini toolbar on the Marker Style menu.

  • In the markerLst element, specify markers by adding at least one marker child element.
  • In each child element, set a unique name in the name attribute. Other elements reference markers using the marker's name value.

Child element

Description

Attributes

marker
  • Required.
  • Specifies a marker.
  • Requires a symbol child element to specify the marker shape.

name

Required. Specifies a unique name for the marker.
Specify a marker style: marker

Specify the marker styles in the marker list.

  • In each marker element, add a symbol child element.
  • In each symbol child element, specify a marker shape based on preset XML values.

Child element

Description

Attributes

symbol
  • Required.
  • Specifies the marker shape.

val

Required. Specifies the marker shape based on the Office Open XML's preset marker shape values list.

Possible values:

  • circle
  • dash
  • diamond
  • dot
  • hollowCircle
  • hollowDiamond
  • hollowSquare
  • hollowTriangle
  • plus
  • star
  • square
  • triangle

  • x
Marker list example

The following example shows an XML code snippet displaying the markerLst child elements and how the specified marker list appears on the mini toolbar.

<markerLst>
 <marker name="Marker1">
  <symbol val="circle"/>
 </marker>
 <marker name="Marker2">
  <symbol val="triangle"/>
 </marker>
 <marker name="Marker3">
  <symbol val="diamond"/>
 </marker>
 <marker name="Marker4">
  <symbol val="square"/>
 </marker>
 <marker name="HollowMarker1">
  <symbol val="hollowCircle"/>
 </marker>
 <marker name="HollowMarker2">
  <symbol val="hollowTriangle"/>
 </marker>
 <marker name="HollowMarker3">
  <symbol val="hollowDiamond"/>
 </marker>
 <marker name="HollowMarker4">
  <symbol val="hollowSquare"/>
 </marker>
 <marker name="Marker5">
  <symbol val="star"/>
 </marker>
 <marker name="Xmark">
  <symbol val="x"/>
 </marker>
 <marker name="Dash">
  <symbol val="dash"/>
 </marker>
 <marker name="PlusSign">
  <symbol val="plus"/>
 </marker>
</markerLst>

Troubleshoot background fills for axis breaks and boxed segment labels

Optional

By default, think-cell automatically adjusts the background fill of axis breaks and some boxed segment labels to match the slide's background fill. If chart features don't match the slide's background, we recommend editing the PowerPoint slide master to change the slide background fill. To change the slide background fill using the slide master, select Slide Master > Background > Background Styles > Format Background, then select the fill you want and select Apply to All. To learn more about changing the slide background fill using the slide master, see KB0129.

If you don't want to change the slide master, you can override think-cell's automatic background detection and manually specify the slide's background fill. This is typically useful in the following cases:

  • The slide background fill isn't configured with the slide master's Format Background option and/or can't be changed using the slide master. As a result, the background fills of axis breaks and some boxed segment labels don't match the rest of the slide.
  • Your design uses different backgrounds in different areas of the same slide. In this case, you can assign each area its own style file using the think-cell API (see Load a style file in an area of the layout: LoadStyleForRegion).

When you manually specify a custom slide background fill, we recommend that you also specify think-cell font colors using the defRPr element to ensure that the chart feature's text is legible against the custom background (see Customize the default text style by overriding slide master text style levels). To manually specify the slide background fill that think-cell will match the background fills of axis breaks and certain boxed segment labels to, follow these steps:

  1. In the style file, find or add the solidfillRefBackground element.
  2. In the solidfillRefBackground element, specify the fill color that you want using the name attribute. To learn more about the solidfillRefBackground element, see the following element reference.
Element reference
Specify the background fill for axis breaks and boxed segment labels: solidfillRefBackground

Specify the fill color that think-cell will match the background fills of axis breaks and certain boxed segment labels to.

  • In the style file, find or add the solidfillRefBackground element.
  • In the solidfillRefBackground element, specify the fill color using the name attribute.

Elements

Description

Attributes

solidfillRefBackground
  • Specifies a background fill for axis breaks and some boxed segment labels.

name

Required. Specifies a fill color name from the list of fills in fillLst. To learn more, see Customize the list of fills.
Background color example

The following example shows an XML code snippet displaying the solidfillRefBackground element and how the specified background fill affects the appearance of axis breaks and segment labels.

<solidfillRefBackground name="Yellow" />

Customize the global default line style

Specify a line type and color that think-cell uses as the global default. If you don't specify a custom line style for a chart feature, think-cell will use the global default line style. If you only add an element to specify a custom line type or color, think-cell uses the value set in the global default line style for the missing element. To specify the global default line style, follow these steps:

  1. In the style file, find the lnfillDefault element.
  2. In the lnfillDefault element, specify the default line type and color by adding or editing the lnRef and solidfillRef child elements. To learn more about each child element, see the following element reference.
Element reference
Specify the global default line style: lnfillDefault

Specify the default line style that think-cell uses.

  • In the lnfillDefault element, specify the line type by adding the lnRef child element and line color by adding the solidfillRef child element in the order that they appear in the table.
  • Throughout the style file, if an optional element specifying a custom line type or color is not present, think-cell specifies that line type or color using the lnRef or solidfillRef specified in lnfillDefault, respectively.

Child element

Description

Attributes

lnRef
  • Required.
  • Specifies the default line type used in think-cell charts and other elements.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of lines in lnLst.

solidfillRef
  • Required.
  • Specifies the default line color used in think-cell charts and other elements.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of fills in fillLst.
Default line style example

The following example shows an XML code snippet displaying the lnfillDefault element. Using this example, if you don't specify a custom line style for an element or only specify a custom line type or color, think-cell will use the default Solid 1 pt type and Text 1 color.

<lnfillDefault>
 <lnRef name="Solid 1 pt"/>
 <solidfillRef name="tx1"/>
</lnfillDefault>

Specify a custom line style

Throughout the style file, many optional elements allow you to specify a custom line style for a chart feature. These elements give you the option to customize specific line styles, using the child elements lnRef and solidfillRef to specify line type and line color, respectively. In some cases, you can also specify a chart feature with no lines at all. In such cases, specify chart elements without lines using the noLine child element, which replaces the lnRef and solidfillRef child elements. Each optional element that specifies a line style overrides the line style specified one level above that element, which is the global default line style specified in lnfillDefault, unless otherwise noted (see Customize the global default line style).

As a general rule, think-cell follows this logic of custom line styles overriding another line style with all optional elements. If line type (lnRef) or color (solidfillRef) isn't present in an optional element, think-cell uses the line type or color specified one level above that element, usually in lnfillDefault. If you omit a line style element altogether, think-cell uses the style specified one level above that element, usually in lnfillDefault. Thus, you only need to add elements that specify a custom line style if you want line type or color that is different from the respective default line style.

For example, the optional lnfillArrowCAGR element specifies a custom line style for CAGR arrows. If lnfillArrowCAGR is not present, think-cell specifies the CAGR arrow lines using the optional lnfillArrow element, which specifies the default line style for all arrows. In turn, if lnfillArrow is not present, think-cell uses the global default line style specified in lnfillDefault.

Element reference
Specify a custom line style for a chart feature: lnRef, solidfillRef, and noLine

To specify a custom line style for a chart feature, in the style file, add the optional element for that chart feature. When specifying a custom line style with an optional element, note the following:

  • To specify a custom line type and color, in the element, add the lnRef child element followed by the solidfillRef child element. To specify only the line type or color, add just one of the child elements.
  • You can specify some chart features without lines. To specify no lines for such chart features, in the element, add the noLine child element instead of lnRef and solidfillRef.

Child element

Description

Attributes

lnRef
  • Specifies the line type.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of lines in lnLst.

solidfillRef
  • Specifies the line color.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of fill colors in fillLst.

noLine

  • Specifies a chart feature without lines.
  • Can't be used together with lnRef or solidfillRef.

None
Custom line style example

The following examples show XML code snippets displaying line style customizations at different levels in the style file and how each customization affects the appearance of CAGR arrows.

Without a custom line style, the CAGR arrow uses the global default line style:

<lnfillDefault>
 <lnRef name="Solid 0.75 pt" />
 <solidfillRef name="tx1" />
</lnfillDefault>

If you specify a custom line style for arrows, CAGR arrows will use that line style: 

<lnfillDefault>
 <lnRef name="Solid 0.75 pt" />
 <solidfillRef name="tx1" />
</lnfillDefault>
...
<lnfillArrow>
 <lnRef name="Solid 2.25 pt" />
 <solidfillRef name="Blue" />
</lnfillArrow>

If you specify a custom line color for CAGR arrows, that color will override the line color specified one level above it in lnfillArrow but think-cell will use the line type specified in lnfillArrow for CAGR arrows:

<lnfillDefault>
 <lnRef name="Solid 0.75 pt" />
 <solidfillRef name="tx1" />
</lnfillDefault>
...
<lnfillArrow>
 <lnRef name="Solid 2.25 pt" />
 <solidfillRef name="Blue" />
</lnfillArrow>
<lnfillArrowCAGR>
 <solidfillRef name="Orange" />
</lnfillArrowCAGR>

Customize the default gridline style

Optional

Specify a default line style for gridlines. To customize a default gridline style, follow these steps:

  1. In the style file, find or add the lnfillGridline element. The lnfillGridline element must be located immediately after the lnfillDefault element.
  2. In the lnfillGridline element, specify the line type by adding the lnRef child element and/or line color by adding the solidfillRef child element. To learn more about each child element, see the following element reference.
Element reference
Specify a default gridline style: lnfillGridline

Specify a custom line style for gridlines. Set a default gridline type, color, or both.

  • In the lnfillGridline element, specify the line type by adding the lnRef child element and/or line color by adding the solidfillRef child element in the order that they appear in the table (see Specify a custom line style).
  • If lnRef or solidfillRef is not present, think-cell uses the value in lnfillDefault for the missing element.

Child element

Description

Attributes

lnRef
  • Required if solidfillRef is not present.
  • Specifies the default line type used for think-cell element gridlines.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of lines in lnLst.

solidfillRef
  • Required if lnRef is not present.
  • Specifies the default line color used for think-cell element gridlines.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of fills in fillLst.
Default gridline style example

The following example shows an XML code snippet displaying the lnfillGridline element and how it customizes the default appearance of axis gridlines in a chart.

<lnfillGridline>
 <lnRef name="Solid 0.5 pt" />
 <solidfillRef name="Red"/>
</lnfillGridline>

Customize the list of arrow label and Gantt timeline shapes

Customize the list of arrow label and Gantt timeline shapes that think-cell uses. Elements you use throughout the style file will reference the list of shapes to specify default styles for difference and CAGR arrow labels and the list of Gantt chart timeline shapes (see Chart annotations and Timeline items). The markers appear on the Gantt chart mini toolbar on the Shape Style menu. To customize the list of shape styles, follow these steps:

  1. In the style file, find the shapestyleLst element.
  2. In the shapestyleLst element, specify the shapes by adding or editing shapestyle child elements. To learn more about the shapestyle child element, see the following element reference.
Element reference
Create the shape list: shapestyleLst

Create the list of shapes that other elements in the style file can reference. The list appears on the mini toolbar on the Shape Style menu.

  • In the shapestyleLst element, specify shapes by adding one or more shapestyle child elements.
  • In each child element, set a unique name in the name attribute. Other elements reference shapes using the shape's name value.

Child element

Description

Attributes

shapestyle
  • Required.
  • Specifies a shape style.
  • Requires a fillRef child element to specify the fill.
  • Optional: To specify a custom shape outline style, add the lnfill child element.

name

Required. Specifies a unique name for the shape style.
Specify a shape style: shapestyle

Specify the shape styles in the shape list.

  • In each shapestyle element, add a fillRef child element and an optional lnfill child element.
  • In each fillRef child element, specify a shape's background fill in the name attribute.
  • In each lnfill child element, specify a shape's outline by adding the child elements described in the table.

Child element

Description

Attributes

fillRef
  • Required.
  • Specifies a shape's background fill.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of fills in fillLst.

lnfill
  • Optional.
  • Specifies a shape's outline.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color. To specify a shape without an outline, add the noLine child element instead (see Specify a custom line style).

None

Shape style list example

The following example shows an XML code snippet displaying the shapestyleLst child elements and how the specified shape list appears on the mini toolbar.

<shapestyleLst>
 <shapestyle name="Completed">
  <fillRef name="Green" />
 </shapestyle>
 <shapestyle name="In Progress">
  <fillRef name="Blue" />
  <lnfill>
   <lnRef name="Dash 0.5 pt" />
  </lnfill>
 </shapestyle>
 <shapestyle name="Backlog">
  <fillRef name="Gray" />
  <lnfill>
   <lnRef name="Dash 0.5 pt" />
  </lnfill>
 </shapestyle>
</shapestyleLst>

Customize charts

Customize the lists of fill, line, and marker schemes

Create schemes of fills, lines, and markers that think-cell uses for charts. You can create any number of schemes. You can only reference the fills, lines, and markers listed in fillLst, lnLst, and markerLst elements in the schemes (see Customize available style options).

Customize the list of fill schemes

Customize the list of fill schemes that think-cell uses (see Chart fill scheme). Elements throughout the style file reference this list to specify default schemes for think-cell charts. The schemes appear on the mini toolbar on the Fill Scheme menu. To learn how to specify the default fill scheme for each applicable chart type, see Customize the default chart schemes. To customize the list of fill schemes, follow these steps:

  1. In the style file, find or add the fillSchemeLst element.
  2. In the fillSchemeLst element, create fill schemes by adding fillScheme child elements.
  3. In each fillScheme element, add child elements as needed. To learn more about each child element, see the following element reference.
  4. To add divider lines that separate sets of schemes on the Fill Scheme menu, in the fillSchemeLst element, add the separator child element.
Element reference
Create the fill scheme list: fillSchemeLst

Create the list of fill schemes that other elements in the style file can reference. The list appears on the mini toolbar on the Fill Scheme menu.

  • In the fillSchemeLst element, specify schemes by adding fillScheme child elements.
  • In the fillSchemeLst element, add divider lines that separate sets of schemes in the Fill Scheme menu by adding the separator child element.
  • In each fillScheme child element, set a unique name in the name attribute. Other elements reference fill schemes using the scheme's name value.

Child element

Description

Attributes

fillScheme
  • Required.
  • Specifies a fill scheme.
  • Requires one or more fillRef child elements to specify the fills in the scheme.

name

Required. Specifies a unique name for the fill scheme.

fillRefOtherSeries

Required. Specifies the fill scheme used for Other Series. To learn more, see Other series.

repeatLast

Optional. Specifies what happens when there are more series in the chart than there are fills in the fill scheme. If not present, the sequence of fills will repeat.

Possible values:

  • 0 = Repeats the fill sequence (default)
  • 1 = Uses the last fill for all subsequent series

separator

  • Optional.
  • Specifies a divider line that separates sets of schemes on the Fill Scheme menu.

Specify a fill scheme: fillScheme

Specify the fill schemes in the fill scheme list. Add child elements in the order that they appear in the table.

  • If you want to specify outline styles for chart segments, in the fillScheme element, add the lnfillSegment and lnfillSegmentMekko child elements.
  • In the fillScheme element, specify the fills in the scheme by adding fillRef child elements.
  • If you want to specify fill schemes for charts with a specific number of series, in the fillScheme element, add seriesCountSpecific child elements.

Child element

Description

Attributes

lnfillSegment
  • Optional.
  • Specifies an outline style for chart segments.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the global default line style specified in lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color. To specify segments without outlines, add the noLine child element instead (see Specify a custom line style).

None

lnfillSegmentMekko
  • Optional.
  • Specifies an outline style for segments in Mekko charts.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the line style specified in lnfillSegment. If lnfillSegment is not present, think-cell uses the global default line style specified in lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color. To specify Mekko chart segments without outlines, add the noLine child element instead (see Specify a custom line style).

None

fillRef
  • Required.
  • Specifies a fill color or pattern.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of fills in fillLst. To learn more, see Customize the list of fills.

seriesCountSpecific
  • Optional.
  • Specifies a fill scheme for charts that have a specific number of series.
  • If not present, all charts will use the same fill scheme.
  • Requires one or more fillRef child elements to specify the fills in sequence.

seriesCount

Required. Specifies how many series a chart should have for seriesCountSpecific to apply.

Possible values:

A number, such as 4, or a range, such as 2-4, that indicate the number of series that a chart has.

repeatLast

Optional. Specifies what happens when there are more series in the chart than there are fills in the fill scheme. If not present, the sequence of fills will repeat.

Possible values:

  • 0 = Repeats the fill sequence (default)
  • 1 = Uses the last fill for all subsequent series
Fill scheme list example

The following example shows an XML code snippet displaying the fillSchemeLst child elements and how the specified schemes appear on the mini toolbar. 

<fillSchemeLst>
 <fillScheme name="PowerPoint Theme" fillRefOtherSeries="Gray">
  <lnfillSegment>
   <noLine />
  </lnfillSegment>
  <lnfillSegmentMekko>
   <lnRef name="Solid 1 pt" />
   <solidfillRef name="tx1" />
  </lnfillSegmentMekko>
   <fillRef name="accent1" />
   <fillRef name="accent2" />
   <fillRef name="accent3" />
 </fillScheme>
 <fillScheme name="Gray" fillRefOtherSeries="PowerPoint Theme">
   <fillRef name="Gray" />
 </fillScheme>
 <fillScheme name="Patterns" fillRefOtherSeries="50%">
  <lnfillSegmentMekko>
   <lnRef name="Solid 1.5 pt" />
  </lnfillSegmentMekko>
   <fillRef name="bg1" />
   <fillRef name="10%" />
   <fillRef name="Light downward diagonal" />
   <fillRef name="Wide upward diagonal" />
  <seriesCountSpecific seriesCount="1">
	 <fillRef name="25%" />
  </seriesCountSpecific>
 </fillScheme>
</fillSchemeLst>

Customize the list of line schemes

Customize the list of line schemes that think-cell uses. Elements throughout the style file reference this list to specify default schemes for think-cell line charts. The schemes appear on the mini toolbar on the Line Scheme menu (see Line scheme). To learn how to specify default line schemes for line charts, see Customize the default chart schemes. To customize the list of line schemes, follow these steps:

  1. In the style file, find or add the lnfillmarkerSchemeLst element.
  2. In the lnfillmarkerSchemeLst element, create line schemes by adding lnfillmarkerScheme child elements.
  3. In each lnfillmarkerScheme element, add child elements as needed. To learn more about each child element, see the following element reference.
  4. To add divider lines that separate sets of schemes on the Line Scheme menu, in the lnfillmarkerSchemeLst element, add the separator child element.
Element reference
Create the line scheme list: lnfillmarkerSchemeLst

Create the list of line schemes that other elements in the style file can reference. The list appears on the mini toolbar on the Line Scheme menu.

  • In the lnfillmarkerSchemeLst element, specify schemes by adding lnfillmarkerScheme child elements.
  • In the fillSchemeLst element, add divider lines that separate sets of schemes on the Line Scheme menu by adding the separator child element.
  • In each lnfillmarkerScheme child element, set a unique name in the name attribute. Other elements reference line schemes using the scheme's name value.

Child element

Description

Attributes

lnfillmarkerScheme
  • Required.
  • Specifies a line scheme.
  • Requires one or more lnfillmarker child elements to specify the lines in the scheme.

name

Required. Specifies a unique name for the line scheme.

separator

  • Optional.
  • Specifies a divider line that separates sets of schemes on the Line Scheme menu.

Specify a line scheme: lnfillmarkerScheme

Specify the line schemes in the line scheme list. Add child elements in the order that they appear in the table.

  • In the lnfillmarkerScheme element, specify the lines in the scheme by adding lnfillmarker child elements.
  • If you want to specify line schemes for charts with a specific number of series, in the lnfillmarkerScheme element, add seriesCountSpecific child elements.

Child element

Description

Attributes

lnfillmarker
  • Required.
  • Specifies a line style.
  • Optional: To specify custom line and marker styles, add the lnRef, solidfillRef, and markerRef child elements.

None

seriesCountSpecific
  • Optional.
  • Specifies a line scheme for charts that have a specific number of series.
  • If not present, all charts will use the same line scheme.
  • Requires one or more lnfillmarker child elements to specify the lines in the scheme.

seriesCount

Required. Specifies how many series a chart should have for seriesCountSpecific to apply.

Possible values:

A number, such as 4, or a range, such as 2-4, that indicate the number of series that a chart has.

repeatLast

Optional. Specifies what happens when there are more series in the chart than there are lines in the line scheme. If not present, the sequence of lines will repeat.

Possible values:

  • 0 = Repeats the line sequence (default)
  • 1 = Uses the last line for all subsequent series
Specify custom line and marker styles: lnfillmarker

Specify the line and marker styles in each line scheme.

  • In each lnfillmarker element, specify a custom line style by adding any of the following child elements in the order that they appear in the table.
  • If no child elements are present, lnfillmarker uses the global default line style specified in lnfillDefault. (see Specify a custom line style).

Child element

Description

Attributes

lnRef
  • Optional.
  • Specifies a line type.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the global default line type specified in lnfillDefault (see Specify a custom line style).

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of lines in lnLst. To learn more, see Customize the list of line styles.

solidfillRef
  • Optional.
  • Specifies a line color.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the global default line color specified in lnfillDefault (see Specify a custom line style).

name

Required. Specifies a fill color name from the list of fills in fillLst. To learn more, see Customize the list of fills.

markerRef
  • Optional.
  • Specifies a marker style for the line.
  • If not present, the line doesn't have markers.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of markers in markerLst. To learn more, see Customize the list of markers.
Line scheme list example

The following example shows an XML code snippet displaying the lnfillmarkerSchemeLst child elements and how the specified schemes appear on the mini toolbar. 

<lnfillmarkerSchemeLst>
	<lnfillmarkerScheme name="Dash with Markers">
		<lnfillmarker>
			<lnRef name="Long Dash 1.5 pt"/>
			<solidfillRef name="tx1"/>
			<markerRef name="Square"/>
		</lnfillmarker>
		<lnfillmarker>
			<lnRef name="Dash 1.5 pt"/>
			<solidfillRef name="Blue"/>
			<markerRef name="Circle"/>
		</lnfillmarker>
		<lnfillmarker>
			<lnRef name="Long Dash 2.25 pt"/>
			<solidfillRef name="Red"/>
			<markerRef name="Triangle"/>
		</lnfillmarker>
	</lnfillmarkerScheme>
	<lnfillmarkerScheme name="Solid without Markers">
		<lnfillmarker>
			<lnRef name="Solid 1.5 pt" />
		</lnfillmarker>
		<lnfillmarker>
			<lnRef name="Solid 2.25 pt"/>
			<solidfillRef name="Gray"/>
		</lnfillmarker>
	</lnfillmarkerScheme>
</lnfillmarkerSchemeLst>

Customize the list of marker schemes

Customize the list of marker schemes that scatter charts use. The schemes appear on the mini toolbar on the Marker Scheme menu (see Marker scheme). To learn how to specify the default marker scheme for scatter charts, see Customize the default chart schemes. To customize the list of marker schemes, follow these steps:

  1. In the style file, find or add the fillmarkerSchemeLst element.
  2. In the fillmarkerSchemeLst element, create marker schemes by adding fillmarkerScheme child elements.
  3. In each fillmarkerScheme element, add child elements as needed. To learn more about each child element, see the following element reference.
  4. To add divider lines that separate sets of schemes on the Marker Scheme menu, in the fillmarkerSchemeLst element, add the separator child element.
Element reference
Create the marker scheme list: fillmarkerSchemeLst

Create the list of marker schemes that scatter charts use. The list appears on the mini toolbar on the Marker Scheme menu.

  • In the fillmarkerSchemeLst element, specify schemes by adding fillmarkerScheme child elements.
  • In the fillmarkerSchemeLst element, add divider lines that separate sets of schemes on the Marker Scheme menu by adding the separator child element.
  • In each fillmarkerScheme child element, set a unique name in the name attribute. Other elements reference marker schemes using the scheme's name value.

Child element

Description

Attributes

fillmarkerScheme
  • Required.
  • Specifies a marker scheme.
  • Requires one or more fillmarker child elements to specify the markers in the scheme.
  • Optional: To specify an option for no markers, add a noMarker child element.

name

Required. Specifies a unique name for the marker scheme.

separator

  • Optional.
  • Specifies a divider line that separates sets of schemes in the Marker Scheme menu.

Specify a marker scheme: fillmarkerScheme

Specify the marker schemes in the marker scheme list. Add child elements in the order that they appear in the table.

  • If you want a marker scheme to use the data label to indicate positions of values without a marker, in the fillmarkerScheme element, add the noMarker child element.
  • In the fillmarkerScheme element, specify the markers in the scheme by adding fillmarker child elements.
  • If you want to specify marker schemes for charts with a specific number of series, in the fillmarkerScheme element, add seriesCountSpecific child elements.

Child element

Description

Attributes

noMarker
  • Optional.
  • Specifies an option for invisible markers in the chart.

None

fillmarker
  • Required.
  • Specifies a marker that appears in the marker scheme.
  • Requires the markerRef and solidfillRef child elements to specify marker style and color.

None

seriesCountSpecific
  • Optional.
  • Specifies a marker scheme for charts that have a specific number of series.
  • If not present, all charts will use the same marker scheme.
  • Requires one or more fillmarker and noMarker child elements to specify the markers in the scheme.

seriesCount

Required. Specifies how many series a chart should have for seriesCountSpecific to apply.

Possible values:

A number, such as 4, or a range, such as 2-4, that indicate the number of series that a chart has.
Specify marker styles: fillmarker

Specify the marker styles in each marker scheme.

  • In each fillmarker element, specify a custom marker style by adding the following child elements in the order that they appear in the table.

Child elements

Description

Attributes

markerRef
  • Required.
  • Specifies a marker type.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of markers in markerLst. To learn more, see Customize the list of markers.

solidfillRef
  • Required.
  • Specifies a marker fill color.

name

Required. Specifies a fill color name from the list of fills in fillLst. To learn more, see Customize the list of fills.
Marker scheme list example

The following example shows an XML code snippet displaying the fillmarkerSchemeLst child elements and how the specified schemes appear on the mini toolbar.

<fillmarkerSchemeLst>
 <fillmarkerScheme name="No Markers">
  <noMarker/>
 </fillmarkerScheme>
 <fillmarkerScheme name="Shapes">
  <fillmarker>
   <markerRef name="Square" />
   <solidfillRef name="Red" />
  </fillmarker>
  <fillmarker>
   <markerRef name="Circle" />
   <solidfillRef name="Green" />
  </fillmarker>
  <fillmarker>
   <markerRef name="Dash" />
   <solidfillRef name="Blue" />
  </fillmarker>
 </fillmarkerScheme>
</fillmarkerSchemeLst>

Customize the default chart schemes

Customize the default fill, line, and marker schemes that think-cell charts use (see Introduction to charts). To customize default chart schemes, follow these steps:

  1. In the style file, specify the default fill scheme for column and bar, combination, waterfall, Mekko, area, pie, doughnut, and bubble charts by adding the fillSchemeRefDefault element.
  2. If you want to specify a default fill scheme for a specific chart type individually, add the relevant element for that chart type after the fillSchemeRefDefault element. To learn more about elements that specify default fill schemes for specific chart types, see the following element reference.
  3. After specifying your default fill schemes, specify the default line and marker schemes by adding the lnfillmarkerSchemeRefDefault and fillmarkerSchemeRefDefault elements.
Element reference
Specify the default chart schemes: fillSchemeRefDefault, lnfillmarkerSchemeRefDefault, and fillmarkerSchemeRefDefault

Specify the default fill, line, and marker schemes that think-cell charts use. Add the elements in the order that they appear in the table.

  • After the fillmarkerSchemeLst element, specify the default fill scheme for column and bar, combination, waterfall, Mekko, area, pie, doughnut, and bubble charts by adding the fillSchemeRefDefault element.
  • To specify the default fill scheme for a chart type individually, add the relevant element for that chart type after the fillSchemeRefDefault element. See the following table for elements that specify a default fill scheme for a specific chart type.
    • If you specify a default fill scheme for each chart type individually, you can omit the fillSchemeRefDefault element.
  • After specifying default fill schemes, specify the default line and marker schemes by adding the lnfillmarkerSchemeRefDefault and fillmarkerSchemeRefDefault elements.

Elements

Description

Attributes

fillSchemeRefDefault
  • Required unless there is a default fill scheme specified for each chart type.
  • Specifies a default fill scheme for column and bar, combination, waterfall, Mekko, area, pie, doughnut, and bubble charts.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of fill schemes in fillSchemeLst.

fillSchemeRefDefaultStacked
  • Required unless fillSchemeRefDefault is present.
  • Specifies the default fill scheme for stacked column and bar, 100% stacked column and bar, and combination charts. To learn more, see Simple and stacked column and bar charts.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the default fill scheme specified in fillSchemeRefDefault for stacked column and bar, 100% stacked column and bar, and combination charts.

fillSchemeRefDefaultWaterfall
  • Required unless fillSchemeRefDefault is present.
  • Specifies the default fill scheme for waterfall charts. To learn more, see Waterfall charts.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the default fill scheme specified in fillSchemeRefDefault for waterfall charts.

fillSchemeRefDefaultClustered
  • Required unless fillSchemeRefDefault is present.
  • Specifies the default fill scheme for clustered column and bar charts. To learn more, see Clustered column and bar charts.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the default fill scheme specified in fillSchemeRefDefault for clustered column and bar charts.

fillSchemeRefDefaultMekko
  • Required unless fillSchemeRefDefault is present.
  • Specifies the default fill scheme for Mekko charts. To learn more, see Mekko charts.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the default fill scheme specified in fillSchemeRefDefault for Mekko charts.

fillSchemeRefDefaultArea
  • Required unless fillSchemeRefDefault is present.
  • Specifies the default fill scheme for area charts. To learn more, see Area charts.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the default fill scheme specified in fillSchemeRefDefault for area charts.

fillSchemeRefDefaultPie
  • Required unless fillSchemeRefDefault is present.
  • Specifies the default fill scheme for pie and doughnut charts. To learn more, see Pie and doughnut charts.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the default fill scheme specified in fillSchemeRefDefault for pie charts.

fillSchemeRefDefaultBubble
  • Required unless fillSchemeRefDefault is present.
  • Specifies the default fill scheme for bubble charts. To learn more, see Bubble charts.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the default fill scheme specified in fillSchemeRefDefault for bubble charts.

lnfillmarkerSchemeRefDefault

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of line schemes in lnfillmarkerSchemeLst.

lnfillmarkerSchemeRefDefaultCombination
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the default line scheme for combination charts. To learn more, see Combination charts.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the default fill scheme specified in fillSchemeRefDefault for combination charts.

fillmarkerSchemeRefDefault
  • Required.
  • Specifies the default marker scheme for scatter charts. To learn more, see Scatter charts.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of marker schemes in fillmarkerSchemeLst.

Default fill scheme example

The following example shows an XML code snippet displaying various default scheme customizations.

<fillSchemeRefDefault name="PowerPoint Theme" />
<fillSchemeRefDefaultPie name="Gray" />
<lnfillmarkerSchemeRefDefault name="Dash with Markers" /> 
<lnfillmarkerSchemeRefDefaultCombination name="Solid without Markers" />
<fillmarkerSchemeRefDefault name="Shapes" />

Customize the default text style

Optional

By default, think-cell selects one of the top three text style levels in your presentation's slide master as the default text style for think-cell elements. When selecting the text style this way, if the font size in the text style level is bigger than 14 pt, think-cell uses 14 pt font size. We recommend using the default think-cell font selection, as it provides more flexibility when there is a change in the master slide design. If think-cell's default font selection doesn't work for your brand identity, you can specify which slide master text style level think-cell uses by adding the defPPr element. If you specify the default text style level using the defPPr element, the font size has no restrictions.

For information on slide masters, see Microsoft Support. To specify the default text style level, follow these steps:

  1. In the style file, find or add the defPPr element.
  2. In the defPPr element, specify the text style level you want using the lvl attribute. To learn more about the defPPr element and possible lvl values, see the following element reference.

If you want to specify a custom default text style that overrides the slide master's text style levels, add the optional defRPr child element, then specify the custom text properties you want using the defRPr attributes and child elements. To learn more, see Customize the default text style by overriding slide master text style levels.

Element reference
Specify the default text style level: defPPr

Specify which slide master text style level think-cell uses as the default text style for think-cell elements. If the defPPr element is not present, think-cell automatically selects one of the top three text style levels in your presentation's slide master as the default text style.

  • In the defPPr element, specify the slide master text style level that think-cell uses in the lvl attribute.

Elements

Description

Attributes

defPPr
  • Optional.
  • Specifies which slide master text style level that think-cell uses.

lvl

Required. Specifies the text style level.

Possible values:

Any number between 0 and 8, where 0 refers to the first text style level in the slide master, and 8 refers to the last.
Text style level example

The following example shows an XML code snippet displaying the defPPr element and how the specified text style appears in the slide master and charts.

<defPPr lvl="1" />

Customize the default text style by overriding slide master text style levels

Optional

If you don't want to use a presentation's slide master to determine the text style, you can manually specify text properties for think-cell by adding the defRPr child element to the defPPr element. To customize the default text properties by overriding the slide master, follow these steps:

  1. In the style file, find or add the defPPr element.
  2. In the defPPr element, manually specify the default text properties by adding or editing the defRPr child element and its attributes. To learn more about the defRPr element, see the following element reference.
Element reference
Specify the default text properties by overriding the slide master: defRPr

Manually customize your default text properties by overriding the slide master. If defRPr is not present, think-cell specifies the text style using the slide master text style level set in the lvl attribute of the defPPr element. If the defPPr element is not present, think-cell automatically chooses the text style based on the presentation's slide master.

  • In the defPPr element, add the defRPr child element.
  • In the defRPr child element, specify the font size in the optional sz attribute and specify bold and italic font in the optional b and i attributes, respectively.
  • If a defRPr attribute is not present, think-cell uses the style of the slide master text style level set in the lvl attribute of the defPPr element in place of the missing attribute.

Child element

Description

Attributes

defRPr
  • Optional.
  • Specifies text properties by overriding the slide master.
  • To specify text style, add the solidfillRef, solidfillRefAlt, latin, ea, and cs child elements.

sz

Optional. Specifies the font size. 1000 = 10 pt. If not present, think-cell uses the defPPr element to specify font size.

Possible values:

Any number between 100 and 400000.

b

Optional. Enables or disables bold fonts. If not present, think-cell uses the defPPr element to specify font style.

Possible values:

  • true = Enables bold font
  • false = Disables bold font

i

Optional. Enables or disables italic font style. If not present, think-cell uses the defPPr element to specify font style.

Possible values:

  • true = Enables italic font style
  • false = Disables italic font style
Manually specify the text style: defRPr child elements

Specify a custom text color and alternative color for darker backgrounds. Set a default font for Latin, East Asian, and Complex Script texts.

  • In the defRPr element, specify the text color, alternative color, and font styles by adding any of the following child elements in the order that they appear in the table.
  • If a defRPr child element is not present, think-cell uses the style of the slide master text style level set in the lvl attribute of the defPPr element in place of the missing child element.

Child element

Description

Attributes

solidfillRef
  • Optional unless solidfillRefAlt is present.
  • Specifies the default text color.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the lvl attribute of the defPPr element to specify font color.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of fills in fillLst.

solidfillRefAlt
  • Optional unless solidfillRef is present.
  • Specifies the default alternative text color. think-cell uses the alternative text color when it offers better contrast than the default text color.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the lvl attribute of the defPPr element to specify alternative font color.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of fills in fillLst.

latin
  • Optional.
  • Specifies a default font for Latin text.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the lvl attribute of the defPPr element to specify the default font for Latin text.

typeface

Required. Specifies a font.

ea
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the default font for East Asian text.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the lvl attribute of the defPPr element to specify the default font for East Asian.

typeface

Required. Specifies a font.

cs
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the default font for Complex Script text.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the lvl attribute of the defPPr element to specify the default font for Complex Script text.

typeface

Required. Specifies a font.
Custom text style example

The following examples show XML code snippets displaying the defRPr child elements and how the specified text styles appear in the charts.

Slide master text style levels
Specifying a custom font
<defPPr lvl="1">
 <defRPr b="true" i="false">
  <latin typeface="Times New Roman" />
 </defRPr>
</defPPr>
Specifying custom font colors
<defPPr lvl="1">
 <defRPr b="true" i="false">
  <solidfillRef name="Red" />
  <solidfillRefAlt name="Gray" /> 
  <latin typeface="Times New Roman" />
 </defRPr>
</defPPr>

Create preset layouts for chart placement

Optional

Create preset layouts that specify chart positions on the slide (see Insert charts). With preset layouts, when you select a think-cell chart to insert into your presentation, the chart placement tool opens on the upper left of the slide pane. To create preset layouts, follow these steps:

  1. In your style file, find or add the fixedLayoutLst element.
  2. In the fixedLayoutLst element, add fixedLayout child elements as needed. To learn more about both elements, see the following element reference.
Element reference
Create the list of preset layouts for think-cell charts: fixedLayoutLst

Create preset layouts that specify chart positions on the slide.

  • In the style file, find or add the fixedLayoutLst element.
  • In the fixedLayoutLst element, specify layouts by adding one or more fixedLayout child elements.
  • In each fixedLayout child element, specify which chart types the layout applies to using the for attribute.
    • In the for attribute, to specify pie and doughnut charts, use the pie value. To specify Gantt charts, use the gantt value. To specify all other charts, use the chart value.
    • You can specify multiple values in the for attribute, separated by an empty space. For example, to specify Gantt, pie, and doughnut charts, add <fixedLayout for="gantt pie">.

Child element

Description

Attributes

fixedLayout
  • Required.
  • Specifies a layout.
  • Requires one or more rect child elements to specify the chart's placement options.

for

Required. Specifies which chart type the layout applies to. You can specify multiple values in the for attribute, separated by an empty space.

Possible values:

  • pie = Use the layout with pie and doughnut charts
  • gantt = Use the layout with Gantt charts
  • chart = Use the layout with all other charts
Specify a layout position: rect

Specify positions on the slide for preset layouts.

  • In each fixedlayout element, add one or more rect child elements.
  • In each rect child element, specify chart placement position for the layout using the l , t, r, and b attributes.
    • As the value of each attribute, you can specify a relative position as a percentage, or an absolute position in EMUs, or a combination of both.
    • To specify a combination of relative and absolute positions as the value, add a percentage, followed by a plus sign (+) or a minus sign (-), followed by an EMU value. For example, r="50%", t="2000000", and b="100%-1000000" are all valid options.
    • Each attribute value is calculated as a position relative to the upper-left corner of a slide.

Child element

Description

Attributes

rect
  • Required.
  • Specifies a position on the slide for the layout.

l , t, r, and b

Required. Specifies the left, top, right, and bottom edges of the slide, respectively. Attribute values are calculated as a position relative to the upper-left corner of a slide.

Possible values:

  • Relative position: Specifies the position as a percentage relative to the slide size.
  • Absolute position: Specify the position in EMUs (36000 = 1 mm).
  • Combination: Specify a combination of relative and absolute positions as a percentage, followed by a plus sign (+) or a minus sign (-), followed by an EMU value.
Preset chart placement layouts example

The following examples show XML code snippets displaying various fixedLayoutLst child elements and how they specify the chart placement tool and the preset layouts for pie and Gantt charts. 

<fixedLayoutLst>
 <fixedLayout for="pie">
  <rect l="50%-2000000" t="66.67%-2000000" r="50%+2000000" b="66.67%+2000000"/>
</fixedLayoutLst>
<fixedLayoutLst>
 <fixedLayout for="pie">
  <rect l="50%-2000000" t="66.67%-2000000" r="50%+2000000" b="66.67%+2000000"/>
 </fixedLayout>
 <fixedLayout for="chart pie">
  <rect l="10%" t="30%" r="45%" b="90%"/>
  <rect l="55%" t="30%" r="90%" b="90%"/>
 </fixedLayout>
</fixedLayoutLst>
<fixedLayoutLst>
 <fixedLayout for="gantt">
	<rect l="1000000" t="2000000" r="100%-1000000" b="100%-1000000"/>
 </fixedLayout>
</fixedLayoutLst>

Customize the default label styles

Customize the default styles that think-cell labels use. You can customize label styles of various think-cell chart features, including leader lines, styles for CAGR labels, and the positions of labels in charts. To learn more about think-cell labels, see Chart labels. To customize label properties, follow these steps:

  1. In the style file, find or add the label element.
  2. In the label element, add child elements as needed. To learn more about each child element, see the following element reference.
Element reference
Specify label styles: label

Specify the label styles of various think-cell chart features, including leader lines, styles for CAGR labels, and the positions of labels in charts.

  • In the label element, add the following child elements in the order that they appear in the table.

Child element

Description

Attributes

lnfillLeaderLine
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the line style that connects a data point and its label. This line appears when a label is placed further away from its data point.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the global default line type specified in lnfillDefault for line type and the label's default font color for line color.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

None

shapestyleRefBubble
  • Required.
  • Specifies the bubble style for the CAGR, level difference, and total difference arrow labels.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of shape styles in shapestyleLst. To learn more, see Customize the list of arrow label and Gantt timeline shapes.

sumLabelPosition
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the position of total labels in waterfall charts.
  • If not present, positive total labels in waterfall charts appear above the segment and negative total labels appear below the segment.

val

Required. Specifies the position of total labels.

Possible values:

  • accordingToSign = Positive total labels appear above the segment and negative total labels appear below the segment (default)
  • awayFromBaseline = Total labels appear away from the chart's baseline

avoidSegmentLabelBoxing
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the position of a segment label when it does not appropriately fit in its segment. The label can either appear in the segment with a background fill, or near the segment with a leader line. think-cell uses the leader line style specified in the lnfillLeaderLine element.
  • If not present, segment labels either appear in the segment with a background fill, or near the segment with a leader line, depending on the label size.

val

Required. Specifies the segment label's position.

Possible values:

  • false = Segment labels either appear in the segment with a background fill, or near the segment, depending on label size (default)
  • true = Segment labels always appear near segments instead of inside the segment
Default label styles example

The following examples show XML code snippets for each label child element and how they customize the default appearance of labels.

Leader lines
<label>
 ...
 <lnfillLeaderLine>
  <lnRef name="Solid 1 pt" />
  <solidfillRef name="Red" />
 </lnfillLeaderLine>
 ...
</label>

Chart decoration shapes
<label>
 ...    
	<shapestyleRefBubble name="Red Bubble" />
 ...
</label>

Waterfall chart label position
<label>
 ...
  <sumLabelPosition val="awayFromBaseline" />
 ...
</label>

Segment label position
<label>
 ...
 <avoidSegmentLabelBoxing val="true" />
 ...
</label>

Customize the default line and label styles for chart annotations

Customize the default styles for various lines in think-cell chart annotations, such as chart axes and connector lines (see Chart features and Change the line style and weight). Specify which labels appear in think-cell charts. To customize styles for chart annotation lines and labels, follow these steps:

  1. In the style file, find or add the chart element.
  1. In the chart element, add child elements as needed. To learn more about each child element, see the following element reference.
Element reference
Specify line styles for chart annotations: chart

Specify the line styles of various think-cell chart features, such as chart axes, connector lines, and CAGR arrows.

  • In the chart element, add the following child elements in the order that they appear in the table.

Child element

Description

Attributes

lnfillAxis
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the default line style for chart axes.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the global default line style specified in lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

None

lnfillAxisCategory
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the default line style for category axes.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the default line style specified in lnfillAxis. If lnfillAxis is not present, think-cell uses the global default line style specified in lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

lnfillArrow
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the default line style for total and level difference arrows. To learn more, see Difference arrows.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the global default line style specified in lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

lnfillArrowCAGR
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the default line style for CAGR arrows. To learn more, see CAGR arrows.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the default line style specified in lnfillArrow. If lnfillArrow is not present, think-cell uses the global default line style specified in lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

lnfillArrowCategoryDifference
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the default line style for total difference arrows. To learn more, see Total difference arrows.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the default line style specified in lnfillArrow. If lnfillArrow is not present, think-cell uses the global default line style specified in lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

lnfillArrowSegmentDifference
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the default line style for level difference arrows. To learn more, see Level difference arrows.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the default line style specified in lnfillArrow. If lnfillArrow is not present, think-cell uses the global default line style specified in lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

lnfillExtensionLine
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the line style for extension lines of level difference arrows. To learn more, see Level difference arrows.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the global default line style specified in lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

lnfillConnector
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the default line style for connector lines. To learn more, see Series connectors.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the global default line style specified in lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

lnfillConnectorWaterfall
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the default line style for connector lines in waterfall charts.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the default line style specified in lnfillConnector. If lnfillConnector is not present, think-cell uses the global default line style specified in lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

lnfillValueLine

lnfillTrendline
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the default line style for trendlines. To learn more, see Trendlines and partitions.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the global default line style specified in lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

lnfillPartition
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the default line style for partitions. To learn more, see Trendlines and partitions.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the global default line style specified in lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

lnfillErrorBar
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the default line style for error bars. To learn more, see Error bars.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the global default line style specified in lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

lnfillRidge
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the default line style for the Mekko chart ridge. To learn more, see Add or remove ridges.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the global default line style specified in lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

fillOrderStacked
  • Required.
  • Specifies the fill scheme order for stacked and 100% stacked column and bar charts.

val

Required. Specifies the fill scheme order.

Possible values:

  • topToBottom = Fill scheme starts at the top of the stack, away from the baseline
  • bottomToTop = Fill scheme starts at the chart's baseline

fillOrderStackedWaterfall
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the fill scheme order for waterfall charts.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the fill scheme order specified in fillOrderStacked.

val

Required. Specifies the fill scheme order.

Possible values:

  • topToBottom = Fill scheme starts at the top of the stack, away from the baseline
  • bottomToTop = Fill scheme starts at the chart's baseline

defaultLabels
  • Required.
  • Specifies the default labels for charts.
  • Requires the segment and pieSlice child elements to specify label styles.
  • Optional: To specify default labels for waterfall charts, add the segmentWaterfallSummand or segmentWaterfallFloating child elements.

None
Specify the default chart labels: defaultLabels

Specify which labels appear in think-cell charts.

  • In the defaultLabels element, add the following child elements in the order that they appear in the table. To learn more about think-cell chart labels, see Label types.

Child element

Description

Attributes

segment
  • Required.
  • Specifies the default labels for column, bar, waterfall, and Mekko charts.

val

Required. Specifies which labels appear in the chart.

Possible values:

  • totalAndSegment = Total labels appear above columns and segment labels appear inside segments. If a column only has one segment, only the total label is displayed
  • totalOnly = Only total labels appear in the chart
  • noLabels = No labels appear in the chart

segmentWaterfallSummand
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the default labels that appear in the first column and the floating segments in waterfall charts.
  • segmentWaterfallSummand and segmentWaterfallFloating are mutually exclusive.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the default label style specified in segment.
  • Doesn't affect the default labels that appear in e columns (subtotal and total columns). These columns follow the default label settings specified in the segment element.

val

Required. Specifies where the labels appear in the chart.

Possible values:

  • totalAndSegmentSingleSegmentInside = Total labels appear above columns and segment labels appear inside segments. If a column only has one segment, only the segment label is displayed
  • totalAndSegment = Total labels appear above columns and segment labels appear inside segments. If a column only has one segment, only the total label is displayed
  • totalOnly = Only total labels appear in the chart
  • noLabels = No labels appear in the chart

segmentWaterfallFloating
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the default labels that appear in floating segments in waterfall charts.
  • segmentWaterfallSummand and segmentWaterfallFloating are mutually exclusive.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the default label style specified in segment.

  • Doesn't affect the default labels that appear in the first column and e columns (subtotal and total columns). These columns follow the default label settings specified in the segment element.

val

Required. Specifies where the labels appear in the chart.

Possible values:

  • totalAndSegmentSingleSegmentInside = Total labels appear above columns and segment labels appear inside segments. If a column only has one segment, only the segment label is displayed
  • totalAndSegment = Total labels appear above columns and segment labels appear inside segments. If a column only has one segment, only the total label is displayed
  • totalOnly = Only total labels appear in the chart
  • noLabels = No labels appear in the chart

pieSlice
  • Required.
  • Specifies the default labels for pie and doughnut chart slices.

val

Required. Specifies where the labels appear in the chart.

Possible values:

  • outerAndInner = Series labels appear outside slices and percentage value labels appear inside slices
  • outerOnly = Series and percentage value labels appear outside slices
Default line styles and labels example

The following example shows an XML code snippet displaying various default line style and label customizations.

<chart>
 <lnfillAxis>
  <solidfillRef name="Gray" />
 </lnfillAxis>
 <lnfillArrow>
  <lnRef name="Solid 1.5 pt"/>
 </lnfillArrow>
 <lnfillArrowCAGR>
  <lnRef name="Solid 2.25 pt" />
  <solidfillRef name="Red" />
 </lnfillArrowCAGR>
 <lnfillArrowCategoryDifference>
  <lnRef name="Solid 1 pt"/>
  <solidfillRef name="Blue" />
 </lnfillArrowCategoryDifference>
 <lnfillExtensionLine>
  <lnRef name="Solid 0.5 pt"/>
  <solidfillRef name="Green" />
 </lnfillExtensionLine>
 <lnfillConnector>
  <lnRef name="Long Dash 0.25 pt"/>
 </lnfillConnector>
 <lnfillValueLine>
  <lnRef name="Long Dash 0.75 pt"/>
 </lnfillValueLine>
 <fillOrderStacked val="topToBottom"/>
 <defaultLabels>
  <segment val="totalAndSegment"/>
  <segmentWaterfallSummand val="totalAndSegmentSingleSegmentInside"/>
  <pieSlice val="outerAndInner"/>
 </defaultLabels>
</chart>

Customize the default legend styles

Optional

Customize the default text and outline style for think-cell chart legends. To learn more about think-cell chart legends, see Legends. To customize the default styles for legends, follow these steps:

  1. In the style file, find or add the legend element.
  1. In the legend element, add child elements as needed. To learn more about each child element, see the following element reference.
Element reference
Specify the default legend styles: legend

Specify an outline style as the default for think-cell chart legends and customize the legend text style.

  • In the legend element, add the following child elements in the order that they appear in the table.

Child element

Description

Attributes

lnfill
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the default outline of the legend.
  • If not present, the legend has no outline.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

None

pPr
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the slide master text style level that think-cell uses for the legend.
  • Requires the defPPr element in the style file. To learn more about the defPPr element, see Customize the default text style.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the text style level specified in defPPr. If defPPr is not present, think-cell automatically chooses a text style level from the slide master.
  • Optional: To specify custom text properties that override the slide master, add a defRPr child element. To learn more, see Customize the default text style by overriding slide master text style levels.

lvl

Optional. Specifies the text style level. If not present, think-cell uses the lvl value specified in defPPr.

Possible values:

Any number between 0 and 8, where 0 refers to the first text style level in the slide master, and 8 refers to the last.
Legend example

The following example shows an XML code snippet displaying legend child elements and how they customize the appearance of chart legends.

<legend>
 <lnfill>
  <lnRef name="Solid 1 pt" />
  <solidfillRef name="Red" />
 </lnfill>
 <pPr lvl="2">
  <defRPr b="false" i="true">
   <latin typeface="Times New Roman" />
  </defRPr>
 </pPr>
</legend>

Customize Harvey balls and checkboxes

Specify the default styles for think-cell Harvey balls and checkboxes (see Harvey balls and checkboxes).

Customize the default Harvey ball styles

To customize the default styles for Harvey balls, follow these steps:

  1. In the style file, find or add the harveyball element.
  2. Specify the default checkbox size using the sz attribute of the harveyball element.
  3. In the harveyball element, add child elements as needed. To learn more about each child element, see the following element reference.
Element reference
Customize Harvey balls: harveyball

Specify the default styles for Harvey balls.

  • In the style file, find or add the harveyball element.
  • In the harveyball element, specify the default Harvey ball size using the sz attribute.

Element

Description

Attributes

harveyball
  • Required.
  • Specifies the default styles for Harvey balls.
  • Requires the fillRefCompleted and fillRefBackground child elements to specify the fills for filled and empty sections.
  • Optional: To specify outline style, add the lnfill child element.

sz

Required. Specifies the default size of the Harvey ball to one hundredth of a point (100 = 1 pt).

Possible values:

Any number between 100 and 400000.

Specify the default Harvey ball styles: fillRefCompleted, fillRefBackground, and lnfill

In the harveyball element, add the following child elements in the order that they appear in the table.

  • To specify the fills for the filled and empty Harvey ball sections, add the fillRefCompleted and fillRefBackground child elements, respectively.
  • To specify an outline style for Harvey balls, add the optional lnfill child element.

Child element

Description

Attributes

fillRefCompleted
  • Required.
  • Specifies a fill for the filled sections.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of fills in fillLst. To learn more, see Customize the list of fills.

fillRefBackground
  • Required.
  • Specifies a fill for the empty sections.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of fills in fillLst. To learn more, see Customize the list of fills.

lnfill
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the outline style.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the global default line style specified in lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color. To specify Harvey balls without outlines, add the noLine child element instead (see Specify a custom line style).

None
Harvey ball example

The following example shows an XML code snippet displaying the harveyball child elements and how they customize the appearance of Harvey balls.

<harveyball sz="3400">
 <fillRefCompleted name="Blue" />
 <fillRefBackground name="Gray" />
 <lnfill>
  <lnRef name="Solid 0.75 pt" />
  <solidfillRef name="tx1" />
 </lnfill>
</harveyball>

Customize the default checkbox styles

Specify the default styles that apply to think-cell checkboxes. To set a default style for checkboxes, follow these steps:

  1. In the style file, find or add the checkbox element.
  2. Specify the default checkbox size using the sz attribute of the checkbox element.
  3. In the checkbox element, add child elements as needed. To learn more about each child element, see the following element reference.
Element reference
Customize checkboxes: checkbox

Specify the default styles for Harvey balls.

  • In the style file, find or add the checkbox element.
  • In the checkbox element, specify the default checkbox size using the sz attribute.

Element

Description

Attributes

checkbox
  • Required.
  • Specifies the default styles and symbols for checkboxes.
  • Requires the child elements fillRef and choices to specify the background fill and checkbox symbols.
  • Optional: To specify outline style, add the lnfill child element.

sz

Required. Specifies the default size of a checkbox to one hundredth of a point (100 = 1 pt).

Possible values:

Any number between 100 and 400000.
Specify the default checkbox styles: fillRef, lnfill, and choices

In the checkbox element, add the following child elements in the order that they appear in the table.

  • To specify the checkbox background fill, add the fillRef child element.
  • To specify an outline style for checkboxes, add the optional lnfill child element.
  • To specify groups of checkbox symbols, add at least one choices child element.

Child element

Description

Attributes

fillRef
  • Required.
  • Specifies a background fill.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of fills in fillLst. To learn more, see Customize the list of fills.

lnfill
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the outline style.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the global default line style specified in lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

None

choices
  • Required.
  • Specifies a group of checkbox symbols.
  • Requires at least one of the glyph and pic child elements to specify the checkbox symbols.

None
Specify a group of checkbox symbols: choices

Specify a group of symbols, characters, and pictures that can appear as checkbox symbols. You can have different groups of checkbox symbols that you can cycle through by specifying multiple choices elements (see Checkboxes).

  • In each choices element, specify symbols or characters as checkbox symbols by adding glyph child elements and specify images as checkbox symbols by adding pic child elements.
  • Each choices element requires at least one glyph or pic child element.

Child element

Description

Attributes

glyph
  • Optional.
  • Specifies a symbol or character as a checkbox symbol.
  • Requires the t child element to specify the symbol.
  • Optional: To specify a custom color or font for the symbol, add the solidfillRef and font child elements, respectively.

hotkeys

Optional. Specifies keyboard shortcuts that select a checkbox symbol. If not present, you can select checkbox symbols using the mini toolbar, in the Checkbox Symbol menu.

Possible values:
Any character

sz

Required. Specifies the default size of the checkbox symbol to one hundredth of a point (100 = 1 pt).

Possible values:

Any number between 100 and 400000.

pic
  • Optional.
  • Specifies an image as a checkbox symbol.
  • Requires an EMF image file.
  • Requires the Relationship child element to specify the image file.

hotkeys

Optional. Specifies keyboard shortcuts that select a checkbox symbol. If not present, you can select checkbox symbols using the mini toolbar, in the Checkbox Symbol menu.

Possible values:
Any character
Specify a symbol or character as a checkbox symbol: glyph

In each glyph element, add the following child elements in the order that they appear in the table.

  • To specify a fill color for the symbol, add the optional solidfillRef child element.
  • To specify a font style for the symbol, add the optional font child element.
  • To specify the symbol, add the t child element and specify the symbol between the opening and closing tags.
    • You can specify the symbol as a plain text character or a decimal or hexadecimal numeric reference to a Unicode character between the opening and closing tags (see Wikipedia). For example, to specify the ✗ symbol, add <t>✗</t> or <t>&#10007;</t>. To specify an empty checkbox, add <t> </t>.
    • Each t child element inside a choices element must have a unique character. Different choices elements can have duplicate glyph and t child elements.

Child element

Description

Attributes

solidfillRef

name

Required. Specifies a fill color name from the list of fills in fillLst. To learn more, see Customize the list of fills.

font

typeface

Required. Specifies a font name.

t
  • Required.
  • Specifies the symbol.
  • Requires a character, a Unicode symbol, or a decimal or hexadecimal numeric reference to a character between the opening and closing tags.
  • Each t child element must have a unique character.

None
Specify an image as a checkbox symbol: pic

In each pic element, specify an EMF file as a checkbox symbol by adding the Relationship child element.

  • Specify the file path and name of the EMF file in the Target attribute of the Relationship child element. If the EMF file is located in the same folder as the style file, this means that you can just specify the file name in the Target attribute.
  • Each Relationship child element inside a choices element must have a unique Target attribute value. Different choices elements can have duplicate Relationship child elements.
  • To ensure that the style file loads without errors on both Windows and Mac, use forward slash (/) when specifying the file path. We recommend keeping the EMF files in the same folder as the style file and just specifying the file name.

Child element

Description

Attributes

Relationship

  • Required.
  • References an EMF file.

Target

Required. Specifies the file path and name of the EMF file. Each Target attribute must have a unique value.
Checkbox example

The following example shows an XML code snippet displaying the checkbox child elements and how they customize the appearance of checkbox symbols.

<checkbox sz="3400">
 <fillRef name="No Fill" />
 <lnfill>
  <lnRef name="Solid 1 pt" />
  <solidfillRef name="tx1" />
 </lnfill>
 <choices>
  <glyph hotkeys="Y1" sz="3200">
   <solidfillRef name="Green"/>
   <font typeface="Arial Unicode MS"/> 
   <t>✓</t> 
  </glyph>
  <glyph hotkeys="X2" sz="3200">
   <solidfillRef name="Red" />
   <font typeface="Arial Unicode MS"/> 
   <t>&#10007;</t> 
  </glyph>
  <glyph hotkeys=" 3" sz="3200"> 
   <t> </t> 
  </glyph> 
 </choices>
 <choices>
  <pic hotkeys="Q4"> 
   <Relationship Target="traffic_light_green.emf"/> 
  </pic>
  <pic hotkeys="Q5"> 
   <Relationship Target="traffic_light_yellow.emf"/> 
  </pic>
  <pic hotkeys="Q6"> 
   <Relationship Target="traffic_light_red.emf"/> 
  </pic>
 </choices>
</checkbox>

Customize Gantt charts

Customize the appearance and format of think-cell Gantt charts. Specify default styles, such as the line style of borders and separators, background fills, and the appearance of bars and markers. Add an option to match the timeline of Gantt charts to your organization's fiscal calendar. To learn more about Gantt charts, see Gantt charts (timelines).

Customize the default Gantt chart styles

To customize the default styles and formatting for Gantt charts, follow these steps:

  1. In the style file, find or add the gantt element.
  2. In the gantt element, add child elements as needed. To learn more about each child element, see the element reference.
Element reference
Specify the Gantt chart styles: gantt

Specify the default appearance and format of think-cell Gantt charts. To see how the customizations appear in a Gantt chart, see the example screenshots in the following section.

  • In the gantt element, add the following child elements in the order that they appear in the table.

Child element

Description

Attributes

lnfillDefault

None

scaleFrame
  • Required.
  • Specifies border lines and background fill for calendar scales.
  • scaleFrame, scaleUnderline, and scaleExtendSeparators are mutually exclusive.
  • Optional: To set a background fill for calendar scales, add a fillRef child element. If the fillRef child element is not present, calendar scales don't have background fill.
  • Optional: To specify a custom line style, add a lnfill child element. If the lnfill child element is not present, think-cell uses the default style specified in lnfillDefault element in gantt or the global lnfillDefault.
  • The optional lnfill child element requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

algn

Optional. Specifies the text alignment for calendar scale labels.

Possible values:

  • ctr = Aligns center (default)
  • l = Aligns left for left-to-right languages and aligns right for right-to-left languages

includeLabelColumnHeaders Optional. Enables or disables top and corner borders for activity, remark, and responsibility column headers.

Possible values:

  • false = Disables borders (default)
  • true = Enables borders

scaleUnderline
  • Required.
  • Specifies underline style for calendar scales.
  • scaleFrame, scaleUnderline, and scaleExtendSeparators are mutually exclusive.
  • Optional: To specify a custom line style, add a lnfill child element. If the lnfill child element is not present, think-cell uses the default style specified in lnfillDefault element in gantt or the global lnfillDefault.
  • The optional lnfill child element requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

algn

Optional. Specifies the text alignment for calendar scale labels.

Possible values:

  • ctr = Aligns center (default)
  • l = Aligns left for left-to-right languages and aligns right for right-to-left languages (recommended)

gap

Optional. Enables or disables underline gaps between calendar scale labels.

Possible values:

  • false = Displays a continuous line under calendar scales (default)
  • true = Displays underline gaps between calendar scale labels

scaleExtendSeparators
  • Required.
  • Separates calendar scale labels with vertical separator lines, without borders or underlines.
  • scaleFrame, scaleUnderline, and scaleExtendSeparators are mutually exclusive.

algn

Optional. Specifies the text alignment for calendar scale labels.

Possible values:

  • ctr = Aligns center (default)
  • l = Aligns left for left-to-right languages and aligns right for right-to-left languages

lnfillBodyLeftRight
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the line style for the left and right borders that separate other columns from the project timeline.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the lnfillDefault child element in gantt or the global lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color. To specify Gantt charts without left and right timeline borders, add the noLine child element instead (see Specify a custom line style).

None

lnfillBodyTop
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the line style for the border that separates the calendar scale from the project timeline.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the lnfillDefault child element in gantt or the global lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color. To specify timelines without top borders, add the noLine child element instead (see Specify a custom line style).

None

lnfillBodyBottom
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the line style for the bottom border.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the lnfillDefault child element in gantt or the global lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color. To specify Gantt charts without bottom borders, add the noLine child element instead (see Specify a custom line style).

None

lnFillFrameLeftRight
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the line style for the left and right outer borders.
  • Specifies the line style for the top outer border if scaleFrame is used with includeLabelColumnHeaders set to true.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the lnfillDefault child element in gantt or the global lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color. To specify Gantt charts without left, right, and top borders, add the noLine child element instead (see Specify a custom line style).

None

fillRefDefaultBody
  • Required.
  • Specifies the default background fill for timelines and any other columns, such as the activity column.
  • Doesn't specify calendar scales or the milestone row below the chart.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of fills in fillLst. To learn more, see Customize the list of fills.


We recommend a No Fill value or equivalent.

fillRefHorzShading
  • Required.
  • Specifies the default background fill for row shades. To learn more, see Row features.
  • Requires a fill color specified in the name attribute.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of fills in fillLst. To learn more, see Customize the list of fills.


Can't have a No Fill value or equivalent.

fillRefVertShading
  • Required.
  • Specifies the default background fill for vertical shades. To learn more, see Row features.
  • Requires a fill color specified in the name attribute.

name

Required. Specifies a name from the list of fills in fillLst. To learn more, see Customize the list of fills.


Can't have a No Fill value or equivalent.

lnfillSeparatorHorz
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the line style for row separator lines.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the lnfillDefault child element in gantt or the global lnfillDefault.

None

lnfillSeparatorVertPrimary
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the line style for primary vertical separators. To learn more, see Scale display.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the lnfillDefault child element in gantt or the global lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

None

lnfillSeparatorVertSecondary
  • Optional.
  • Specifies the line style for secondary vertical separators. To learn more, see Scale display.
  • If not present, think-cell uses the lnfillDefault child element in gantt or the global lnfillDefault.
  • Requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

None

shapestyleLstPentagonAndChevron
  • Optional.
  • Specifies a list of pentagons/chevrons on the mini toolbar.
  • If not present, pentagons/chevrons can't be inserted into a Gantt chart.
  • Requires one or more shapestyleRef child elements.

None

shapestyleLstBar
  • Required.
  • Specifies bars as rectangles, sets the bar weight, and adds a list of available rectangle styles on the mini toolbar.
  • shapestyleLstBar and lnfillLstBar are mutually exclusive.
  • Requires one or more shapestyleRef child elements to populate the shape style list. To learn more, see Customize the list of arrow label and Gantt timeline shapes.
  • If a Gantt chart's font size is set to less than 10 pt or more than 18 pt, bar weight will scale proportionally.

w

Required. Specifies the bar weight in EMUs (36000 = 1 mm).
Maximum possible value: 152400

lnfillLstBar
  • Required.
  • Specifies bars as lines, sets the line weight, and adds a list of available line styles on the mini toolbar.
  • shapestyleLstBar and lnfillLstBar are mutually exclusive.
  • Requires a solidfillRef child element and one or more lnRef child elements. solidfillRef specifies the default line color and the first lnRef specifies the default line style, with subsequent lnRef elements appearing in the list of lines on the mini toolbar.

None

bracket
  • Required.
  • Specifies the line style for brackets. To learn more, see Row labels.
  • Optional: To specify a custom line style, add a lnfill child element. If the lnfill child element is not present, think-cell uses the default style specified in lnfillDefault element in gantt or the global lnfillDefault.
  • The optional lnfill child element requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

style

Required. Specifies the bracket style.
Possible values:

  • triangle
  • curly
  • line

milestone
  • Required.
  • Specifies the line and marker styles for milestones.
  • Requires a markerRef and a solidfillRef child element to set a default marker and color for milestones.
  • Optional: To specify a custom line style, add a lnfill child element. If the lnfill child element is not present, think-cell uses the default style specified in lnfillDefault element in gantt or the global lnfillDefault.
  • The optional lnfill child element requires lnRef for line type and/or solidfillRef for color (see Specify a custom line style).

w

Required. Specifies milestone size in EMUs (36000 = 1 mm).
Gantt format examples

The following examples show XML code snippets for each gantt child element and how they customize the appearance of a Gantt chart.

Calendar header styles

Specify the calendar scale header style using one of scaleFrame, scaleUnderline, or scaleExtendSeparators.

<scaleFrame algn="ctr" includeLabelColumnHeaders="false">
 <lnfill>
  <solidfillRef name="Red" />
 </lnfill>
</scaleFrame>
<scaleFrame algn="ctr" includeLabelColumnHeaders="true">
 <lnfill>
  <solidfillRef name="Red" />
 </lnfill>
</scaleFrame>
<scaleUnderline algn="l" gap="false">
 <lnfill>
  <solidfillRef name="Red" />
 </lnfill>
</scaleUnderline>
<scaleUnderline algn="l" gap="true">
 <lnfill>
  <solidfillRef name="Red" />
 </lnfill>
</scaleUnderline>
<scaleExtendSeparators algn="ctr"/>
Border line styles

Specify the line type and color for the borders using lnfillBodyLeftRight, lnfillBodyTop, lnfillBodyBottom, and lnfillFrameLeftRight.

<lnfillBodyLeftRight>
 <solidfillRef name="Blue" />
</lnfillBodyLeftRight>
<lnfillBodyTop>
 <solidfillRef name="Green" />
</lnfillBodyTop>
<lnfillBodyBottom>
 <solidfillRef name="Red" />
</lnfillBodyBottom>
<lnfillFrameLeftRight>
 <solidfillRef name="Orange" />
</lnfillFrameLeftRight>
Column background color

Specify the default background fill color using fillRefDefaultBody. We recommend setting the name attribute to No Fill or equivalent. The following example is for illustrative purposes only.

<fillRefDefaultBody name="Company Light Blue" />
Shade color

Specify the colors for vertical and horizontal shades using fillRefHorzShading and fillRefVertShading.

<fillRefHorzShading name="Company Light Blue" />
<fillRefVertShading name="Company Medium Blue" />
Separator styles

Specify the line type and color for calendar section separators using lnfillSeparatorVertPrimary and lnfillSeparatorVertSecondary.

<lnfillSeparatorVertPrimary>
 <lnRef name="Solid 1.5 pt" />
 <solidfillRef name="Blue" />
</lnfillSeparatorVertPrimary>
<lnfillSeparatorVertSecondary>
 <lnRef name="Dash 1 pt" />
 <solidfillRef name="Red" />
</lnfillSeparatorVertSecondary>
Shape styles

Specify the list of shapes for timeline items using shapestyleLstBar.

<shapestyleLstBar w="100000">
 <shapestyleRef name="Completed" />
 <shapestyleRef name="In Progress" />
 <shapestyleRef name="Backlog" />
</shapestyleLstBar>

To specify timeline items as lines instead of shapes, use lnfillLstBar instead.

<lnfillLstBar>
 <solidfillRef name="Blue" />
 <lnRef name="Solid 6 pt" />
 <lnRef name="Dash 6 pt" />
</lnfillLstBar>

Add pentagons and chevrons to the list of timeline shape options using shapestyleLstPentagonAndChevron.

<shapestyleLstPentagonAndChevron>
 <shapestyleRef name="Solid Pentagon" />
 <shapestyleRef name="Dashed Pentagon" />
 <shapestyleRef name="Long Dashed Pentagon" />
</shapestyleLstPentagonAndChevron>
Bracket styles

Specify the bracket style for chart timeline items by setting the style attribute of bracket to one of curly, line, or triangle.

<bracket style="curly">
 <lnfill>
  <lnRef name="Solid 2 pt" />
  <solidfillRef name="Dark Blue" />
 </lnfill>
</bracket>
<bracket style="line">
 <lnfill>
  <lnRef name="Solid 2 pt" />
  <solidfillRef name="Dark Blue" />
 </lnfill>
</bracket>
<bracket style="triangle">
 <lnfill>
  <lnRef name="Solid 2 pt" />
  <solidfillRef name="Dark Blue" />
 </lnfill>
</bracket>
Milestone styles

Specify the default styles for milestone markers and milestone lines using milestone.

<milestone w="119063">
 <markerRef name="Diamond" />
 <solidfillRef name="Dark Blue" />
 <lnfill>
  <lnRef name="Dash 1 pt" />
 </lnfill>
</milestone>

Add fiscal calendar option to Gantt charts

Optional

Add an option to switch the Gantt chart timeline to a fiscal calendar format. The option appears as a checkbox on the Gantt chart's mini toolbar.

In fiscal calendar format, the chart's year, quarter, and week sections match your specifications in the fiscalYear element. Selecting the Fiscal Year option in a Gantt chart's mini toolbar adds the abbreviation "FY" to the year section header in the chart.

To add a fiscal calendar option to your Gantt chart, follow these steps:

  1. In the style file, after the gantt element, add a fiscalYear element.
  2. In the fiscalYear element, add child elements as needed. To learn more about each child element, see the element reference.

If your organization's fiscal calendar follows the 52-53-week convention, where the fiscal year ends on a particular day of the week, consider adding the weekAlignment child element to the fiscalYear element and note the following:

  • A fiscal year will end on the weekday specified in the lastWeekday attribute.
  • Quarters consist of 13 weeks. The fourth quarter of a leap year consists of 14 weeks.
  • The lastDay attribute sets the calendar date on which the specified lastWeekday falls.
  • If the weeksPerMonth attribute is present, months end on the day specified in the lastWeekday attribute. The leap week is always added to the last month of the fourth quarter.
Element reference
Specify a fiscal calendar option for Gantt charts: fiscalYear

Add an option to switch the Gantt chart timeline to a fiscal calendar format. The option appears as a checkbox on the Gantt chart's mini toolbar. To see how the customizations appear in a Gantt chart's timeline, see the example in the following section.

  • In the fiscalYear element, add the following child elements in the order that they appear in the table.

Child element

Description

Attributes

start
  • Required.
  • Specifies the fiscal year's start month.
  • start and end are mutually exclusive.

month

Required. Specifies the fiscal year's start or end month.
Possible values:

  • jan
  • feb
  • mar
  • apr
  • may
  • jun
  • jul
  • aug
  • sep
  • oct
  • nov
  • dec

end
  • Required.
  • Specifies the fiscal year's end month.
  • start and end are mutually exclusive.

weekAlignment
  • Optional.
  • Specifies a fiscal calendar week according to the 52-53-week calendar convention.
  • We recommend using weekAlignment element if your organization follows the 52-53-week fiscal calendar.

lastWeekday

Required. Specifies the end day of the fiscal week.
Possible values:

  • mon
  • tue
  • wed
  • thu
  • fri
  • sat
  • sun


lastDay

Required. Specifies when the fiscal year ends, based on the end day of the fiscal week set in the lastWeekday attribute.

Possible values:

  • inLastMonth = Ends the fiscal year on the last end-of-week day within the last month
  • nearestToEndOfLastMonth = Ends the fiscal year on the end-of-week day nearest to the end of the last month. The end-of-week day may occur in the following month.

weeksPerMonth

Optional. Specifies a calendar structure where the year is divided into four quarters of 13 weeks: two four-week months and one five-week month. Months will end on the day specified in lastWeekday. If not present, weeks may begin at the end of one month and end in the following month.

Possible values:

  • 544, 454, or 445 = Specify when the five-week month occurs in a quarter. Where necessary, leap weeks are added to the last month of the fourth quarter.
Fiscal year example

The following example shows an XML code snippet of the fiscalYear child elements and the corresponding Gantt chart headers. The elements customize the appearance and behavior of a Gantt chart with the fiscal year option selected as follows:

  • The first quarter begins in June, as specified in the start element.
  • Each week ends on a Friday, as specified in the lastWeekday attribute.
  • The fiscal year ends on the Friday closest to the last day of May, as specified in the lastDay attribute: if May 31 is a Thursday, the fiscal year ends on June 1. To end the fiscal year on May 25 instead, set the lastDay attribute to inLastMonth.
  • Each quarter consists of 13 weeks that are divided into three months according to the 4-5-4 convention, as specified in the weeksPerMonth attribute. 
<fiscalYear>
 <start month="jun" />
 <weekAlignment lastWeekday="fri" lastDay="nearestToEndOfLastMonth" weeksPerMonth="454"/>
</fiscalYear>

Integrate style files into PowerPoint templates

You can ensure consistent presentation designs in your organization by integrating style files into PowerPoint templates. When a user with a think-cell license creates a presentation using such a template file, the style file will be active in the master slide. To learn more about PowerPoint templates, see Microsoft Support.

To integrate a style file into a PowerPoint template, follow these steps:

  1. Open the template file in PowerPoint.
  2. On the ribbon, select Views > Master Views > Slide Master.
  3. In the Slide Master view, select the master slide.
  4. Select Insert > think-cell > Change Style.
  5. In the Change Style menu, select the style file. If the style file that you want doesn't appear in the menu, select Other to open the Load Style File dialog, then navigate to the location of the style file, select the style file, and select Open. You can load a style file located anywhere on your computer or network.
  6. Exit the Slide Master view and save the template.

The style file will be active by default in the master slide in any presentation created using the template.