# Add charts to a workbook

The following manual will present various ways to add plots and charts to `openxlsx2` worksheets and even chartsheets. This assumes that you have basic knowledge how to handle `openxlsx2` and are familiar with either the default `R` `graphics` functions like `plot()` or `barplot()` and `grDevices`, or with the packages `{ggplot2}`, `{rvg}` or `{mschart}`. There are plenty of other manuals that cover using these better than we could ever tell you to.

#

    library(openxlsx2) # openxlsx2 >= 0.4 for mschart and rvg support

    ## create a workbook
    wb <- wb_workbook()

## Add plot to workbook

You can include any image in PNG or JPEG format. Simply open a device and save the output and pass it to the worksheet with `wb_add_image()`.

    myplot <- tempfile(fileext = ".jpg")
    jpeg(myplot)
    print(plot(AirPassengers))
    #> NULL
    dev.off()
    #> quartz_off_screen
    #>                 2

    # Add basic plots to the workbook
    wb$add_worksheet("add_image")$add_image(file = myplot)

## Add `{ggplot2}` plot to workbook

You can include `{ggplot2}` plots similar to how you would include them with `openxlsx`. Call the plot first and afterwards use `wb_add_plot()`.

    if (requireNamespace("ggplot2")) {

    library(ggplot2)
    p <- ggplot(mtcars, aes(x = mpg, fill = as.factor(gear))) +
      ggtitle("Distribution of Gas Mileage") +
      geom_density(alpha = 0.5)
    print(p)

    # Add ggplot to the workbook
    wb$add_worksheet("add_plot")$
      add_plot(width = 5, height = 3.5, file_type = "png", units = "in")

    }
    #> Loading required namespace: ggplot2

ggplot2 output written into the worksheet

## Add plot via `{rvg}`

If you want vector graphics that can be modified in spreadsheet software the `dml_xlsx()` device comes in handy. You can pass the output via `wb_add_drawing()`.

    if (requireNamespace("ggplot2") && requireNamespace("rvg")) {

    library(rvg)

    ## create rvg example

    p <- ggplot(iris, aes(x = Sepal.Length, y = Petal.Width)) +
      geom_point() +
      labs(title = "With font Bradley Hand") +
      theme_minimal(base_family = "sans", base_size = 18)

    tmp <- tempfile(fileext = ".xml")
    rvg::dml_xlsx(file =  tmp, fonts = list(sans = "Bradley Hand"))
    print(p)
    dev.off()

    # Add rvg to the workbook
    wb$add_worksheet("add_drawing")$
      add_drawing(xml = tmp)$
      add_drawing(xml = tmp, dims = NULL)

    }
    #> Loading required namespace: rvg

## Add `{mschart}` plots

If you want native open xml charts, have a look at `{mschart}`. Create one of the chart files and pass it to the workbook with `wb_add_mschart()`. There are two options possible. 1. Either the default `{mschart}` output identical to the one in `{officer}`. Passing a data object and let `{mschart}` prepare the data. In this case `wb_add_mschart()` will add a new data region. 2. Passing a `wb_data()` object to `{mschart}`. This object contains references to the data on the worksheet and allows using data “as is”.

    if (requireNamespace("mschart")) {

    library(mschart) # mschart >= 0.4 for openxlsx2 support

    ## create chart from mschart object (this creates new input data)
    mylc <- ms_linechart(
      data = browser_ts,
      x = "date",
      y = "freq",
      group = "browser"
    )

    wb$add_worksheet("add_mschart")$add_mschart(dims = "A10:G25", graph = mylc)

    ## create chart referencing worksheet cells as input
    # write data starting at B2
    wb$add_worksheet("add_mschart - wb_data")$
      add_data(x = mtcars, dims = "B2")$
      add_data(x = data.frame(name = rownames(mtcars)), dims = "A2")

    # create wb_data object this will tell this mschart
    # from this PR to create a file corresponding to openxlsx2
    dat <- wb_data(wb, dims = "A2:G10")

    # create a few mscharts
    scatter_plot <- ms_scatterchart(
      data = dat,
      x = "mpg",
      y = c("disp", "hp")
    )

    bar_plot <- ms_barchart(
      data = dat,
      x = "name",
      y = c("disp", "hp")
    )

    area_plot <- ms_areachart(
      data = dat,
      x = "name",
      y = c("disp", "hp")
    )

    line_plot <- ms_linechart(
      data = dat,
      x = "name",
      y = c("disp", "hp"),
      labels = c("disp", "hp")
    )

    # add the charts to the data
    wb <- wb %>%
      wb_add_mschart(dims = "F4:L20", graph = scatter_plot) %>%
      wb_add_mschart(dims = "F21:L37", graph = bar_plot) %>%
      wb_add_mschart(dims = "M4:S20", graph = area_plot) %>%
      wb_add_mschart(dims = "M21:S37", graph = line_plot)

    # add chartsheet
    wb <- wb %>%
      wb_add_chartsheet() %>%
      wb_add_mschart(graph = scatter_plot)

    }
    #> Loading required namespace: mschart
    #>
    #> Attaching package: 'mschart'
    #> The following object is masked from 'package:ggplot2':
    #>
    #>     set_theme