Misplaced year label on mschart axis

Question

I have a chart where the x-axis is composed of dates, with yearly intervals. The problem is, depending on the minimum date, the minimum label is or is not shown. Check below:

var s = new Series();
s.ChartType = SeriesChartType.Line;

var d = new DateTime(2013, 04, 01);

s.Points.AddXY(d.AddYears(-1), 3);
s.Points.AddXY(d, 3);
s.Points.AddXY(d.AddYears(1), 2);
s.Points.AddXY(d.AddYears(2), 1);
s.Points.AddXY(d.AddYears(3), 4);

chart1.Series.Clear();
chart1.Series.Add(s);


chart1.Series[0].XValueType = ChartValueType.DateTime;
chart1.ChartAreas[0].AxisX.LabelStyle.Format = "yyyy-MM-dd";
chart1.ChartAreas[0].AxisX.Interval = 2;
chart1.ChartAreas[0].AxisX.IntervalType = DateTimeIntervalType.Years;


chart1.Series[0].XValueType = ChartValueType.DateTime;
DateTime minDate = new DateTime(2011, 01, 01);
DateTime maxDate = new DateTime(2022, 01, 01);
chart1.ChartAreas[0].AxisX.Minimum = minDate.ToOADate();

When running the code above, the minimum date has no label (the first label is 2012), however, if you use 2012 as the minimum year, it will be shown. This only happens on a higher than 1 interval, and becomes worse the greater the value. I have no idea as to why this happens. I have also tried setting the interval properties (minus offset) for the LabelStyle, but to no avail.

This image shows what happens

PS: Sample code extracted form this answer, with some modifications Tested on .NET 4.5.1 and 3.5

Maybe there is not quite enough room? Can you choose a tighter or smaller Font? — TaW
If the font is the problem, why would it show when using a different year? Surely there is no significant differente between "2012" and "2011" in font size? Also if the labels get cramped up it automatically gets organized, i believe its called 'smartlabel' — WoF_Angel
Actually there is. But the reason could also be how the labels are being spread along the axis.. Can you post one or two images? — TaW
Done. Check it out. I find hard to believe that the font is the issue here. Do you still think so? — WoF_Angel
Unfortunately I'm blocked from seeing the images. Maybe somebody else will jump in. Hopefully the block will go away soon.. — TaW

WoF_Angel WoF_Angel · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-12T14:21:56

The first label to be shown is the one higher or equal to the minvalue which is a multiple of the interval. So, for an interval of 3: [2011,2012] ->2013; [2014,2015]->2016. This way the offset can be dynamically calculated with some simple math.

var offset = -(interval - (minYear % interval));

Although the problem is solved, it still makes no sense to me. Why do this on a date axis and not a numerical one? Sounds more like a bug.

Misplaced year label on mschart axis

1 Answers