How does one set the alignment of text within a chart legend object? I’ve tried using:
myChartName.Legends["mySeriesName"].Alignment = stringAlignment.Near
With no effect. I’ve also tried to create custom legend items, again resulting in no effect. Text is ALWAYS centered (along with the series marker) in the legend “box”. The only text I have been able to align is the title, but I don’t need titles in my application.
My research to date says the legend object is basically a table with (by default) two cells. If that is the case there should be a way to access those cells and manipulate them as table cells. So, what gives? Why can’t I access the text alignment properties of the legend object? Clearly, there is something I’m missing, but for the life of me I can’t seem to figure this out. Quite frustrating.
Problem solved. The CustomItem approach wasn’t working either, so I tried using the LegendCellColumn Class.
I changed the LegendStyle from Column to Row, then added two CellColumns, one for the series symbol and one for the legend text. Set the alignment, margins, and column widths (that turned out to be the trick), and voila; a legend that looks like I want. Here’s the code for anyone with a similar issue.
It’s probably not the most efficient way to do it, but it works. Technically, the legend symbol and text are still centered in the object, but because I’m forcing the widths of the two columns it has the appearance of being left-justified.
Hopefully, this may help another newbie like me avoid days of consternation.