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The basic idea
behind xmCHART is to make an extensive set of functions available
to users with which the general appearance of a chart can be controlled
in detail. Three functions are all you need to draw up a number
of different charts: first the function OpenDrawing()
defines the size of the chart, secondly the ChartData()
function which contains
all numerical values used for representation and, thirdly, a function
which determines the type of chart, for example:
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OpenDrawing(400;300)
// width & height
ChartData(23 45 -2.76 12.9 5; 24 13 8.5 -3)
BarChart(shadow+horizontal) |
In fact, over 150 functions
are presently available with which nearly all parts of the chart
can be varied.
All function calls are entered in a FileMaker™ Pro text field
line by line - in other words, one function per line - either manually
or automatically by means of a FileMaker™ Pro script. The
advantages of working in this manner are:
• Clarity
All function calls necessary for drawing a chart are clear,
combined into one single text field and, in addition, can be supplemented
with explanatory comments.
• Easy Developing and Testing
Modifications can be tested immediately without accessing the
Script Editor. Possible errors are precisely specified by giving
the line number, function name and argument index.
• Portability and Support
Function calls can be moved to other FileMaker™ Pro databases
or sent by e-mail by simply using the usual "Copy" and
"Paste" editing commands. (E.g. Send questions for the
technical support to: support@x2max.com)
If a chart is to be created now, the contents of this text field,
which generally consist of a number of function calls, comment lines
and empty lines, is transferred to xmCHART by means of a short FileMaker™
Pro script. xmCHART then checks this text string for possible typing
errors, missing brackets, invalid values, etc. In the event of an
error, the process is aborted and an error message is sent to FileMaker™
Pro by xmCHART. To enable the user to quickly and easily correct
this error, xmCHART sends a detailed error message with the line
number and, if possible, the function name and argument index. If
no errors are found, xmCHART begins to set up the chart; this occurs
in the background without the user seeing it. As a rule, the sequence
of the function calls does not affect the speed or the appearance
of the chart. Errors that may possibly arise as the chart is being
set up, such as the given size of chart being too small, also lead
to abortion and a corresponding error message. If no errors occur,
the graph created by xmCHART is finally stored in a FileMaker container
field.
The manner in which xmCHART functions
can be summarized in the following three areas:
• Checking the function calls entered.
• Setting up the chart offscreen, that means it takes place
in the background without the user seeing it occur.
• Storing the completed chart in a container field.
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• Chart
Types
- Bar chart (2D, 3D, stacked,
proportional)
- Scatter chart (1D, 2D)
- Line chart (1D, 2D)
- Area chart (1D, 2D)
- Bubble chart (1D, 2D)
- High-Low-Close-Open chart (1D, 2D)
- Candlestick chart (1D, 2D)
- Pie chart (2D, 3D, oval, arc, ring, explodes)
- Radar graph (oval, polygonal, arc)
- Polar graph (oval, polygonal, arc)
- Gantt chart (2D, 3D, horizontal, vertical)
- Box&Whisker plot (horizontal, vertical, notched)
- Histogram (horizontal, vertical)
• Styles
- Line style (shape, width, color, pattern, dashes)
- Fill style (color, pattern)
- Border style (shape, width, color, pattern)
- Label style (font, style, background, location)
- Symbol style (type, size, color, pattern)
- Shadow style (offset, color, pattern)
- Picture style (source, scaling)
- Arrow style (width, color, pattern, head)
• Axes
- Axis line (width, color,
pattern)
- Axis label (font, style, background)
- Major tick marks (length, width, color, pattern, location)
- Minor tick marks (length, width, color, pattern, location)
- Tick mark labels (font, style, background)
- Axes can be run up/down, left/right
• Scalings
- Automatic
- Linear
- Percent
- Logarithmic
- Reverse scale direction
• Data
- Import chart data from file
- Export chart data to file
• Drop
Lines
- Drop lines to axes
- Drop lines to reference point
- Drop lines to reference line
- Drop lines between series
• Error
Bars
- Standard error
- Standard deviation
- Percent value
- Constant value
- List of values
- 1 and 2-dimensional (bars, rects, ellipses)
• Curve
Fitting
- Linear
- Polynomials
- Power, exponential, logarithmic
• Moving
Averages
- Moving average
- Moving median
- Exponential smoothing
- User defined weights
• Grids
- Grid lines (width, color, pattern)
- Grid stripes (color, pattern)
- Fine grid
- Grid frame
• Title
- Variable location, text, style, background
- As an option, a subtitle can be added
• Legend
- Variable location, texts, styles, background
- Variable legend symbols (type, size, position)
• Layout
- Precise positioning of several charts
in a drawing
- Overlaying graphs
• Import
- Mac OS X: PDF, PICT, GIF, JPEG, PNG, BMP, TIFF
- Windows: WMF, EMF, GIF, JPEG, PNG, BMP, TIFF
• Export
- Mac OS X: PDF, PICT, JPEG, PNG, BMP, SVG, TIFF
- Windows: PDF, EMF, GIF, JPEG, PNG, BMP, SVG, TIFF
• Backgrounds
- Simple background (fill, border, shadow)
- Background picture
- Separate backgrounds for graph area
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Graphics Primitives
Over 20 functions for drawing lines,
arrows, symbols, paths,
texts, rects, round rects,
ovals, arcs, polygons, bitmaps |
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