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Which Javascript or Flash charting solution to choose?

(5 posts) (3 voices)

Started 1 year ago by Michael S.
Latest reply from Idan

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Michael S.
Member

I have been searching for charts solutions for one of my projects, which uses Google Analytics API. I wanted to embed charts & graphs inside the web application, so I've searched for the most popular content visualization solutions, in order choose one to use. The first problem that I have encountered is choosing between Flash based charts and Javascript based charts. Every one has its advantaged and disadvantages. The most obvious advantage of Flash based charts solutions, is that they look better then the Javascript based ones. In Flash charts, animation is smoother and much more professional.

On the other hand, if you choose to use Javascript based charts, you will have more flexibility as a developer. First you won't need to learn ActionScript, just use you Javascript skills. Second, most of the Flash based charts solution just give you basic API functions to check when the graph has finished loading and get the XML of the current chart, but not so much integration with client side code. I have found a great article on Web Resources Depot and I wanted to share some of the best charts software with you.

Here are the leading Charts / Content visualization solutions that appear on the article:

1. Simile Widgest - Collection of open source web widgets, which let you visualize you website data in Timeline chart, TImeplot chart, Runaway and Exhibit. Runaway, etc. This visualization solution works on all major browsers.

2. jqBarGraph & mooBarGraph - Two Javascript charts solutions. jqBarGraph works with jQuery javascript library and mooBarGraph works with MooTools Javascript library. Those two plugins offer basic implementation of simple bar charts. mooBarGraph is more robust solution compared to jqBarGraph, if you compare between the two. mooBarGraph offers AJAX data loading for example, that the first one doesn't. Of course you can choose to install both charts code, but having two Javascript frameworks just for content visualization is not that recommended.

3. Grafico - This is one of my favorites and highly recommended open source JavaScript charting library. If you search for a professional and well documented charting Javascript library. Supported graph types: lines graphs, area graphs, stacked area, bar, stacked bar, horizontal bar graphs, sparklines, sparkbars and sparkareas. This solution is based on Raphaël and Prototype.js.

4. dygraphs - Another open source javascript charting library, specially designed to created data visualization that is time based. Includes support for mouse over zoom on the graph.

5. Highcharts - If you are looking for JavaScript interactive charting solution, you must take a look and see the online demo of Highcharts. This JavaScript charting library allows you to really take control on how charts are displayed and interact with the user. The main advantage of using highcharts is that they are fully supported on iPhone and on IE6. Some of the supported charts: Spline with inverted axes, scatter plot, percentage area, area with missing points, area-spline, basic bar, stacked bar, stacked column, pie charts, dynamic spline charts updating each second, master-detail chart and many kinds of combination between the charts.

MilkChart - Code licensed under Apache License 2.0, this JavaScript charting library will generate graphs similar to what you will get with Microsoft Excel. You can change the width, height, padding, font color & size, chart line height and width, border, title, etc. All with great ease of use and implementation.

For more information, click here.

If you know more websites that have a list of the best charting solutions, please add them here please.

Posted 1 year ago #
Idan
Key Master

Michael, first, I want to thank you for sharing all that information with web analytics forum members.I have been also searching for the most complete charting solution for one of my web projects. Using JavaScript charting software may probably be the best way to go, especially the open source chart & graphs solutions. I have chosen the Emprise JavaScript Charts because of its flexibility. It is 100% pure JavaScript charting libraries, that will get you going in minutes. Ok, not minutes, but very quick. They have several plans: Free, Professional, Developer and Enterprise. To get the maximum flexibility, you will need to choose the professional Emprise JavaScript package ($100). Of course there are other great chart alternatives that you can also consider.

I have decided not to use FusionCharts, because the APIs where very limiting. I have read somewhere that FusionCharts will create a charting engine based on HTML5 in the future. But or now, even though that the Flash charts are more appealing in terms of visuals, I do prefer to have the option to customize and extend the libraries that JavaScript charting solutions give me. I know many businesses that use FusionCharts (Flash based charts and graphs) for their websites, and they are very happy that have chosen this solution. It is very well documented and the support is top-notch.

You can see just by watching the list of website which implemented FusinoCharts solution, that we are talking of one of the best Flash charting solution available today. It's all depend on your special project requirements. The best thing is to write a list of all the features that you want included, and then compare them side by side and write the features that each one has or does not have. The 5 most popular Javascript products are: Emprise Javascript charts (Line, Bar, Pie, Function, Area, Scatter, Trend, Analogue Gauge, Candlestick, Floating Bars, Stacked Bars.), Bluff Graphs (Accumulator, Area, Bar, Line, Mini Bar, Mini Pie, Mini Sidebar, Pie,
Net, Sidebar, Spider, Stacked), Raphaël’s Javascript Library (all the charts that you can just imagine), JSChart (Bar, Line or Pie), Graph-It (Mini-Bar chart).

If you are a developer, you should take a look at the function libraries (code) that each of them offers. Developers want the maximum coding flexibility, and do not want to be limited because the software doesn't allow them to create more creative web application. If you are working in a company, you should make sure that your project manager / Boss, understand the advantage and disadvantages of each type of solution.

Of course you can always go for Google Chart Tools, which offer plenty of customization possibilities and a rich and flexible API, which is of course very well documented. You should also read the documentation and terms of use, before you decide that you should choose Google's solution for your business projects. Google Chart Tools support both image charts and interactive charts.

Another thing. You should consider using 2 or more charting solutions, because some of them are free charting products, you have the option to deploy several technologies and enjoy both worlds, Flash charts and Javascript charts. Also read about Drill-Down options, which will allow your website users or website administrators, to dive in the segmented data, and do all that without any further coding from your side.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Best Regards,

Idan.

Posted 1 year ago #
Michael S.
Member

Many thanks. You posted links to very informative websites, I will take a look. Any other charting solutions you have found that are at the same level as those you posted earlier?

Posted 1 year ago #
Jerome Dawson
Member

Flash charts? - Why would you choose Flash charts over Javascript ones. In terms of visuals, I think Javascript data charting software are as good as Flash software charts. I have used flash pie and candlestick charts for my website and replaced it for Javascript ones, because it gave me more control over them. But for bubble charts, I found that Flash charts had better visuals and I chose them for one of my sites. So my recommendation: Javascript Data Charts!

Posted 1 year ago #
Idan
Key Master

I just came across a wonderful article about the leading and most modern charts and graphs solutions on SmashingMagazine. If you search for a solution for visualizing data in charts and graphs, and wanted to compare between Flash-based charts and graphs solutions, Javascript, PHP/ASP libraries or CSS based solutions, this article is just for you. You can find a summary about each charts and graphs solutions and a link to the official site that created them. Hope that helps.

Posted 1 year ago #

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