This document Copyright (c) 2012 Steema Software SL. All rights reserved.
No part of this document may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission from Steema SL.
While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this document, Steema SL assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.
TeeChart is Copyright (c) 1995- 2012 by David Berneda. All rights reserved.
TeeChart for Java is Copyright (c) 2012 by Steema Software SL. All rights reserved.
All other brand names and product names included in this book are trademarks, registered trademarks, or trade names of their respective holders.
Code completion.
TeeChart Examples.
Tutorials.
FAQ.
Support Question submission.
Documents.
Steema Web.
Email support
Standard support
Pro support
Newsgroups
Feature requests.
Bug reporting.
Have I got the latest version?.
Obtaining maintenance releases.
Axis.
Canvas.
Principal Canvases.
Custom drawing on the Chart canvas.
Choosing a different Canvas for displaying the Chart.
Chart Panel
Chart Rectangle.
Datasource.
Functions.
Legend.
Marks.
Orthogonal 3D..
Paging.
Series.
Titles.
Walls.
Chart Tools.
There are now many sources of information for TeeChart, of which some contain duplicity or variants on the same theme and some are better than others at answering differing types of questions. To clarify it all, this guide is the roadmap.
We have tried to minimize the effect of obsolescence of content by putting the information in as generically as possible, as a guide to information sources. We hope it is of use.
Thanks for using TeeChart for Java !!
All versions of TeeChart for Java (except the evaluation versions) are delivered in a single executable installer file. Running the installer file starts the TeeChart for Java installation, updating all relevant registry entries and copying files to disk.
There are several sources of help available to users of TeeChart for Java. This area is important to an understanding of where to look and can save a great deal of time.
The native code prompter in nearly all professional Java programming environments will show all properties and methods available for any TeeChart class. Simply type in the start of the programming line and on typing the point separator all available Class options will appear. For properties and methods, required variables and their type will be displayed.
Coded examples can be accessed under the 'Examples' folder in the TeeChart for Java installation folder. There are two principle example projects under the Swing\Features and SWT\Features folders.
A useful way to get help from the examples is to use operating systems' file finder to search through the directory tree for project files containing a word (property or method) for which you would like to see a coded example. Follow this up by opening the projects related to the looked for item.
HTML Tutorials contain a guide to use of the key areas of TeeChart for Java’s component libraries. Tutorials can be accessed under the 'Docs\Tutorials' under the TeeChart for Java installation folder. We recommend you take a look at the Tutorials as early as possible to familiarize yourself with the information available: you will probably find some useful tips there when you come to start working with projects.
TeeChart for Java’s Frequently Asked Questions are available on the Steema web:
http://www.teechart.net/reference/modules.php?name=FAQ
The FAQ includes many hints on usage of specific properties and methods and on the implementation of various types of applications.
The Steema web includes a page for posting questions to us.
You can use this method to send us any questions for information that you cannot find in the FAQ. We prefer to receive questions sent in this way if possible, as the format allows us to log, track and record trends in problems reported to us more easily.
http://www.teechart.net/support/index.php
TeeChart documents are included in the root installation folder of TeeChart. These files will vary between versions but normally include several text files:
Release.txt - Contains release notes for your version of TeeChart
License.txt - License information
The Steema web, www.steema.com is regularly updated with new information:
The Steema support page (http://www.teechart.net/reference/index.php) lists the documentation options on the Steema Support web.
Steema SL provides an email technical support service for Pro-support customers only. If you do not have a Pro-support subscription we recommend that you use the Steema managed support forums. Please see below for options.
We will attempt to respond to those enquiries that highlight a new issue not covered in the FAQ and that may be of interest to other TeeCharters. We will include the reply in the updated FAQs. Please use the web Question submission form to send us questions and refer to the FAQ before submitting questions.
This takes the form of the Pro Support program. Please check the Steema web for latest information about support packages.
The Pro program includes these features:
As Standard support plus:
The first stop for Steema Technical support is the Steema Central Support
Site Forums:
Technical questions posted to our Forums receive early attention because of the knowledge sharing benefits presented by that medium.
We encourage the use of the Forums where possible.
Please see
http://www.teechart.net/support/index.php.
Please mail feature requests to info@steema.com or use the Steema Support Central Forums. We evaluate the contents of the wish list when deciding new features for TeeChart.
Use the Steema Support Central Forums on the Steema Support Central web for bug reporting.
All TeeChart for Java updates are available to active TeeChart for Java subscription holders from the Customer download page at the Steema web, e.g. minor versions (e.g. v3.0.0.1--> v3.0.0.2) or major versions (e.g. v3.0.0.1--> v4.0.0.0). See the section entitled 'Have I got the latest version?’
Basic Chart Axes
Axes refer to the scales that can be placed on the Chart to orientate the data. In standard terms these Axes have either an X, Y or Z component as in the diagram below.
TeeChart has five principal axes, Left, Top, Right, Bottom and Depth. Different data Series can be related to different Axes permitting different Axis scales for these Series on the same Chart.
Multiple Axes
TeeChart for Java offers true multiple Axes at runtime. Multiple Axes permit an independently scaled Axis to be placed anywhere on the Chart with any Start/Finish point.
The following diagram shows an example of the use of multi-axes:
Look up Axes in the online help file for a full list of properties and methods and an overview of functionality.
TeeChart uses several Canvases. Principal canvases include:
Custom drawing on the Chart canvas
If you require a feature that we haven't added to the standard TeeChart properties and methods then, with almost unlimited flexibility, you can add it yourself using the TeeChart Custom draw Canvas methods. Custom draw permits you to output your own objects and text to the Chart panel associating them with runtime variables and Chart conditions. These could take the form of hints on passing a mouse over a data Series object or a message triggered by a threshold exceeded. The Custom Canvas also supports a variety of 3D objects.
Look up Canvas in the online help file for a full list of properties and methods and an overview of functionality.
Choosing a different Canvas for displaying the Chart.
The basic (default) TeeChart Canvas is suitable for fast 2D and 3D (orthogonal) plots. You may select the alternative Windows 3D Canvas or the OpenGL Canvas to display Charts with sophisticated visual characteristics. See the TeeChart documentation for more help on this subject.
Fig. Main Chart Components
The Chart panel is the backdrop to the Chart. If TeeChart is laid bare of all contents, e.g. 'Visible off' for all Charting components, it makes a perfectly serviceable 3D panel.
Lookup TChart in the online help file for a full list of properties and methods and an overview of functionality.
The Charting area: This is the area contained within the principle 5 Chart axes (Left, Top, Right, Bottom and Depth). The Chart data Series and Grid are plotted inside the Chart rectangle.
Some Chart Series types do not require and do not install by default any axes. Setting the Chart Frame to visible enables the Chart rectangle to be highlighted by the selected colour.
Look up TChart in the online help file for a full list of properties and methods and an overview of functionality.
The Datasource for a Chart refers to database sourced data. For the Java version of TeeChart the sources include RecordSets. Non-Datasource sources for data are defined by the TeeChart developer via code using TeeChart's Add methods to add data programmatically to the Chart.
TeeChart offers several basic functions such as Average, Moving Average and Curve Fit. These may be selected via the Chart Editor's Series gallery. The function may use another Chart Series as input for its point plot. Functions are added as Line Series type by default but may optionally be changed to a different visualization such as a Bar Series or Point Series.
The Legend has four default positioning options, Left, Top, Right and Bottom but you may move the Legend to place it anywhere on the Chart Panel including inside the Chart rectangle. The Legend has many supporting properties and events to allow customization and/or interactive display.
Marks refer to the Labels associated with each data point of a Series. Marks may be displayed in several ways; as the data value, as a text description of the point or as a percentage related to the value of all points taken as a whole. Marks are normally displayed alongside, above or below the Series point. An alternative and complementary data related labeling scheme is the Axis Labels which label key scale points on the Axis. Marks may be repositioned and their properties modified at runtime.
Orthogonal 3D Charts use the default Chart Canvas to plot an angled, vector drawn line to represent a 3D angle (depth). This gives a basic level of 3D visual appearance whilst remaining very fast for data plots. See the TeeChart documentation for more about TeeChart Canvases and the alternative Windows 3D and OpenGL canvases.
TeeCharts may optionally be subdivided into several Chart pages. This helps visualization of large data sets or may be useful for 'time dividing' screens of data. Pages may be browsed.
Data Series are the data display method type, e.g. Line Series, Bar Series, Pie, etc. You can mix different Series types in a Chart according to your requirement. Thus your design is not limited to any 'Chart types' defined by TeeChart, the concept of Chart type being virtually obsolete in terms of the number of permutations of Charts (Series type mix) you may create.
Look up Series in the online help file for a full list of properties and methods and an overview of functionality.
Use TeeChart's Title properties to add Header and Footer titles to the Chart, Axis titles and data Series Titles. Custom draw permits you to add additional titles anywhere on the Chart Canvas.
The Chart Walls are boundaries that can be placed at the side, bottom and back of the Chart Rectangle to accentuate the Charted area. Chart walls are a visual component not containing any data scale related information. TeeChart for Java has four Walls, Left, Right, Bottom and Back. Each Wall may be coloured and changed dimensionally.
TeeChart Tools may be associated with a Chart, Series or Axes to facilitate annotation, navigation and data demarcation. An example, the Axis Arrow Tool places arrows on the Axis that scroll the axis when selected. The DragMark tool allows selected Series’ Marks to be mousedragged. Tools are selectable via the Chart Editor or by code