Use ChartFX.VBX

Question

I am trying to use the CHARTFX VBX component in an application. I am still relatively low on the learning curve for Delphi and I've had no experience with Visual Basic. Besides the Object Inspector, how can I find out what
methods, etc. are available for manipulating this component?

Answer

A:
Although its usefulness can be debated, there is context-specific help
available for ChartFX. Drop the component onto a form, then press F1 while
it is selected.

VBX in a Delphi Application, how to distribute

Question

Do I need vbrun100/200/300.dll to use VBXs?

Answer

A:
To use any VBX controls with Delphi compiled EXE, you need to distribute BIVBX11.DLL (found in \WINDOWS\SYSTEM - a Borland redistributable).

ChartFX

Question

I have tried to introduce two spin
edit boxes to stand for the NSeries and NValues properties. When I
run the program, I try setting these properties to the value of the
spinedit.
I get the 'Error setting property at index #13 (and #14).  I assume this is
because I have not closed down the data before trying to alter the values.
I have read the instructions that came with it and am still non the wiser about
how to open and close channels.

Answer

A:
This is the code I use for setting up the chartfx.

  chart1.Opendata[cod_values]:=makelong(no_of_series,no_of_classes);

  {adjust series values}

  chart1.closedata[cod_values]:=0;

A:
unit TstChart;

interface

uses=20
  WinTypes, WinProcs, Classes, Graphics, Forms, Controls, Menus,
  Dialogs, StdCtrls, Buttons, ExtCtrls, Tabs,
  ChartFX, {It seems to be necessary to include this for certain constants
           such as COD_VALUES}
  VBXCtrl, Chart2fx;

type
  TF_Chart =3D class(TForm)
    SpeedPanel: TPanel;
    ExitBtn: TSpeedButton;
    NB: TNotebook;
    TB: TTabSet;
    Chart1: TChartFX;
    Chart2: TChartFX;
    procedure ExitItemClick(Sender: TObject);
    procedure FormCreate(Sender: TObject);

    procedure TBClick(Sender: TObject);
    procedure FormResize(Sender: TObject);
  private
    { Private declarations }
  public
    { Public declarations }
    Procedure Build1( Ch : TChartFX );
    Procedure Build2( Ch : TChartFX );
  end;

var
  F_Chart: TF_Chart;

implementation

{$R *.DFM}

procedure TF_Chart.ExitItemClick(Sender: TObject);
begin
  Close;
end;

procedure TF_Chart.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
begin
  TB.Tabs :=3D NB.Pages;

  NB.PageIndex :=3D 0;
  Build1( Chart2 );
  Build2( Chart2 ); {adds values, legends etc to Chart2}
end;

procedure TF_Chart.TBClick(Sender: TObject);
begin
   NB.PageIndex :=3D TB.TabIndex;
end;

Procedure TF_Chart.Build1( Ch : TChartFX );
begin
   {This procedure alters the properties that can be set at design
    time or run time.  The Design method of doing things is shown
    in the comments}

   with Ch do begin

      Adm[ CSA_GAP ] :=3D 25.0;

      {Design:  Use the AdmDlg propert to change the Y Gap}

      pType :=3D BAR or CT_LEGEND;
      {Design: Use the ChartType property to change from 1 - line
        to 2 - bar.}

      DecimalsNum[ CD_YLEG ] :=3D 0;
      {Design: Change the Decimals Property from 2 to 0}

      Stacked :=3D CHART_STACKED;
      {Design: Change the Stacked property from 0 - None to 1 - Normal}

      RightGap :=3D 20;
      {Design: Same}

      OpenData[ COD_COLORS ] :=3D 2;

      Color[ 0 ] :=3D clBlack;
      Color[ 1 ] :=3D clYellow;
      CloseData[ COD_COLORS ] :=3D 0; {Ugh!!}
      {Design: To change the colors of the 2 series:
        1)  Make sure ThisSerie is set to 0.  Change
             ThisColor to clBlack.
        2   Set ThisSerie to 1.  Change ThisColor to
             clYellow.}

      Title[ CHART_TOPTIT ] :=3D 'Articles vs Titles';
      Title[ CHART_LEFTTIT ] :=3D 'CCM';
      Title[ CHART_BOTTOMTIT ] :=3D 'Cards';
      {Design:  click on the TitleDlg property and

        set Top, Left and Bottom titles}
   end;
end;

Procedure TF_Chart.Build2( Ch : TChartFX );
{This procedure sets properties that cannot (as far as I can determine)
 be set at design time}
const
   XAbbrevs : array[ 0..4 ] of string[ 4 ] =3D
     ( 'Acc', 'Bar', 'Mas', 'Amex', 'Din' );
   SeriesTitles : array[ 0..1 ] of string[ 8 ] =3D
      ( 'Articles', 'Titles' );
   XTitles : array[ 0..4 ] of string[ 20 ] =3D

     ( 'Access', 'Barclaycard', 'Mastercard', 'American Express',
        'Diners' );
   {of course you would normally read xtitles and
    values from a database}
   Values : array[ 0..1, 0..4 ] of double =3D
      ( ( 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 ),
        ( 30, 35, 25, 37, 42 ) );
var
   i, SerieNo : integer;
begin
   with Ch do begin

      LegendWidth :=3D 120;

      {Set Number of series, number of values ******************}
      OpenData[ COD_INIVALUES ] :=3D MAKELONG( 2, 5 );

      CloseData[ COD_INIVALUES ] :=3D 0;
      {*********************************************************}

      OpenData[ COD_VALUES ] :=3D 2;
      {if you omit the above statement, (in which you enter the
      number of SERIES not VALUES), and the CloseData below,
      the assignment to Values does not create an error, but
      does not work!
      Assigning Values to Legend, KeyLeg works without an
      OpenData/CloseData}
      ThisSerie :=3D 0;
      for i :=3D 0 to 1 do

         SerLeg[ i ] :=3D SeriesTitles[ i ];
      for i :=3D 0 to 4 do=20
        begin
          Legend[ i ] :=3D XTitles[ i ];
          KeyLeg[ i ] :=3D XAbbrevs[ i ];
        end;
      SerieNo :=3D 0;
      for SerieNo :=3D 0 to 1 do=20
        begin
          ThisSerie :=3D SerieNo;
          for i :=3D 0 to 4 do
             Value[ i ] :=3D Values[ SerieNo, i ];
        end;

      CloseData[ COD_VALUES ] :=3D 0;
   end;
end;

procedure TF_Chart.FormResize(Sender: TObject);
var
   w, h : longint;
begin
   w :=3D NB.Width;
   H :=3D NB.Height;
   {enlarge/reduce chart size if necessary}
   Chart1.Width :=3D W - 18;
   Chart1.Height :=3D H - 12;
   Chart2.Width :=3D W - 18;
   Chart2.Height :=3D H - 12;

   {move Exitbutton close to right edge}
   ExitBtn.Left :=3D SpeedPanel.Width - 32;
end;

end.

ChartFX - Min Max

Question

I am using the ChartFX VBX that ships with Delphi 1.0. I put low values
into Value[0], all these values (x) are greater than -1 and less that 5.
When the graph is displayed the y-axis displays numbers from 0 to 94.68,
thus my result is a very flat graph.

How can I set this graph that it adjusts the y-axis according to the
highest and lowest values?

Answer

This is how you do it with ChartFX in Delphi 2.... I assume it's the same in
D1...

  cfxStockTrends.Adm[CSA_MIN] := X;         //set minimum of Y axis
  cfxStockTrends.Adm[CSA_MAX] := Y;       //set maximum of Y axis

ChartFX example

Question

Answer

The instructions that came with Delphi help is indeed a bit encrypted,
particularly if you are not a VBX user...

Any way, the following example should set the values etc for ChartFX:

{The code gets data from a database and plots it}

begin
MyTable.active := True;		{open database}
MyTable.first;
MyChart.title[CHART_BOTTOMTIT] := 'X-axis label';
MyChart.title[CHART_LEFTTIT] := 'Y-axis label';
MyChart.OpenData[COD_XVALUES] := MakeLong(numOfSeries,numofPoints);
MyChart.OpenData[COD_VALUES] := MakeLong(numOfSeries, NumofPoints);
MyChart.ThisSerie := SeriesNum;		{start with 0}
While MyTable.EOF <> True do
begin
     MyChart.value[i] := MyTable.FieldByName('SOMEFIELD').AsFloat;
     MyChart.Xvalue[i] := MyTable.FieldByName('SOMEOTHERFIELD').AsFloat;
     MyTable.next;
     i:=i+1;	{you need to define and initialize 'i' of course}
end;
MyChart.CloseData[COD_Values] := 0;
MyChart.CloseData[COD_XValues] := 0;
MyTable.active := False;	{close database}
end;

{Note this code is for an xy scatter chart. If you want to use any other
type of chart in ChartFX, you will not need to set values for COD_XVALUES}