Wishlist: charts on forms

RLJB · Post by **RLJB** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 5:59 am

Would like to be able to add charts into forms - same as we do for gauge but also for line/bar charts too.

Would very much like to create some mini dashboard style charts embedded within the form.

hpl123 · Post by **hpl123** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 8:27 am

1+ for this idea, this would be ideal.

Another thing I have thought about, is it possible to get a chart through a report to display in some way on a form? or using the fusion charts tutorials to get charts on forms that way? Anyone tried any of these?

RLJB · Post by **RLJB** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 8:37 am

We used to use fusion charts extensively (flash version), they are great and have a heap of options But come with 2 major drawbacks...

1. They are flash and won't display on ipad

2. They are more time consuming to configure (in built aware charts are much much faster to build)

nlarson · Post by **nlarson** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 6:35 pm

you can use Google charts on a form by passing form data as a <<bo.attrib>> parameter in the advanced script. Nice flash free charting.

https://developers.google.com/chart/

RLJB · Post by **RLJB** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 7:58 pm

Hi nlarson

Can you give us a few more steps about how to do that? I haven't tried the advanced script yet, but I'm curious and would like to use this.

Thanks

Rod

aware_support · Post by **aware_support** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 10:05 pm

You can also put charts on forms by representing references as charts - this is available as a presentation option for multiple references.

RLJB · Post by **RLJB** » Wed Feb 05, 2014 4:05 am

Thanks support - that is a good idea (and we didn't think of it before!)

nlarson can you still tell us how to get the Advanced Script on the form working, I just spent a while playing with it and no good, it just breaks our form (ie the form will not open)

nlarson · Post by **nlarson** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 12:08 am

I will post a google example in tips shortly.

RocketRod · Post by **RocketRod** » Sun Feb 09, 2014 4:44 am

Very interested in this too. Looking forward to your sample. Cheers rod

nlarson · Post by **nlarson** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 2:32 am

Sorry to say, I ran into an issue where Aware executes the script after the full page load, where as Goggle API wants the script fired prior to onload or jquery ready. The result is that the chart fires but all the html gets wiped out by a late document.write.

There are some potential work arounds but my JS is not strong enough to work around it and Support will only look at it as an hourly custom project. Given the level of interest and the wide applicability of this type of integration It think it is worth a look, but meh... my days of funding features are in the rear view.

Anyone with stronger JS skills who wants to take a shot, where are two posts which describe the issue and suggested solutions.

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic ... MKJcyA2yyI

http://www.vijayjoshi.org/2010/01/19/ho ... d-loading/
(This article outlines a solution applied to Google Maps, but it is the same issue since both use the google.load function.)

RLJB · Post by **RLJB** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 9:06 pm

Thanks for the investigation work nlarson.

I wonder if other js charts would work, like amcharts.com, I might give it a try.

I don't have much spare cash for custom work at the moment either, and I wonder if the money wouldn't be better spent on asking support to prioritise improving the existing charts within aware. Perhaps a kick start project?

My opinion is they are the easiest way to chart, they good for basic charts but when you need to do a dashboard (every client wants a dashboard these days) there are some failings, for example:

1. The colours don't work on a stacked bar (you set them but they get ignored)

2. You can't control the hover over (tool tip) message enough, it would be good to be able to use an attribute and even html in the attribute to control what gets displayed

3. Stacked bar charts can't be combined with other chart types, eg a stacked bar with a line chart would be very very helpful

4. Some of the other more exotic charts simply do not work, tool tips etc. this is another post

What are other peoples thoughts on this?

aware_support · Post by **aware_support** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 11:23 pm

Listing all problems with existing charts would be quite helpful, so thanks RJB.

Some of them could be bugs, so if you prepare a BSV that demonstrates the problems we would definitely investigate what we can do for the next version.

nlarson · Post by **nlarson** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 1:50 am

Other chart packages may work I am currently researching that, certainly flash-based components will work but that limits you to non iOS devices.

Google charts are Best in class, free, flexible and very very very easy to integrate with. The only reason it can't be done now in less than two minutes is because we cannot use <script> tags, and/or We are limited to script implementation post-form render.

Improvements to the current charts this is similar to the reporting tool in that it's making improvements to a very limited tool. Aware could spend a massive amount of time just trying to get options and variety which will always do A fraction of what a Quick integration would do, and since they are based on ExtJS they will continue to look primitive by comparison. At some point the return on investment just isn't very high for improving existing charts.

https://developers.google.com/chart/int ... cs/gallery

nlarson · Post by **nlarson** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 1:53 am

Aside from the official charts linked above here are some community contribution examples.

https://developers.google.com/chart/int ... ore_charts

Rennur · Post by **Rennur** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 3:52 am

Are the out-of-box ExtJS charts buggy or is it that Google Charts simply provide more variety?

Google Charts don't work offline.