Data URL Method

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Data URL Method

In this method, you provide the URL of chart data-source (XML/JSON) to FusionCharts XT. The chart sends a request for data to the specified URL, reads it, parses it and then renders the charts accordingly. This method can be used to render a new chart or update an existing chart. The image below (followed by the listed steps) illustrate the process involved in a generic Data URL Method:

First, you set the URL of XML or JSON data as the chart's data-source. This URL points to a static XML/JSON file or to a server side script that outputs dynamic XML/JSON data
FusionCharts JavaScript class or the chart sends a request for XML or JSON data document to the specified URL
At this URL, your server side scripts » like ASP, ASP.NET C#, ASP.NET VB.NET, PHP, J2EE, Ruby on Rails, ColdFusion, etc. now
- Interact with the database
- Get data from database in native objects like Recordsets, Data Readers, etc.
- Generate chart data (XML or JSON) using simple string concatenation or using XML/JSON objects
- And relay this data to output stream
FusionCharts XT now accepts this data, parses it and finally renders the chart

Effectively, in this process you need the following to build a chart:

Chart Container Page - The page contains the code to embed the chart. The chart code contains the URL to XML/JSON Data.
Chart SWF File - SWF file for the chart that you wish to render. Each chart in FusionCharts XT is a separate SWF file. For example, if you want to create 3D column chart, you'll need the SWF file called Column3D.swf.
FusionCharts Javascript Class Files - These files help in embedding the chart SWF file in your HTML page and rendering JavaScript (HTML5) fallback charts. The files are named FusionCharts.js, FusionCharts.HC.js, FusionCharts.HC.Charts.js and jquery.min.js.
Data Provider Page - The server-side page which will provide XML/JSON data to FusionCharts XT. This page outputs only in XML or JSON format with no HTML tags.

<div id="chart1div">
   This text is replaced by the chart.
</div>
<script type="text/javascript">
   var chart1 = new FusionCharts("Column2D.swf", "ChId1", "600", "400", "0", "1");
   chart1.setXMLUrl("Data.asp");
   chart1.render("chart1div");
</script>

FusionCharts JavaScript class provides other functions to achieve the same: setJSONUrl, setChartDataUrl, setChartData, and setDataURL (deprecated)

To ease embedding of charts in your web pages, FusionCharts XT provides wrapper classes ready for various server-side scripts like ASP, ASP.NET C#, ASP.NET VB.NET, PHP, J2EE, Ruby on Rails and ColdFusion. Moreover, in ASP and PHP, the APIs allow you to connect to arrays and databases and even dynamically build XML data which can directly be provided to chart.

Here, we provide highlights of code snippets that are used in each technology to embed FusionCharts XT using Data URL method.

Using ASP

Call renderChart("../../FusionCharts/Column3D.swf", "Data/Data.asp", "", "myFirst", 600, 300, false, false)

Using ASP.NET C#

FusionCharts.RenderChart("../FusionCharts/Column3D.swf", "Data/Data.aspx", "", "myFirst", "600", "300", false, false);

Using ASP.NET VB

FusionCharts.RenderChart("../FusionCharts/Column3D.swf", "Data/Data.aspx", "", "myFirst", "600", "300", False, False)

Using PHP

renderChart("../../FusionCharts/Column3D.swf", "Data/Data.php", "", "myFirst", 600, 300, false, false);

Using J2EE

<jsp:include page="../Includes/FusionChartsRenderer.jsp" flush="true">
	<jsp:param name="chartSWF" value="../../FusionCharts/Column3D.swf" />
	<jsp:param name="strURL" value="Data/Data.jsp" />
	<jsp:param name="strXML" value="" />
	<jsp:param name="chartId" value="myFirst" />
	<jsp:param name="chartWidth" value="600" />
	<jsp:param name="chartHeight" value="300" />
	<jsp:param name="debugMode" value="false" />
	<jsp:param name="registerWithJS" value="false" />
</jsp:include>

Using ColdFusion

<cfoutput>#renderChart("../../FusionCharts/Column3D.swf", "Data/Data.cfm", "", "myFirst", 600, 300, false, false)#</cfoutput>

Using Ruby on Rails

render_chart '/FusionCharts/Column3D.swf', 'Data.builder, '', 'configuredChart', 600, 300, false, false