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Using XML data embedded in HTML page

In previous examples, we had created charts by providing chart data through an external XML file. Here, we will show you how to embed the XML directly into an HTML page.

In previous examples, we had used the JavaScript function setXMLUrl() to provide the URL of the XML file to the chart. Hence, the term Data URL method is used for referring to the technique used earlier.

Here, we'll use the setXMLData()function which takes XML embedded as string from the JavaScript. We call it the Data String method.

Existing users: You might be wondering what happened to the functions like setDataURL() and setDataXML() which you have already been using in your application. Yes - although deprecated, these will continue to work without any problem.

Create a copy of weekly-sales.html and save it as weekly-sales-xml-embed.html. Next, modify the code as shown below:

Code examples discussed in this section are present in Download Package > Code > MyFirstChart folder.

 
<html>
  <head>
    <title>My First chart using PowerCharts XT - 
          using XML data embedded in the page</title>
    <script type="text/javascript" src="Charts/FusionCharts.js"></script>
  </head>
  <body>
    <div id="chartContainer">PowerCharts XT will load here</div>

    <script type="text/javascript"><!--

      var myChart = new FusionCharts("Charts/Spline.swf", 
            "myChartId", "400", "300", "0");

      myChart.setXMLData("<chart caption='Weekly Sales Summary' xAxisName='Week' " +
        "yAxisName='Sales' numberPrefix='$'>" +
          "<set label='Week 1' value='14400' />" +
          "<set label='Week 2' value='19600' />" +
          "<set label='Week 3' value='24000' />" +
          "<set label='Week 4' value='15700' />" +
        "</chart>");

      myChart.render("chartContainer");

    // -->
    </script>

  </body>
</html>

See it live!

In the above code, we have provided the entire XML data as a string inside the code itself and passed it to the chart using the setXMLUrl() method.

There are certain pointers to be kept in mind when using Data String method:

  • Depending on your coding practice, you'd be enclosing the entire XML string using either single quotation marks (') or double quotation marks ("). So, if you are enclosing the entire XML in double quotes, then the XML attributes must be encapsulated in single quotes or vice-versa. Using single quotes for encapsulation of the entire XML string and also for individual attributes, or vice-versa, will lead to a conflict. Conflict arising due to improper use of quotes is most likely to cause a JavaScript error and the chart will not render.
  • If an XML attribute has single quotation mark (') or double quotation marks (") as part of its value, you need to encode them as XML entities. The encoded form of single quotation mark (') is &apos; and the encoded form of double quotation marks (") is &quot;.
  • If you have special characters like &, < and > in your XML, you must encode them as &amp;, &lt; and &gt; (respectively) in your XML String.

Existing Users: In PowerCharts XT, except for a few characters listed in Using Currency Symbols and Using Special Punctuation pages (from Advanced Charting > Using Special Characters section), no character is required to be encoded while using this process. The new FusionCharts JavaScript Class takes care of everything.