PHP

To setup a private export server in PHP, you will need the official PHP export handler provided in the FusionCharts package. The export handler will provide the necessary files to configure the export server. It will handle all exporting requests sent by the user and generate the chart in the requested format. The PHP export handler is dependent on two external modules—Inkscape and ImageMagick—for conversion. These modules need to be downloaded and installed separately on the same server.

Starting FusionCharts Suite XT v3.11.0, Inkscape and ImageMagick are no longer required for browsers with canvas support.

How does it work?

Step 1: A chart is rendered in the browser.

Step 2: When an export option is selected, the chart generates the SVG string that represents the current state and sends it to the export server.

Step 3: The export server captures the SVG string.

Step 4: The export server invokes a system call triggering Inkscape to convert the FusionCharts generated SVG string (which is passed to the server-side script over AJAX) to PDF, PNG, and SVG. However, Inkscape still has a limitation of generating a JPG file. Hence, ImageMagick is used to create the JPG files. To export chart data as XLSX, the CSV data generated from the charts is converted to the XLSX format.

FusionCharts v3.11.0 onwards, images can be processed on client-side for modern browsers (with canvas support). This eliminates the use of third party softwares like Inkscape and ImageMagick for server-side as well as client-side exporting.

Step 5: The export handler either writes the exported chart/chart data to disk, based on the configuration provided by the chart, or streams it back to the user as a download.

Starting v3.11.0, FusionCharts supports exporting chart data as XLSX. To export the chart data in the XLSX format using server-side exporting, it is mandatory that the exporting server has the latest code, which is available in the FusionCharts package. Alternatively, the FusionCharts export link export.api3.fusioncharts.com can also be used.

Installation

Step 1: Setup a Linux-based server with administrative access to install the export handler. This is particularly important if you are using a shared hosting service for your web server.

Step 2: Install both Inkscape and ImageMagick as they are necessary dependencies for the PHP export handler to work.

Step 3: Copy files from the FusionCharts PHP Export Handler to the Linux server.

Step 4: Place the tmp and Exported_Images folders at the same folder level as the index.php file. Both the folders should have write access, as the temporary and saved image files will be written to them.

Inkscape

Inkscape is an open source vector graphics editor. What sets Inkscape apart is its use of Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), an open XML-based W3C standard, as the native format. Inkscape has a powerful command line interface and can be used in scripts for a variety of tasks, such as exporting and format conversions. For more details, click here.

ImageMagick

ImageMagick is a free and open-source software suite for displaying, converting, and editing raster image and vector image files. The software mainly consists of a number of command-line interface utilities for manipulating images. For more details, click here.

Configuring the export server

To use the private export server, the following attributes need to be configured correctly in the chart.