Introduction

This tutorial will show you the differences and similarities of creating the required data string between the PHP and Python libraries. The PHP libraries are used on the official Open Flash Chart website for the examples.

Version 1.9.7 of Open Flash Chart

A very short description of the Python library used is found here: VersionOne

We will see how you would make a simple chart with three different lines as per example here (without the randomness): http://teethgrinder.co.uk/open-flash-chart/gallery-data.php

PHP

<?php

// create data arrays
$data_1 = array(19,17,19,19,17,19,17,17,14,14,17,16);
$data_2 = array(12,10,8,10,13,9,8,10,8,10,10,8);
$data_3 = array(7,6,2,6,6,4,3,2,5,4,2,5);

include_once( 'ofc-library/open-flash-chart.php' );
$g = new graph();
$g->title( 'Many data lines', '{font-size: 20px; color: #736AFF}' );

// we add 3 sets of data:
$g->set_data( $data_1 );
$g->set_data( $data_2 );
$g->set_data( $data_3 );

// we add the 3 line types and key labels
$g->line( 2, '0x9933CC', 'Page views', 10 );
$g->line_dot( 3, 5, '0xCC3399', 'Downloads', 10);    // <-- 3px thick + dots
$g->line_hollow( 2, 4, '0x80a033', 'Bounces', 10 );

$g->set_x_labels( array( 'January','February','March','April','May','June','July',
                         'August','Spetember','October','November','December' ) );
$g->set_x_label_style( 10, '0x000000', 0, 2 );

$g->set_y_max( 20 );
$g->y_label_steps( 4 );
$g->set_y_legend( 'Open Flash Chart', 12, '#736AFF' );

echo $g->render();

?>

Python

from	OpenFlashChart import *		# Flash based charting library

def line_demo(self):            # 'self' required if function is defined in a class.

  # create data arrays
  data_1 = [19,17,19,19,17,19,17,17,14,14,17,16]
  data_2 = [12,10,8,10,13,9,8,10,8,10,10,8]
  data_3 = [7,6,2,6,6,4,3,2,5,4,2,5]

  g = graph()
  g.title( 'Many data lines', '{font-size: 20px; color: #736AFF}' )

  # we add 3 sets of data:
  g.set_data( data_1 )
  g.set_data( data_2 )
  g.set_data( data_3 )

  # we add the 3 line types and key labels
  g.line( 2, '0x9933CC', 'Page views', 10 )
  g.line_dot( 3, 5, '0xCC3399', 'Downloads', 10)    # <-- 3px thick + dots
  g.line_hollow( 2, 4, '0x80a033', 'Bounces', 10 )

  g.set_x_labels( ['January,February,March,April,May,June,July,' +
                   'August,Spetember,October,November,December'] )
  g.set_x_label_style( 10, '0x000000', 0, 2 )

  g.set_y_max( 20 )
  g.y_label_steps( 4 )
  g.set_y_legend( 'Open Flash Chart', 12, '#736AFF' )
		
  return g.render()

The Python library is missing features to customise the tooltip, adding links to charts other than pies, and possibly other decorative features that I cannot remember right now.

Version 2 (Hyperion) of Open Flash Chart

A very short description of the Python library used is found here: VersionTwoOld

We will see how you would make a simple chart with three different lines as per example here (without the randomness): http://teethgrinder.co.uk/open-flash-chart-2/data-lines-2.php

PHP

<?php

include '../php-ofc-library/open-flash-chart.php';

// create data arrays
$data_1 = array(19,17,19,19,17,19,17,17,14,14,17,16);
$data_2 = array(12,10,8,10,13,9,8,10,8,10,10,8);
$data_3 = array(7,6,2,6,6,4,3,2,5,4,2,5);

$line_dot = new line_dot();
$line_dot->set_width( 4 );
$line_dot->set_colour( '#DFC329' );
$line_dot->set_dot_size( 5 );
$line_dot->set_values( $data_1 );
$line_dot->set_key( "Line 1", 10 );

$line_hollow = new line_hollow();
$line_hollow->set_width( 1 );
$line_hollow->set_colour( '#6363AC' );
$line_hollow->set_dot_size( 5 );
$line_hollow->set_values( $data_2 );
$line_hollow->set_key( "Line 2", 10 );

$line = new line();
$line->set_width( 1 );
$line->set_colour( '#5E4725' );
$line->set_dot_size( 5 );
$line->set_values( $data_3 );
$line->set_key( "Line 3", 10 );

$y = new y_axis();
$y->set_range( 0, 20, 5 ); 

$chart = new open_flash_chart();
$chart->set_title( new title( 'Three lines example' ) );
$chart->set_y_axis( $y );
//
// here we add our data sets to the chart:
//
$chart->add_element( $line_dot );
$chart->add_element( $line_hollow );
$chart->add_element( $line );

echo $chart->toPrettyString();

Python

import	math
import	openFlashChart
from	openFlashChart_varieties import ( Line,
                                          Line_Dot,
                                          Line_Hollow )

def line(self):            # 'self' required if function is defined in a class.

  # create data arrays
  data_1 = [19,17,19,19,17,19,17,17,14,14,17,16]
  data_2 = [12,10,8,10,13,9,8,10,8,10,10,8]
  data_3 = [7,6,2,6,6,4,3,2,5,4,2,5]

  plot1 = Line_Dot( text = "Line 1", fontsize = 10, colour = '#DFC329', values = data_1 )
  plot1.set_width( 4 )
# plot1.set_colour( '#DFC329' )
  plot1.set_dot_size( 5 )

  plot2 = Line_Hollow( text = "Line 2", fontsize = 10, colour = '#6363AC', values = data_2 )
  plot2.set_width( 1 )
# plot2.set_colour( '#6363AC' )
  plot2.set_dot_size( 5 )

  plot3 = Line( text = "Line 3", fontsize = 10, colour = '#5E4725', values = data_3 )
  plot3.set_width( 1 )
# plot3.set_colour( '#5E4725' )
  plot3.set_dot_size( 5 )

  chart = openFlashChart.template( 'Three lines example' )
  chart.set_y_axis(min = 0, max = 20, steps = 5)
  #
  # here we add our data sets to the chart:
  #
  chart.add_element( plot1 )
  chart.add_element( plot2 )
  chart.add_element( plot3 )

  return chart.encode()

Attributes of chart plots can be set on creation but they can also be set after creation just like the PHP library. Attributes include alpha, colour (of line, bar, etc), text (key), font-size (of key) and values.

Version 2 (Jörmungandr) of Open Flash Chart

A very short description of the Python library used is found here: VersionTwo

We will see how you would make a simple chart with three different lines as per example here (without the randomness): http://teethgrinder.co.uk/open-flash-chart-2/data-lines-2.php

PHP

<?php

include '../php-ofc-library/open-flash-chart.php';

// create data arrays
$data_1 = array(19,17,19,19,17,19,17,17,14,14,17,16);
$data_2 = array(12,10,8,10,13,9,8,10,8,10,10,8);
$data_3 = array(7,6,2,6,6,4,3,2,5,4,2,5);

$default_dot = new dot();
$default_dot->size(5)->colour('#DFC329');

$line_dot = new line();
$line_dot->set_default_dot_style($default_dot);
$line_dot->set_width( 4 );
$line_dot->set_colour( '#DFC329' );
$line_dot->set_values( $data_1 );
$line_dot->set_key( "Line 1", 10 );

$default_hollow_dot = new hollow_dot();
$default_hollow_dot->size(5)->colour('#6363AC');

$line_hollow = new line();
$line_hollow->set_default_dot_style($default_hollow_dot);
$line_hollow->set_width( 1 );
$line_hollow->set_colour( '#6363AC' );
$line_hollow->set_values( $data_2 );
$line_hollow->set_key( "Line 2", 10 );

$star = new star();
$star->size(5);

$line = new line();
$line_hollow->set_default_dot_style($star);
$line->set_width( 1 );
$line->set_colour( '#5E4725' );
$line->set_values( $data_3 );
$line->set_key( "Line 3", 10 );

$y = new y_axis();
$y->set_range( 0, 20, 5 ); 

$chart = new open_flash_chart();
$chart->set_title( new title( 'Three lines example' ) );
$chart->set_y_axis( $y );
//
// here we add our data sets to the chart:
//
$chart->add_element( $line_dot );
$chart->add_element( $line_hollow );
$chart->add_element( $line );

echo $chart->toPrettyString();

Python

from OpenFlashChart import Chart

# The data elements
element1 = Chart()
element1.values =  [19,17,19,19,17,19,17,17,14,14,17,16]
element1.type = "line"
element1.dot_style.type = "dot"
element1.dot_style.dot_size = 5
element1.dot_style.colour = "#DFC329"
element1.width = 4
element1.colour = "#DFC329"
element1.text = "Line 1"
element1.font_size = 10

element2 = Chart()
element2.values = [12,10,8,10,13,9,8,10,8,10,10,8]
element2.type = "line"
element2.dot_style.type = "star"
element2.dot_style.dot_size = 5
element2.width = 1
element2.colour = "#6363AC"
element2.text = "Line 2"
element2.font_size = 10

element3 = Chart()
element3.values = [7,6,2,6,6,4,3,2,5,4,2,5]
element3.type = "line"
element3.width = 1
element3.colour = "#5E4725"
element3.text = "Line 3"
element3.font_size = 10

# Create chart
chart = Chart()
chart.y_axis.min = 0
chart.y_axis.max = 20
chart.y_axis.font_size = 10
chart.title.text = "Three lines example"

#
# here we add our data sets to the chart:
#
chart.elements = [element1, element2, element3]

print chart.create()