Inexpensive Charting Library

realJSOP

Okay, I've given up trying to find a free one for un-managed code, so I started looking around for an inexpensive one, and found this: ChartDirector[^] It's only $99, and is directly supported in an un-managed coding environment (MFC and C++). The graphs on their demo pages look great, and it appears as if it does everything you'd want in a charting library, even including cross-platform compatibility. Has anyone heard of these guys or used their stuff before? (They also have .NET, PHP, ASP, PERL, Python, and JSP/Java versions.) I fired off an email asking some questions about their licensing, and I'll be happy to share their responses if anyone is interested.

"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

Bassam Abdul Baki

No, but it seems to close to the one you posted here from CP. I wonder if the author decided to go commercial.

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realJSOP

Doesn't look like it's the same guy. The person answering support questions is named "Peter Kwan" - don't know if he's also the author.

"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

Kyudos

John, Did you look at this? Intel Array Visualizer[^] Its free, and very comprehensive (if a little difficult to use!) Dan

realJSOP

Yeah, I knew about that, but it uses OpenGL, and as we all know, OpenGL isn't exactly favored my MS, not to mention you need specific capabilities (and an OpenGL driver) to make it go. I'd rather pay for a library rather than have to deal with those kinds of issues.

"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

wout de zeeuw

Rather OpenGL than the everchanging DirectX stuff. OpenGL 1.1 should be pretty ubiquitous?

Wout

Danilo Corallo

Look for ZedGraph library. There's an article also here on CP. It's for free! (released under LGPL License) Regards

realJSOP

Use of DirectX vs OGL is a moot point. In fact, it's not even germaine to the discussion. I want to do simple 2D business charts, not 3-d terrain stuff...

"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

Kyudos

Wout, That's what I thought. I didn't have to do anything extra to get it to work. But I guess it depends on where you intend to deploy...

realJSOP

Once again, I want an UN-MANAGED C++ library, NOT .NET.

"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

Nish Nishant

Hey John, I know you don't want to go the .NET route, but it is possible to embed a .NET charting control in an MFC window (a view or a dialog). So if you are not satisfied with any of the native controls you are looking at, it may be an option to consider. The bad side is that this would add a dependency on the .NET framework.

Regards, Nish

Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
Currently working on C++/CLI in Action for Manning Publications. Also visit the Ultimate Toolbox blog (New)

Kyudos

John, I assume you've looked at this NTGraph[^] and it insn't up to the job? I used it because it was very lightweight - the previous (commercial) charting tool we used came with (dependent) distributables that were about 3 times the size of our app...

realJSOP

I'm fully aware of what's possible. I'm not interested in burdening my application under the weight of .NET. Observing the fact that I am willing to PAY for a library to avoid .NET should give you a bit more perspective on my views. Native code rules - managed code drools...

"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

RaviBee

John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

It's only $99,

Plus $499 for the redist license. :( /ravi

My new year's resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Music | Articles | Freeware | Trips ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

Ryan Roberts

Nishant Sivakumar wrote:

The bad side is that this would add a dependency on the .NET framework.

You might as well ask to John to start wearing lacey panties.

Ryan

"Michael Moore and Mel Gibson are the same person, except for a few sit-ups. Moore thought his cheesy political blooper reel was going to tell people how to vote. Mel thought that his little gay SM movie about his imaginary friend was going to help him get to heaven." - Penn Jillette

realJSOP

By the way, I downloaded and compiled the C++ demo code. The first thing that impressed me about the library is that it compiled clean (not even a single warning) under VS2005. The second thing that impressed me was that the charts are all flawless. Lastly, the sheer NUMBER of available charts is simply astounding. All that for just $99 (per language). And in case anyone is curious, I don't know if it comes with source code, and frankly I don't care. If it is easily implemented and the support is there, who needs the source? I just want to make graphs. (Oh yeah, the redistribution license is royalty free for the DLL.) Now, does anyone have any experience with this library? I'm on the verge of buying it.

"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

realJSOP

Wrong, bucko. It's royalty-free when you include the DLL with a desktop app.

"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

Mike Gaskey

Ryan Roberts wrote:

You might as well ask to John to start wearing lacey panties.

now that was funny

Mike Dear NYT - the fact is, the founding fathers hung traitors. Vincent Reynolds: My opposition is as enlightened as your support, jackass. dennisd45: My view of the world is slightly more nuanced dennisd45 (the NAMBLA supporter) wrote: I know exactly what it means. So shut up you mother killing baby raper.

realJSOP

Yeah, I saw it - not sufficient. I want anti-aliased lines without having to turn myself inside out (or having to require an external library like OpenGL).

"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

RaviBee

Their Licensing Faq[^] seems to indicate otherwise. /ravi

My new year's resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Music | Articles | Freeware | Trips ravib(at)ravib(dot)com