As a server-side component, Chart FX for Java allows developers to generate
charts in a myriad of formats. Which one to choose depends not only on
performance and scalability, but also on other important issues such as browser
compatibility, interactivity, accessibility and security.
The Chart FX server control can dynamically generate and render Png, Jpeg,
.NET, Flash and SVG chart files. Other formats may also be supported in the future. Please see OutputWriter for more information.
In general, chart formats that require a viewer (i.e. Flash and SVG)
enhance server performance since chart files are very small and each client
will carry much of the chart painting processing load. These viewers
also provide a better analytical experience by allowing browser interaction
without additional intervention from the developer or trips back to the server.
However, they do not provide universal access plus some organizations do not
allow the use of viewers because of security and accessibility reasons.
In general, viewers are acceptable under a controlled environment like an
intranet. However, if you must reach a wide audience, you may be forced to
generate universally accepted images like Png and Jpeg.
These raster images decrease performance since each chart needs to be painted
and even stored on the server. Also, these charts will provide limited or no
analytical capabilities on the browser since they are rendered as static images, except for PNG images which supports hot spots or URL links on most chart
elements. The major advantage of using chart images is that
they provide universal access to charts from any browser, platform or operating
system.
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