Multiple Panes

The Panes feature of Chart FX allows the developer to display multiple panes of data in a single chart window. This data analysis feature allows developers to separate or combine several series allowing for improved analysis experience. This could be used for many applications, the most obvious being to simplify the display of a chart.

In the sample below, three series are each assigned to in individual pane. As you can see, each pane as several attributes unique per pane instance, such as the InsideBackObject, InsideColor, Proportion, Separation and Title. Also observe how each of the panes has an independent axis.

Populating Panes
Adding a series to a selected pane is as easy as assigning a chart axis to a pane. As you know, you can assign a data series to a selected axis object in the chart. Chart FX also supports the creating of multiple axes. Therefore, developers may create an additional axis for each pane. Assign a series to each of the newly created axes. And finally, set each of the axes to a selected pane. Please note that multiple series may be configured to a single pane as well.

Pane Attributes
The Pane attributes are the collection of API members that allow the developer to control basic visual attributes for a selected pane item. Please see the short description of each below, for further details please review the API reference:

  • InsideBackObject - This member is used to configure a BackgroundImage or GradientBackground object to a chart pane. For more information regarding creating GradientBackrounds, please see the Visual Attributes of the Programmer's Guide/Interactive samples in the Chart FX Resource Center.
  • InsideColor - This member is used to get or set a inside color for a selected Pane object.
  • Proportion - This member is used to get or set a value indicating the proportional size of the selected pane. For example, lets say there are three panes in a chart. Pane1's proportion is configured to the value "1". Pane2's proportion is configured to the value "2". Pane3's proportion is set to the value of "1" as well. Now assuming the entire charting area represents 100%, Pane1 will use 25% of the chart area, Pane2 will use 50%, and Pane3 will use 25%. Note that other chart tools configured as visible in the chart area may also affect the size of the panes.
  • Separation - This member is used to get or set a value indicating the space in between panes. The Proportion property may be used to configure the height of panes in a chart.
  • Title - This member is used to obtain the Title object used for a selected Pane object. All the supported members of the Title class are exposed for the pane's title.