NetCharts Pro 5.0 Release Notes and New Features

  • 5.0
    JRE 1.3.1 or greater required, JRE 1.5.0 preferred
    NetCharts Pro 5.0 requires a Java runtime version 1.3.1 or greater. Java runtime version 1.5.0 and greater produced the best performance and graphics quality. Internet Explorer's default JRE 1.1.7 does not meet the minimum requirement. Internet Explorer must use a Java plug-in to render applets built with NetCharts Pro 5.0.

    set() API undeprectated
    The set() API, which was deprecated in NCPro version 4.x has been undeprecated in version 5.0. The set() API is less intuitive than the standard NCPro API, but can provide higher performance. See Chapter 4 of Programming With NetCharts Pro for additional information.

    Anti-aliased text and graphics
    By default, NetCharts Pro 5.0 draws using anti-aliasing. This can be overridden with the AntiAlias CDL parameter or with the netcharts.pro.common.NFGraph.setAntiAlias() API

    New Heat Map Chart
    A Heat map Chart has been added to NetCharts in version 5.0. Heat map charts display a rectangular grid of cells which can be colored and labeled based on data. See the Chart Gallery for Heat Map Chart examples.

    New MultiPie Chart
    A MultiPie Chart has been added to NetCharts in version 5.0. MultiPie charts display two dimensional data sets as a series of pies with a common legend and common titles. See the Chart Gallery for MultiPie Chart examples.

    New Pareto Chart
    A Pareto Chart has been added to NetCharts in version 5.0. Pareto charts consist of one or more bar sets and a single line. The bar sets are automatically sorted in descending order. The line is calculated based on the bar data and represents a cumulative total value of the bars. Pareto charts provide quick visual insight into the relative contribution that particular data points make to a data set. Chart Gallery for Pareto Chart examples.

    AJAX Examples
    Netcharts Pro 5.0 can be used in combination with AJAX toolkits to produce compelling navigation features. See the AJAX enabled example program in the examples section of the distribution.

    Legend drawing enhancements
    Several new parameters provide increased control over chart legends. LegendItemBorder allows explicit specification of the borders around legend symbols. LegendSymbolPostion controls the location of a legend item symbol relative to its text. ItemOrder is a new attribute of the LegendLayout parameter. It controls the order in which legend items are displayed. For details see the CDL reference manual and the API documentation for netcharts.pro.common.NFLegend.getSymbolPosition() and netcharts.pro.common.NFLegend.setItemOrder().

    Dial Chart enhancements
    Two new CDL parameters allow the addition of three-dimensional borders and gradient backgrounds on dial charts. See the online CDL reference manual for details on DialOuterBorder and DialOuterFillPattern parameters. See also the API documentation for netcharts.pro.charts.dial.NFDialOuterBorder and netcharts.pro.charts.dial.NFDialchart.setDialOuterFillPattern()

    Axis Label Text Rotation Enhancements
    The text rotation algorithm has been improved. Text can be rotated from left or right endpoints. Rotated text can be more tightly grouped. This improves for example, the display of 60 degree rotated bottom axis labels. See the new CDL attributes for the AxisTics parameters and the API documentation for netcharts.pro.common.rectangular.NFAxis.setTicLabelRotationPoint().

    New Gradient Types
    NetCharts 5.0 supports three gradient types. See the CDL documentation on fill patterns containing GRADIENTRADIAL, GRADIENTCENTERHORIZONTAL, and GRADIENTCENTERVERTICAL and the API documentation for netcharts.pro.common.NFFillPattern.

    Automatic Text Wrapping
    NetCharts 5.0 supports auto-wrapping of text. See the CDL documentation for a new font attribute called maxLineAdvance and the API documentation for netcharts.pro.common.NFTextStyle.

    Logarithmic Axis Autoscaling
    NetCharts Pro 5.0 supports autoscaled logarithmic axes.