CFChart vs. FusionCharts

[natg504]

Can someone please list for me, in general, what are the advantages of using FusionCharts above ColdFusion's cfchart tag?

Thanks,

[Guest Basundhara Ghosal]

Hi,

Please take a look into the points discussed below, as it contains a brief description of the features and the functionalities supported by FusionCharts Suite :-

FusionCharts :-

1) FusionCharts is a flash charting component that can be used to render data-driven animated charts. Unlike CFChart which is generated at serverside(at times puts huge load on server) FusionCharts works at client providing minimum load to server.

2) Along with COldFusion FusionCharts can also be used with any web scripting language like (in cinjuncture with HTML & JavaScript ) ASP.NET, ASP, JSP, PHP, etc.

3) Using XML as its data interface, FusionCharts makes full use of fluid beauty of Flash to create compact, interactive and visually-arresting charts.

4) As it accepts XML data format as datavalues, you can use any data-source to pull the data.

5) It includes a wide range of common charts, specialized charts, gauges, maps.

Ref.- http://www.fusioncharts.com/gallery/

6) FusionCharts is beauty and boldness walking in unison. FusionCharts looks snazzy as well provides you with myriad powerful customizable options.

7) FusionCharts supports Extensive JavaScript API (events and methods) to integrate FusionCharts with any JavaScript frameworks and build powerful web applications.

8) FusionCharts has inbuilt AJAX capabilities to update data from datasource without refreshing the container web page.

9) Realtime Capabilities :- FusionCharts Suite supports Real-time charts that automatically update themselves every n seconds by getting new data from server, but not involving any page refreshes. The chart initializes itself, loads new data every n seconds and silently updates itself to reflect the current state of data.

Ref.- http://www.fusioncharts.com/widgets/docs/Contents/RealTimeDataFormat.html

http://www.fusioncharts.com/widgets/docs/Contents/RealTimeStamp.html

10) Data Streaming Capabilities :- FusionCharts Suite supports Data streaming charts. Data streaming charts are the real-time charts which automatically update themselves every n seconds, by getting new data from server without involving any page refreshes. These charts are the chart types that you see in live stock monitoring, where in the chart first presents a historical data for a given time, and as and when new data is available, the chart downloads that and displays it, discarding the first value.

Ref.- http://www.fusioncharts.com/widgets/docs -->  Data Streaming Charts

11) Drill-Down capabilities :- FusionCharts can be easily and extensively used to create drill-down charts. All the charts in FusionCharts v3 suite support drill down for data elements i.e., in each chart type, the data plot of that chart (columns in Column Charts, Pie slices in Pie Charts etc.) can act as hotspots for the chart. Using the drill down functionality provided by FusionCharts, you can easily produce charts that enact "drill down" or "zoom in (data)" capabilities.

Ref.- http://www.fusioncharts.com/docs/Contents/DrillDown/Simple.html

http://www.fusioncharts.com/docs/Contents/DrillDown/Frames.html

http://www.fusioncharts.com/docs/Contents/DrillDown/PopUps.html

http://www.fusioncharts.com/docs/Contents/DrillDown/ClickURL.html

http://www.fusioncharts.com/docs/Contents/DrillDown/JavaScript.html

12) Styles Feature :- FusionCharts v3 introduces Styles to help you apply font, effects and animations to various objects of the chart. Styles lends a simple mechanism using which you can easily control the visual layout of charts.

Ref.- http://www.fusioncharts.com/docs/  -->  FusionCharts v3 STYLES

13) Grid Component :- FusionCharts Grid Component helps you display single series FusionCharts XML data in a tabular format. You can combine the grid component with any single series chart to form a good looking combo.

Ref.- http://www.fusioncharts.com/docs?/Grid_Overview.html

http://www.fusioncharts.com/docs?/Grid_Usage.html

http://www.fusioncharts.com/docs?/Grid_Parameters.html

14) Export Feature :- Starting FusionCharts v3.0.7, you could export your charts as images. And FusionCharts v3.1 adds new dimensions to it, by allowing you to export as PDFs as well, and also lets you choose whether to export the charts at client-side or server-side.

Ref.- http://www.fusioncharts.com/docs/  -->  Exporting as Image/PDF

 http://www.fusioncharts.com/docs/  -->  Exporting as Image/PDF  -->  Server-side exporting

http://www.fusioncharts.com/docs/  -->  Exporting as Image/PDF  -->  Client-side exporting

http://www.fusioncharts.com/docs/  -->  Exporting as Image/PDF  -->  Batch exporting charts

http://www.fusioncharts.com/docs/  -->  Exporting as Image/PDF  -->  JavaScript Reference

15) FusionCharts Suite Packs contain an extensive documentation, numerous samples.

I hope this will help you to get a brief general idea about FusionCharts Suite and its advantages.

Edited June 24, 2010 by Guest

[natg504]

Thank you!  That is very helpful.

[Guest Basundhara Ghosal]

You are welcome.

Keep smiling and keep FusionCharting.