ComponentOne WebChart is part of the ComponentOne Studio Enterprise and the ComponentOne Studio for ActiveX

ComponentOne WebChart is a Charting Tool for Browser-independent Web Server Applications

ComponentOne WebChart gives you the same charting power as Olectra Chart but in an ASP environment. ComponentOne WebChart can generate different types of output, depending on the abilities of the requesting browser. Using Microsoft Visual InterDev, you can load the ComponentOne WebChart component and right away create charts for your ASP pages.

ComponentOne WebChart comprises four elements:

• Server-side components (2D and 3D) that serve charts as JPEG images, PNG images, or as an ActiveX object. Design-time controls (2D and 3D) for Microsoft Visual InterDev. Client-side ActiveX controls. A temporary file management component
• The two server-side charting components (one for 2D and one for 3D) wrap the current Olectra Chart ActiveX controls. The Active Server Page (ASP) communicates with the server-side charting component, which communicates with the Olectra Chart OCX control
• The ASP developer uses ComponentOne WebChart's 2D and 3D design-time controls within Microsoft Visual InterDev. These controls, in turn, interact with the Olectra Chart OCX control
• Finally, as end-users interact with ComponentOne WebChart on the server, temporary files will be generated in a temporary directory. To prevent this directory from filling up, ComponentOne WebChart provides a small utility component that automatically deletes each temporary file a set time after the last reference to it is released

ComponentOne WebChart server-side components

The server-side charting components (one each for 2D and 3D) share a common API with the client-side Olectra Chart controls. The API has been slightly modified to suit the server-side needs. Specifically, the ability to explicitly set the chart's Width and Height properties has been added.

All other top-level properties and methods of the Olectra Chart objects are exposed by the matching server-side component. This means that developers experienced with Olectra Chart will be able to leverage their existing knowledge and code when working with ComponentOne WebChart - a real time-saver, and one more way ComponentOne WebChart increases your productivity.

ComponentOne WebChart's design-time controls

WebChart includes a design-time control for use by ASP page designers. This control provides a visual way of setting any of the chart component's properties; it uses the standard, documented Olectra Chart property pages, with the addition of a new property page specific to the design-time control. Previous Olectra Chart users, therefore, will be able to leverage their existing knowledge when working with ComponentOne WebChart. Unlike the client-side control, the design-time control can serialize all of its properties as script.

ComponentOne WebChart's property page for the design-time control is an addition to the property pages used in Olectra Chart. You can set most of the ComponentOne WebChart's properties using the property pages.

There are two tabs associated with WebChart's Property Pages:

• The About tab displays information about ComponentOne WebChart, including the serial number
• The General tab contains a drop-down Language menu that lets the ASP designer choose that language for writing the ASP script (either VBScript or JavaScript for ASP). The General tab also includes a Tag Routine text box that allows the user to specify a sub-routine (procedure, function, or routine) that will be called to generate and HTML tag for the chart

ComponentOne WebChart's client-side ActiveX controls

As an ASP designer, you can allow clients to modify the chart they view on the web page. The client-side ActiveX controls for ActiveX-aware browsers (currently Internet Explorer) comprise the current Olectra Chart control. This support provides the advantage of user interactivity, at the cost of requiring the Olectra Chart control to be installed (or downloaded) on the client side.

ComponentOne WebChart's temporary file management

The temporary files that are created as end users interact with ComponentOne WebChart will be generated in a temporary directory. To prevent this directory from filling up, ComponentOne WebChart provides a small utility component that automatically deletes each temporary file a set time after the last reference to it is released.