In our previous example, we had combined FusionCharts, JSP and JavaScript to create client side dynamic charts. We were updating the chart by asking it to fetch new data from server and update itself, without incurring any page refreshes.

In this example, instead of asking the chart to get XML data from server, we'll provide updated XML data to chart using JavaScript functions. The chart will simply accept that XML data and render.

This method can effectively be used in your AJAX applications, where your JavaScript code gets the updated XML from server and then provides it to charts locally. You can process the data received from AJAX Calls, build XML from it and finally provide it to the chart.

Before you proceed with the contents in this page, we strictly recommend you to please go through the sections "How FusionCharts works?" and "Plotting from Database ", as we'll directly use a lot of concepts defined in those sections.

The code discussed in this example is present in Download Package > Code > JSP > DB_JS folder.

Defining the applicaton

We'll carry on from our previous drill-down example and convert it to use JavaScript + XML, so that the new XML is provided to the chart using JavaScript functions - the charts NO more directly request data from server. To attain this, we send all the pertinent data from our server to the end viewer as JavaScript arrays in the same page. The JavaScript arrays are dynamically generated by JSP pages at run-time and filled with data.

In our previous example, we were showing the Production Summary of all the factories in a pie chart. When the user clicked on a pie slice, he was taken to another page, where a detailed date-wise chart was shown for the required factory.

In this example we will put both the charts together on a single page where clicking on a pie slice of the Production Summary chart will open the detailed chart on the same page without page refresh.

Effectively, we will do the following:

  1. Contain both the pie chart (summary) and column chart (detailed) in one page (Default.jsp).
  2. When the page loads, the pie chart would use dataXML method to show summary of all factories. This data will be built in Default.jsp itself.
  3. There will be a JavaScript array named as data in this page. This array will contain detailed data for the factories. The array will be dynamically built using JSP and then outputted as JavaScript code.
  4. Apart from the data in JavaScript, we'll also have a local JavaScript function updateChart(), which would process the data in this array and convert it to XML data document, for direct usage by the column chart.
  5. The column chart would initialize with no data, as the user has not selected a factory initially. We'll customize the "No data to display" message of the chart to show a friendly message.
  6. The pie chart would have JavaScript links defined for each pie slice. This JavaScript links refer to updateChart() JavaScript function present on the same page. We'll later see how to hand code this function. When a pie is clicked, the factory ID is passed to this function.
  7. The updateChart() function is responsible for updating the column chart. It generates the XML data from data stored in JavaScript data array and conveys it to the column chart.
  8. The column chart would now accept this XML data, parse it and finally render.

Creating the page - Default.jsp

Both the charts and JavaScript functions to manipulate the charts is contained in Default.jsp. It has the following code:

<%@ include file="../Includes/DBConn.jsp"%>
<%@ page import="java.sql.Statement"%>
<%@ page import="java.sql.ResultSet"%>
<%@ page import="java.sql.Date"%>
<%@ page import="java.text.SimpleDateFormat"%>
<HTML>
    <HEAD>
        <TITLE>FusionCharts Free - Database + JavaScript Example</TITLE>
        <%
        /*
        In this example, we show a combination of database + JavaScript rendering using FusionCharts.

        The entire app (page) can be summarized as under. This app shows the break-down
        of factory wise output generated. In a pie chart, we first show the sum of quantity
        generated by each factory. These pie slices, when clicked would show detailed date-wise
        output of that factory.

        The XML data for the pie chart is fully created in JSP at run-time. jsp interacts
        with the database and creates the XML for this.
        Now, for the column chart (date-wise output report), we do not submit request to the server.
        Instead we store the data for the factories in JavaScript arrays. These JavaScript
        arrays are rendered by our JSP Code (at run-time). We also have a few defined JavaScript
        functions which react to the click event of pie slice.

        We' ve used MySQL database.
        It just contains two tables, which are linked to each other.

        Before the page is rendered, we need to connect to the database and get the
        data, as we'll need to convert this data into JavaScript variables.
        */
        /* The following string will contain the JS Data and variables.
         This string will be built in JSP and rendered at run-time as JavaScript.
         */


        String jsVarString = "";

        //Database Objects
        Statement st1=null,st2=null;
        ResultSet rs1=null,rs2=null;

        String strQuery="";

        int indexCount = -1;

        //Create the recordset to retrieve data
        //We need to create a Scrollable ResultSet so that we can reuse it for creating the chart later
        st1=oConn.createStatement(ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE, ResultSet.CONCUR_READ_ONLY);

        //Create the query
        strQuery = "select * from Factory_Master";
        rs1 = st1.executeQuery(strQuery);

        String factoryId=null;
        String factoryName=null;

        String quantity="";
        java.sql.Date date=null;
        java.util.Date uDate=null;
        String uDateStr="";
        while(rs1.next()) {
            indexCount += 1;
            factoryId=rs1.getString("FactoryId");
            factoryName=rs1.getString("FactoryName");

            //Create JavaScript code to add sub-array to data array
            //data is an array defined in JavaScript (see below)
            //We've added \t & \n to data so that if you View Source of the
            //output HTML, it will appear properly. It helps during debugging

             jsVarString += "\t\t"+ "data[" + indexCount + "] = new Array();\n" ;

             //Now create second recordset to get date-wise details for this factory

             strQuery = "select * from Factory_Output where FactoryId=" +factoryId+ " order by DatePro Asc ";
             st2=oConn.createStatement();
             rs2 = st2.executeQuery(strQuery);

             while(rs2.next()){
                 date=rs2.getDate("DatePro");
                 quantity=rs2.getString("Quantity");
                 if(date!=null) {
                    uDate=new java.util.Date(date.getTime());
                     SimpleDateFormat sdf=new SimpleDateFormat("d/M");
                     uDateStr=sdf.format(uDate);
                 }
                //Put this data into JavaScript as another nested array.
                //Finally the array would look like data[factoryIndex][i][dataLabel,dataValue]

                jsVarString +="\t\t"+"data[" + indexCount + "].push(new Array('" + uDateStr + "'," +quantity+"));" +"\n\r";
             }
            try {
                if(null!=rs2){
                       rs2.close();
                       rs2=null;
                }
                }catch(java.sql.SQLException e){
                    System.out.println("Could not close the resultset");
                }
            try{
                if(null!=st2) {
                    st2.close();
                    st2=null;
                }
            }catch(java.sql.SQLException e){
                System.out.println("Could not close the statement");
            }
        }

        %>
        <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="Javascript" SRC="../../FusionCharts/FusionCharts.js">
        //You need to include the above JS file, if you intend to embed the chart using JavaScript.
        //Embedding using JavaScripts avoids the "Click to Activate..." issue in Internet Explorer
        //When you make your own charts, make sure that the path to this JS file is correct. Else, you would get JavaScript errors.

        </SCRIPT>

        <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">
        //Here, we use a mix of server side code (jsp) and JavaScript to
        //render our data for factory chart in JavaScript variables. We'll later
        //utilize this data to dynamically plot charts.

        //All our data is stored in the data array. From jsp, we iterate through
        //each resultset of data and then store it as nested arrays in this data array.

        var data = new Array();

        <%
        /*Write the data as JavaScript variables here
        The data is now present as arrays in JavaScript. Local JavaScript functions
        can access it and make use of it. We'll see how to make use of it.
        */

        %>
        <%=jsVarString%>
        /**
        * updateChart method is invoked when the user clicks on a pie slice.
        * In this method, we get the index of the factory, build the XML data
        * for that that factory, using data stored in data array, and finally
        * update the Column Chart.
        * @param factoryIndex Sequential Index of the factory.
        * @param factoryName For display purpose
        */

        function updateChart(factoryIndex,factoryName){
           //defining array of colors
            //We also initiate a counter variable to help us cyclically rotate through
            //the array of colors.

            var FC_ColorCounter=0;
            //var arr_FCColors= new Array(20);
            var arr_FCColors= new Array("1941A5" , "AFD8F8", "F6BD0F", "8BBA00", "A66EDD", "F984A1", "CCCC00", "999999", "0099CC", "FF0000", "006F00",
             "0099FF", "FF66CC", "669966", "7C7CB4", "FF9933", "9900FF", "99FFCC", "CCCCFF", "669900");


            //Storage for XML data document
            var strXML = "<graph caption='" + factoryName + " Output ' subcaption='(In Units)' xAxisName='Date' decimalPrecision='0'>";

            //Add <set> elements
            var i=0;
            for (i=0; i<data[factoryIndex].length; i++){
                strXML = strXML + "<set name='" + data[factoryIndex][i][0] + "' value='" + data[factoryIndex][i][1] + "' color='"+
                arr_FCColors[++FC_ColorCounter % arr_FCColors.length] +"' />";
            }

            //Closing graph Element
            strXML = strXML + "</graph>";
            //Update it's XML
            updateChartXML("FactoryDetailed",strXML);
        }
        </SCRIPT>
        <style type="text/css">
        <!--
        body {
        font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
        font-size: 12px;
        }
        .text{
        font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
        font-size: 12px;
        }
        -->
        </style>
    </HEAD>
    <BODY>
        <CENTER>
            <h2><a href="http://www.fusioncharts.com" target="_blank">FusionCharts Free</a> Database + JavaScript Example</h2>
            <h4>Inter-connected charts - Click on any pie slice to see detailed
            chart below.</h4>
            <p>The charts in this page have been dynamically generated using
            data contained in a database. We've NOT hard-coded the data in
            JavaScript.</p>
            <%
            //Initialize the Pie chart with sum of production for each of the factories
            //strXML will be used to store the entire XML document generated

            String strXML ="";
            String totalOutput="";
            
            //Re-initialize Index
            indexCount=-1;
            
            //Generate the chart element
            strXML = "<graph caption='Factory Output report' subCaption='By Quantity' decimalPrecision='0' showNames='1' numberSuffix=' Units'
            pieSliceDepth='20' formatNumberScale='0'>";

            //Move back to first index of the factory master recordset
            rs1.beforeFirst();

            while(rs1.next()){
                //Update index count - sequential
                indexCount = indexCount + 1;

                factoryId=rs1.getString("FactoryId");
                factoryName=rs1.getString("FactoryName");

                //Now create second recordset to get details for this factory

                strQuery = "select sum(Quantity) as TotOutput from Factory_Output where FactoryId=" +factoryId;
                st2=oConn.createStatement();
                rs2 = st2.executeQuery(strQuery);
                if(rs2.next()){
                    totalOutput=rs2.getString("TotOutput");
                }
                //Generate <set name='..' value='..' link='..' />
                //Note that we're setting link as updateChart(factoryIndex,factoryName) - JS Function

                strXML += "<set name='" +factoryName+ "' value='" +totalOutput+"' link='javaScript:updateChart("+indexCount +
                 ",&quot;"+factoryName+"&quot;)'/>";
                try {
                    if(null!=rs2){
                        rs2.close();
                        rs2=null;
                    }
                }catch(java.sql.SQLException e){
                    System.out.println("Could not close the resultset");
                }
                try{
                    if(null!=st2) {
                        st2.close();
                        st2=null;
                    }
                }catch(java.sql.SQLException e){
                    System.out.println("Could not close the statement");
                }
            }
            //Finally, close <graph> element
            strXML += "</graph>";
            //close the resultset,statement,connection
            //enclose them in try catch block
            try {
                if(null!=rs1){
                    rs1.close();
                    rs1=null;
                }
            }catch(java.sql.SQLException e){
                 //do something
                 System.out.println("Could not close the resultset");
            }
            try {
                if(null!=st1) {
                    st1.close();
                    st1=null;
                }
            }catch(java.sql.SQLException e){
                System.out.println("Could not close the statement");
            }
            try {
                if(null!=oConn) {
                    oConn.close();
                    oConn=null;
                }
            }catch(java.sql.SQLException e){
                System.out.println("Could not close the connection");
            }

            //Create the chart - Pie 3D Chart with data from strXML
            %>
            <jsp:include page="../Includes/FusionChartsRenderer.jsp" flush="true">
                <jsp:param name="chartSWF" value="../../FusionCharts/FCF_Pie3D.swf" />
                <jsp:param name="strURL" value="" />
                <jsp:param name="strXML" value="<%=strXML %>" />
                <jsp:param name="chartId" value="FactorySum" />
                <jsp:param name="chartWidth" value="650" />
                <jsp:param name="chartHeight" value="300" />
                <jsp:param name="debugMode" value="false" />
                <jsp:param name="registerWithJS" value="false" />
            </jsp:include>
            <BR>
            <%
            //Column 2D Chart with changed "No data to display" message
            //We initialize the chart with <graph></graph>

            %>
            <jsp:include page="../Includes/FusionChartsRenderer.jsp" flush="true">
                <jsp:param name="chartSWF" value="../../FusionCharts/FCF_Column2D.swf?
                 ChartNoDataText=Please select a factory from pie chart above to view detailed data." />
               <jsp:param name="strURL" value="" />
                <jsp:param name="strXML" value="<graph></graph>" />
                <jsp:param name="chartId" value="FactoryDetailed" />
                <jsp:param name="chartWidth" value="600" />
                <jsp:param name="chartHeight" value="300" />
                <jsp:param name="debugMode" value="false" />
                <jsp:param name="registerWithJS" value="false" />
            </jsp:include>
            <BR>
            <BR>
            <a href='../NoChart.html' target="_blank">Unable to see the charts above?</a><BR>
            <H5><a href='../default.htm'>&laquo; Back to list of examples</a></h5>
        </CENTER>
    </BODY>
</HTML>

In this page, before rendering any HTML code, we first generate all the data in database as JavaScript array. To do so, we use string concatenation in JSP variables to store all data as JavaScript array code. Once the JavaScript code is built in our JSP variable, we write it out in the <SCRIPT> section of HTML <HEAD>.

<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">
  var data = new Array();
      <%=jsVarString%>
</SCRIPT>

If you run this page and view the source JavaScript code, you'll see the following:

var data = new Array();

data[1] = new Array();
data[1].push(new Array('1/1',21));
data[1].push(new Array('2/1',23));
data[1].push(new Array('3/1',22));
data[1].push(new Array('4/1',24));
data[1].push(new Array('5/1',32));
data[1].push(new Array('6/1',21));
data[1].push(new Array('7/1',34));
data[1].push(new Array('8/1',32));
data[1].push(new Array('9/1',32));
data[1].push(new Array('10/1',23));
data[1].push(new Array('11/1',23));
data[1].push(new Array('12/1',32));
data[1].push(new Array('13/1',53));
data[1].push(new Array('14/1',23));
data[1].push(new Array('15/1',26));
data[1].push(new Array('16/1',43));
data[1].push(new Array('17/1',16));
data[1].push(new Array('18/1',45));
data[1].push(new Array('19/1',65));
data[1].push(new Array('20/1',54));
data[2] = new Array();
data[2].push(new Array('1/1',121));
data[2].push(new Array('2/1',123));
data[2].push(new Array('3/1',122));
data[2].push(new Array('4/1',124));
data[2].push(new Array('5/1',132));
data[2].push(new Array('6/1',121));
data[2].push(new Array('7/1',134));
data[2].push(new Array('8/1',132));
data[2].push(new Array('9/1',132));
data[2].push(new Array('10/1',123));
data[2].push(new Array('11/1',123));
data[2].push(new Array('12/1',132));
data[2].push(new Array('13/1',153));
data[2].push(new Array('14/1',123));
data[2].push(new Array('15/1',126));
data[2].push(new Array('16/1',143));
data[2].push(new Array('17/1',116));
data[2].push(new Array('18/1',145));
data[2].push(new Array('19/1',165));
data[2].push(new Array('20/1',154));
data[3] = new Array();
data[3].push(new Array('1/1',54));
data[3].push(new Array('2/1',56));
data[3].push(new Array('3/1',89));
data[3].push(new Array('4/1',56));
data[3].push(new Array('5/1',98));
data[3].push(new Array('6/1',76));
data[3].push(new Array('7/1',65));
data[3].push(new Array('8/1',45));
data[3].push(new Array('9/1',75));
data[3].push(new Array('10/1',54));
data[3].push(new Array('11/1',75));
data[3].push(new Array('12/1',76));
data[3].push(new Array('13/1',34));
data[3].push(new Array('14/1',97));
data[3].push(new Array('15/1',55));
data[3].push(new Array('16/1',43));
data[3].push(new Array('17/1',16));
data[3].push(new Array('18/1',35));
data[3].push(new Array('19/1',78));
data[3].push(new Array('20/1',75));

You can clearly see that our JSP code has outputted JavaScript code that can now locally create an array and feed it with requisite data.

Now, before we get to the JavaScript functions, let's first see what we're doing in our JSP Code.

We first create the XML data document for Pie chart - summary of factory output. For each <set>, we provide a JavaScript link to the updateChart() function and pass the factory ID to it as shown in the line below:

strXML += "<set label='" +factoryName+ "' value='" +totalOutput+"' link='javaScript:updateChart("+indexCount + ",""+factoryName+"")'/>";

We now render the Pie 3D chart using dataXML method. The Pie 3D chart has its DOM Id as FactorySum:

<jsp:include page="../Includes/FusionChartsRenderer.jsp" flush="true">
    <jsp:param name="chartSWF" value="../../FusionCharts/FCF_Pie3D.swf" />
    <jsp:param name="strURL" value="" />
    <jsp:param name="strXML" value="<%=strXML %>" />
    <jsp:param name="chartId" value="FactorySum" />
    <jsp:param name="chartWidth" value="650" />
    <jsp:param name="chartHeight" value="300" />
    <jsp:param name="debugMode" value="false" />
    <jsp:param name="registerWithJS" value="false" />
</jsp:include>

Now, we render an empty Column 2D chart with <graph></graph> data initially. We also change the "No data to display." error to a friendly and intuitive "Please select a factory from pie chart above to view detailed data." This chart has its DOM Id as FactoryDetailed.

<jsp:include page="../Includes/FusionChartsRenderer.jsp" flush="true">
    <jsp:param name="chartSWF" value="../../FusionCharts/FCF_Column2D.swf?ChartNoDataText=Please select a factory from pie chart above to view detailed data." />
    <jsp:param name="strURL" value="" />
    <jsp:param name="strXML" value="<graph></graph>" />
    <jsp:param name="chartId" value="FactoryDetailed" />
    <jsp:param name="chartWidth" value="600" />
    <jsp:param name="chartHeight" value="300" />
    <jsp:param name="debugMode" value="false" />
    <jsp:param name="registerWithJS" value="false" />
</jsp:include>

Effectively, our page is now set to show two charts. The pie chart shows the summary data provided to it using dataXML method. The column chart shows the above "friendly" error message. Now, when each pie slice is clicked, the updateChart() JavaScript function is called and the factoryID of the pie is passed to it. This function is responsible for updating the column chart and contains the following code:

/**
* updateChart method is invoked when the user clicks on a pie slice.
* In this method, we get the index of the factory, build the XML data
* for that that factory, using data stored in data array, and finally
* update the Column Chart.
* @param factoryIndex Sequential Index of the factory.
* @param factoryName For display purpose
*/

function updateChart(factoryIndex,factoryName){
    //defining array of colors
    //We also initiate a counter variable to help us cyclically rotate through
    //the array of colors.

    var FC_ColorCounter=0;
    var arr_FCColors= new Array("1941A5" , "AFD8F8", "F6BD0F", "8BBA00", "A66EDD", "F984A1", "CCCC00", "999999", "0099CC", "FF0000", "006F00",     "0099FF", "FF66CC", "669966", "7C7CB4", "FF9933", "9900FF", "99FFCC", "CCCCFF", "669900");


    //Storage for XML data document
    var strXML = "<graph caption='" + factoryName + " Output ' subcaption='(In Units)' xAxisName='Date' decimalPrecision='0'>";

    //Add <set> elements
    var i=0;
    for (i=0; i<data[factoryIndex].length; i++){
        strXML = strXML + "<set name='" + data[factoryIndex][i][0] + "' value='" + data[factoryIndex][i][1] + "' color='"+
        arr_FCColors[++FC_ColorCounter % arr_FCColors.length] +"' />";
     }

    //Closing graph Element
    strXML = strXML + "</graph>";
    //Update it's XML
    updateChartXML("FactoryDetailed",strXML);
}

Here,

  1. We first create the XML data document for the column chart by iterating through data contained in our JavaScript data array.
  2. Thereafter, we convey this XML data to the column chart. To do so, we first get a reference to the column chart using it's DOM Id FactoryDetailed. We use the getChartFromId() function defined in FusionCharts.js to do so.
  3. Once we've the reference to the chart, we simply call the setDataXML method of the chart and pass it the XML data document.
  4. This updates the chart with new data.

When you now see the application, the initial state would look as under:

And when you click on a pie slice, the following would appear on the same page (without involving any browser refreshes):

This example demonstrated a very basic sample of the integration capabilities possible with FusionCharts Free. For advanced demos, you can see and download our FusionCharts Blueprint/Demo Applications.