Wanted: Graphs from Database

Update data & automatically update graphs

[Learning Curve]

(I'm not sure which forum to put this question.)

You know how financial sites have those constantly updating graphs of the Dow Jones Industry Average?

I need something much simpler but along those lines.

I want to be able to update a database each month and then generate 100 to 200 line graphs for my web site.

I don't think I need a mySQL set up - unless it's easier, of course. If I could do it all locally once a month with inexpensive software and then upload, that would be great.

I'm good with Perl and CGI but haven't used PHP or mySQL.

[aspdaddy]

Cant help with PHP/Perl but these are a couple of options.

On the client-side, you can do very basic charts with the
JavaScript Graph Builder
[www-adele.imag.fr]

In ASP you can use a componenet like OWC.Chart
that give you all the chart types that come with excel and can output them as a gif image.
Charting with Office Web Components [4guysfromrolla.com]

[seindal]

On a unix server with perl you can use GD to generate images on the fly.
You can use gnuplot to generate graphs.
There is also ImageMagick that allows you to generate images dynamically.

There are probably also other options.

René.

[kmarcus]

i like

[phplot.com...]

[Brett_Tabke]

If you don't mind the local generation and upload, why not just use a spread sheet with a graphing option?

[Learning Curve]

BT, Local generation and uploading is actually preferred since I'll only be updating once a month.

Right now, I'm using Excel for a weekly graph but it takes several clicks to adjust the data range, axis labels, create and upload the graph. It's a possibility but if I'm doing 150 graphs a month, I'd prefer more automation.

I spent several hours today researching software and late in the day started focusing on an option similar to seindal's suggestion, specifically, using the free (I like free) Perl module GD::Graph locally then uploading.

The graphs aren't pretty and it would be time-intensive to set up in the beginning. OTOH, I'm already familiar with Perl and after it's set up it should work beautifully and be very "scalable" as they say.

Tonight, I'm thinking that's my best option... but I'm open to ideas.

[chiyo]

best ive found for many options and beautiful looking graphs (anti aliasing for curves etc), background images, etc is jpgraph (php). I know you are asking how to update the graphs automatically from database data, which is sonething i was going to do when i got the time, but havent got that far yet. However they have a discussion board where people talk about their solutions to this and other issues.