Desperate for MS Graph alternative

[Rachael]

Hi All,

I am desperate to find an alternative to the rotten, stinking MS Graph. I have an application I've written for vineyards and have about 200 clients. MS Graph is letting me down BIG TIME with some clients graphs showing the data I used when making the graphs not their own, some the graphs don't work at all, some the end of the graph is chopped off (including on my own new wiz bang computer, but not the old reliable one), the list goes on!

I had previously posted this;
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I would like to hear anyones experiences with charts/graphs. I find the Access charts not powerful enough and unreliable. I distribute my databases so need also something that is not complicated for the end user.

I have looked into a couple so far and here is my feedback to date.

TeeChart Pro from Steema;~$350 US

Seems good and will do what I want but how to get the componenets needed to run it onto clients machines. You need to distribute an ocx and help file and have them register in the clients registry (haven'e a clue how to make this happen easily for clients who barely know where the start button is)

Flipper Graph Control;~$550 US

Looks complicated, requires a lot of coding from what I can gather, haven't tested thoroughly, would have the same probs with distributing components I'm guessing

TeeChart Office; Free but won't work with Access, only Borland (Delphi etc)

There are a few others but more directed towards web stuff.

I would really love to hear what others use and how things all work. I like TeeChart Pro but don't want distribution to existing client headaches and any other headaches, I have enough already.
-----------------------------

Please can anyone help!, everywhere I search the word is to use excel but I can't assume my clients have excel, is there a runtime for excel or a way to embed it into Access?

Please, please can anyone help, I'm desperate, I've got some pretty cranky clients at the moment.

Any ideas at all, even experiences, please.

Kind regards,

Rachael
Aged 30 going on 100 today

 

[yhgtbfk]

I use a graph in access, and I just change the graph in visual basic.

I have 4 or 5 controls such as drop down lists and option boxes, and then I run the graph depending on what is selected.

It is a bar chart. And the only problem is

Sales might be yellow
But if you add an extra label, Sales might turn to blue.

I will be happy to provide code or assistance if you like.

But I wont be back on the net until next Monday.

 

[Rachael]

Thanks Pat for your reply,

I have also since discovered (as you do after posting!) one little fix for one of the problems I was having. The charts retaining the example data in print preview, a bug in Win 2000 and Win XP, a timing issue, the onformat event needs a me.graphname.requery

Thankyou for the patially renewed confidence in MS Graph, I will have another go using the above things you have suggested. I was not at all looking forward to using a 3rd party add-on, it was spelling major headache to me.

Incidently, is it possible to use excel charts in access without actually having excel ie embed them, sorry if it sounds like a dumbo question, I'm just not sure.

Thank you very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very, much.

Kind regards,

Rachael

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Incidently, is it possible to use excel charts in access without actually having excel ie embed them,

Access and Excel use the same facility - MS Graph. Your problem is that the Access "Chart Wizard" is dumber than a box of rocks. The Excel "Chart Wizard" KNOWS that it is dumber than a box of rocks - and doesn't make so many incorrect assumptions. I guess 'cause the Access wizard has delusions of grandeur?

If you know how or learn how to use VBA and then link the Graph library to your module references, you can then control the properties of your charts directly from VBA, never mind the gross stupidity of the chart wizard. You MIGHT have to link the MS Graph references and then use Object Browser on a Chart Object to determine its properties. But it is possible to make it work OK.

And BTW, MS Graph is not a bad charting tool. I've pushed the heck out of it more than once. In a U.S. Government office (where I work), MS Graph meets all data charting requirements. All of them. Third-party tools are used ONLY for things that are diagrammatic, like Org charts or process flow charts or the like.

 

[Rachael]

Hi Doc Man,

Thanks for your reply, it has renewed my faith in things, I was getting very worried about the whole thing.

where you say "link the Graph library to your module references" are you just talking about ticking the Microsoft Graph 9.0 Library?


And where you say "You MIGHT have to link the MS Graph references and then use Object Browser on a Chart Object to determine its properties", what do you mean here exactly?, I'm sure I can figure it out, but sometimes just need a little push in the right direction.

Hi yhgtbfk,

Thankyou so much for your offer to help with code and stuff, I just might take you up on that. What I usually do is trawl the forums for answers which 99% of the time solves my problems, but if I get stuck - thankyou.

Has anyone had the graph resizing problem? on my new computer running Win XP it cuts off the ends of the graphs which is usually the legend. When I go to resize it in design view, it won't do it, it makes the graph itself bigger but still cuts the end of the page off, so now I see even less of the graph. On my old Win98 computer, no a problem, and I have to use it to get the graph back in the right position. Its like the graph has this default blank 1 inch of space on the end of the graph. In design view the graph (the actual graph with the thick, dotty sort of line) is on 4/5 of the page, I resize the thick dotty line to fill the graph object area, then go to print preview and the graph is bigger but still with the 1 inch cut off ie I now see even less of the graph - its bizarre!! I would love to hear if anyone else has experienced this.



Kind regards,

Rachael

 

[The_Doc_Man]

where you say "link the Graph library to your module references" are you just talking about ticking the Microsoft Graph 9.0 Library?

Yes

And where you say "You MIGHT have to link the MS Graph references and then use Object Browser on a Chart Object to determine its properties", what do you mean here exactly?,

The idea is that you can't control the properties of an object if you don't know the names (and pre-defined values) associated with the object. The Object Browser allows you to explore the properties and constants for an object and also lets you get a handle on the methods defined for the object even if the Help Files don't tell you much. (Heck, don't tell you hardly anything, really.)

So the chart object will have a chart type property for which many constants are define. The axes will have various formatting options for which some constants are defined. The gridlines will have formatting properties. Etc. etc. The idea is to identify the objects by finding which ones you can control. Then control them by explicit name references through VBA.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Good point, Pat. Screen Res makes a big difference IF the other system was set to a proprietary setting. If it was one of the "standard" SVGA settings, shouldn't matter AS much.

But to take it further, there is also the issue of the printer for which the graph image was built. If THAT changes, the graph could change, too.

 

[Rachael]

Hi guys,

I use the same resolution on both computers 800x600. I have clients using this res with no problems and also others who I know use the bigger res 1024x?? whatever it is and the graphs work for them. I'm going to rebuild all my graphs and see what happens. I will post a response when I find out whats going on so others who encounter the same prob can see the result.

Thankyou so much for all your help, this forum is fantastic.

Thankyou for taking the time to help me with this, it has renewed my faith in MS Graph.

Kind regards,

Rachael
Feeling 30 years old again!

 

[Rachael]

OK, no go. I have tried everything but can't get it to resize, its like there is some default size setting somewhere so that each time I resize the chart object it changes it back to the default.

I have attached a db with just one of my charts in it, it works from a form where parameters can be entered.

Could anyone kindly try this to see if the chart is cut short, on my computer i just get the start of the legendthen about 1 inch of blank space.

Its a bit messy but don't worry about that. Its Access 2000, I run Win XP Home. I have the latest Jet version and Office SP3 installed.

thankyou very much.

Rachael
Feeling 100 again!

 

[Rich]

post a 97ver

 

[Rachael]

Thanks Pat for taking the time to look at this,

What you see is correct.

I have attached two jpegs (one in next reply) of what I get. the design view one, you can see the actual chart object fuzzy line has made itself about an inch shorter that where it should be, if I resize this, the print preview still cutsthe graph short but shows even less of the graph image ie I don't even get the start of the legend as I did in the ChartPreview image attached so its technically resized the graph but still only slows the 1 inch short image in preview. The fuzzy line automatically jumps back to the same spot each time, even if I resize, go to preview then back to design, its back in the same spot. Its driving me mad.

Ive searched the knowledge base and other forums for an answer.

Kind regards,

Rachael

 

[Rachael]

Here is the second image

 

[Rachael]

Hi Pat,

You are right, quite a mystery, I have uninstalled and reinstalled office atleast half a dozen times. When I first got this new computer (pentium4, Packard Bell) it took about 4 unistalls to get everything working how it should, its like the computer and the software had to court each other for awhile before they decided to get married.

I don't know what to do now, this computer is a bit useless if I can't design graphs on it.

If anyone comes across this post and has a similar problem or find a solution could you please email me direct at arkive@arkive.com.au as I don't think there is anymore anyone can do? I would appreciate an email as I don't check my old posts usually.

Kind regards,

Rachael

 

[Rachael]

News Flash....

An answer has been found: Yet another Microsoft stuff-up, what a surprise.

Thought I'd post to let you all know.

Thanks to a guy called Paul Downham, whom I've been corresponding with, has discovered the problem, here is the last emial I received;

Rachael,

We think we have discovered what the problem is.

Basically, unless you use a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or greater,
than the size of the chart element within a report is unexpectedly
limited. In our case the chart was slightly over this undeclared limit, so
whilst it displayed perfectly on the computer it was designed on
(1024x768), it was cropped on the right hand side when viewed (or printed) on
a computer set to 800 x600.

By reducing the width of the chart plot area in design view in stages,
we eventually found a size (approx 21cm on A4 landscape), where it just
stayed OK on a 800x600 machine. However, if you use a 640x480
resolution, it becomes cropped again.

This is of course a mistake by Microsoft, as its only the plot area
that is affected - the rest of the report image was fine - and a screen
resolution setting should obviously have no effect on a printout!

We thought it was a runtime/full version issue at first, but it turns
out that the runtime machines were 800x600 and the full version machine
was 1024x768.

It might only be a Win2000 and XP problem ... still looking into the
Win98 case.

Hope this helps


Paul


So there you go!!

Rachael

 

[Oldsoftboss]

Dragging up an old thread

Have you had any luck with Microsoft re your chart resizing issue?

I found (by trial and error) that the chart will come to full scale as you reduce the width, but the chart only covers about 2/3 of the page, thus looks a bit amateurish.

A second issue I am having trouble with is creating a report with date criteria from text boxes on a form. When you press the cmd button to view the chart, an OLE msg pops up saying it cannot find the fields

So, I now open the hidden in design mode, write a string for the chart record source, close and save, then open it to view.

As I have about 60 different chart options, this has become a monumental task.

Any feedback would be good.

Dave

 

[Oldsoftboss]

Rachael, see you are from Victoria, from Melbourne or the country ?

Dave

 

[Rachael]

Hi Dave,

I'm in the bush between Wangaratta and Mansfield.

It seems that in this game sometimes you just have to resign yourself to some things like Microsoft stuff ups because trying to get anything done about it is impossible. So, with the chart resizing issue I have changed my database to 1024x768 resolution, which allows the charts to sit fully on the page and not chop things off. I have advised all my clients to use this resolution but have included scroll bars for those who still want to use 800x600. What do you do!!!!!!!!

I have found the charts in Access to be extremely fickle, my main use is comparing data from different tables by date on the same chart ie overlaying the same data from irrigation applied, rainfall, soil moisture etc to get comparisons. This entails controlling the x axis via code. I have an unbound field for start and finish date to set the charts date x axis (five charts with transparent backgrounds overlaying each other) then to select the appropriate records in the query.

Private Sub Report_Activate()

Dim objChart1 As Graph.chart
Dim objAxis1 As Object
Set objChart1 = Me.YourChartName.Object
Set objAxis1 = objChart1.axes(xlCategory)


If objAxis1.Type = 1 Then
objAxis1.minimumscale = (Forms!MoistIrrigChart![Date1])
objAxis1.maximumscale = (Forms!MoistIrrigChart![Date2])
End If

End Sub

I make lots of backups and often have to revert to them as I find for no known reason that I can see they will just stop working or start giving errors. I wish someone would come up with a better option for charting, there are a few third party charting tools but cost $$ and I already have over 200 clients so trying to get ocx or dll's or whatever onto their machines (they are all mostly farmers aswell) would be a nightmare.

With OLE messages - this might be a throw away comment - I repair my Access installation and this usually fixes some things - sometimes I completely remove it and reinstall!!!

Anyway, sounds like you have a monumental task, a couple of charting tools I looked at were flipper graph tool and Tee-chart, they looked OK but again my dilemma of so many clients already and my lack of understanding of the nuts and bolts of computers has restricted me to shitty ol' MSGraph.

Cheers, Rachael

 

[Oldsoftboss]

Beautiful spot, the high country, I have a sister in Albury and a neice in Yackandanda, but dont get up there nearly enough.

Back to our frustration...

I see you use:

Private Sub Report_Activate()

Dim objChart1 As Graph.chart
Dim objAxis1 As Object
Set objChart1 = Me.YourChartName.Object
Set objAxis1 = objChart1.axes(xlCategory)

If objAxis1.Type = 1 Then
objAxis1.minimumscale = (Forms!MoistIrrigChart![Date1])
objAxis1.maximumscale = (Forms!MoistIrrigChart![Date2])
End If

End Sub

I presume this is to limit the date range on the graph. My question is: If I use

Set objAxis1 = objChart1.axes(xlCategory)

Do I have to declare (xlCategory) anywhere, or are you using xlCharts?

If I can adapt this, my work will be cut by 3/4

Dave

 

[Oldsoftboss]

After a bit of fiddling, I set Microsoft Graph in the references and now get an error on the 3rd line

Dim objChart1 As Graph.chart
Dim objAxis1 As Object
Set objChart1 = Me.YourChartName.Object
Set objAxis1 = objChart1.axes(xlCategory)

Set objChart1 = Me.YourChartName.Object

The bound or unbound object frame you tried to edit doesn't contain an OLE object !!

I just about give up

Dave

 

[Rachael]

Hi Dave,

Try not putting the code in the detail section of the report but in the header section, I seem to remeber a similar thing when I was trying to get all this to work. You also need to reference Graph 9 Object library

Cheers, Rachael