Design-time Support

In This Topic

FlexChart lets you configure the charts easily at design-time using the property window, collection editors, smart tags etc. in Visual Studio. There are a lot of options available through property window such as configuring chart axes, setting chart type, configuring data source, applying animation, customizing look and feel etc. Apart from the property window, FlexChart also provides following smart tag panels and collection editors to make your coding task easier:

Smart Tag Panel

Smart tags provide quick and easy access to common properties in the design time. The smart tag panel for charts can be accessed by the smart tag ( ) on the upper right corner of the control. It can also be accessed directly by clicking any specific element of the chart such as axis, legend, series, etc. The tables below describe smart tag panels available in various charts.

FlexChart
FlexPie and Sunburst
TreeMap

The FlexChart Tasks smart tag panel allows you to choose the Chart Type, select the Data Source, Add or Edit the series and so on. The following table shows options available in tasks panel of the FlexChart control.

	Option	Description
	Chart Type	Choose from extensive collection of Chart Types from the dropdown list. By default it is Column.
	Stacking	Choose from the options available in the dropdown that allows to arrange the Series of the chart one above the other as a stack.
	Rotated	Select this option to transpose both the axes
	Palette	Choose from the color templates that are available from the dropdown list.
	Dock In Parent Container	Choose this option to automatically resize the FlexChart to the size of its Parent Container.
Data Source	Choose the Data Source for presenting data on the FlexChart.
Binding (Y Value)	Choose the name of the property that contains Y values for the series.
Binding (X Value)	Choose the name of the property that contains X values for the series.
Edit Series	Opens the Series Collection Editor. It can be used to add the chart series and set related properties.
Add Series	Choose this option to add another series to existing FlexChart and set its properties.
To Chart Elements	Allows to access and set properties to chart elements, such as Axes, Labels, Legends, etc.

Note: Additionally, StartAngle and Reversed properties are available in FlexRadar. StartAngle property sets the starting angle of the chart and Reversed property plots the chart in counter clockwise direction.

The FlexPie and Sunburst Tasks smart tag panel are similar and allows you to set the InnerRadius, define Offset and StartAngle, and so on. The following table shows options available in smart tag panel for the FlexPie and Sunburst control.

	Option	Description
	Inner Radius	Choose the values from the dropdown to create a hole in the center of the charts. By default, this property is set to zero.
	Offset	Choose the values from the dropdown to push each slice of the chart away from the center. By default, this property is set to zero.
	Start Angle	Choose the value from dropdown to change the angle of the first slice . By default, this property is set to zero.
	Reversed	Select this option to create the chart with angles drawn in the counter clockwise direction.
	Palette	Choose from the color templates that are available from the dropdown list.
Dock In Parent Container	Choose this option to automatically resize the FlexChart to the size of its Parent Container.
Data Source	Choose the Data Source for presenting data on the FlexChart.
Binding (value)	Choose the value of the property to bind the Pie slices of the chart.
Binding (name)	Choose the name of the property to bind the labels of Pie slices of the chart.
To Chart Elements	Allows to access and set properties to chart elements, such as Axes, Labels, Legends, etc.

The TreeMap Tasks smart tag panel allows you to choose the TreeMap Type, color Palette, Data Source, and so on. The following table shows options available in smart tag panel for the TreeMap control.

	Option	Description
	TreeMap Type	Choose the type of TreeMap chart from the dropdown list. By default, it is set as Squarified.
	Palette	Choose from the color templates from the available list. By default, it is set as standard.
	Dock in Parent Container	Choose this option to automatically resize the TreeMap to the size of its parent Container.
	Data Source	Choose the Data Source for presenting data on the TreeMap.
	Binding (value)	Choose the value of the property to bind the Pie slices of the chart.
Binding (name)	Choose the name of the property to bind the labels of the chart.
To Chart Elements	Allows to access and set properties to chart elements, such as Labels, Legends, etc.

FlexChart Add Series Smart Tag Panel

The Add Series Tasks smart tag panel is similar in both FlexChart and FlexRadar. It provides easy access to the commonly used properties of series. To access this smart tag panel, click on the series in the chart area or click on the Add Series option from the FlexChart or FlexRadar Tasks Smart Tag Panel.

	Option	Description
	Name	Set the name of the series. This series name also reflects on the Legend in the FlexChart.
	Chart Type	Choose from extensive collection of chart types from the dropdown list.
	Binding	Choose the name of the property that contains Y axis values for the series.
	BindingX	Choose the name of the property that contains X axis values for the series.
	Color (Fill)	Choose the Fill Color for the series.
	Color (Stroke)	Choose the color for the Line of the series
	Width	Choose the Width for the line of the series
	Line Pattern	Choose the pattern for the line of the series from the dropdown list. By default, it is set as Solid.
Delete Series	Select this to delete the series from the FlexChart.
Back To Chart Options	Select this option to go back to the FlexChart smart tag panel.

Note: Add Series option is available only in FlexChart and FlexRadar. In FlexRadar, option to change the Chart Type and Color (Fill) for individual series is available only through Series Collection Editor under Misc Section.

FlexChart Legend Smart Tag Panel

Legend related task panel can be accessed by clicking Legend on the FlexChart or by clicking “To Chart Elements” on the FlexChart Tasks smart tag panel and choosing the Legend option. The same list of options are available for FlexPie, Sunburst, FlexRadar, and TreeMap as well.

	Option	Description
	Title	Set the Title property for the Legend.
	Position	Set the Position of the Legend from the available options in the dropdown list. By default, it is Right.
	Orientation	Set the Orientation of the Legend from the available options in the dropdown list. By default, it is Auto.
	Legend Toggle	Toggle the visibility of the data series on FlexChart during runtime with this option. By default, the toggle option is disabled.
	Back To Chart Elements	Select this option to go back to the FlexChart smart tag panel.

FlexChart Axis Smart Tag Panel

Axis related task panel is similar for both FlexChart and FlexRadar. It can be accessed by clicking “To Chart Elements” on the FlexChart and FlexRadar Tasks smart tag panel and accessing Axis options or by clicking Axis on the FlexChart and FlexRadar.

FlexChart
FlexRadar

	Option	Description
	Title	Set the title for the X or Y Axis of the FlexChart.
	Format	Set the format used by the Axes labels.
	Position	Choose from the options available in the dropdown list to set position of the Axis labels.
	Reversed	Select this checkbox to flip the display order of Axes Labels.
	Axis Line	Select this checkbox to either display or hide the Axes lines.
	Major/Minor Grid	Select this checkbox to either display or hide the Gridlines on the Chart area.
	Back To Chart Elements	Select this option to go back to the FlexChart smart tag panel.

	Option	Description
	Format	Allows to set the format used by the Axes labels.
	Axis Line	Select this checkbox to either display or hide Axis line.
	Border Line	Select this checkbox to either display or hide border around the chart.
	Concentric Grid	Select this checkbox to either display or hide Concentric Grid lines on the chart.
	Radial Grid	Select this checkbox to either display or hide Radial Grid lines from the center to all the vertices of the chart.
	Back to Chart Elements	Select this option to go back to FlexRadar smart tag panel.

Note: Axes related Smart Tag Panel is available only in FlexChart and FlexRadar.

FlexChart Header/Footer Smart Tag Panel

You can add header or footer for the chart using Add Header/ Add Footer option. This option can be accessed by clicking "To Chart Elements" from the FlexChart Tasks smart tag panel. The same task panel is also available in FlexPie, Sunburst, FlexRadar, and TreeMap as well.

	Option	Description
	Content	Set the value for Header/Footer of the FlexChart.
	Alignment	Set the position of the Header or Footer from the options available in the dropdown list.
	Back To Chart Elements	Select this option to go back to the FlexChart smart tag panel.

FlexChart Data Label Smart Tag Panel

Data Labels can be added by using Add option under Data Labels. This option can be accessed by clicking "To Chart Elements" from the FlexChart Tasks smart tag panel. The same task panel is also available in FlexPie, Sunburst, FlexRadar, and TreeMap as well.

	Option	Description
	Content	Set the value to Data Labels. The value can be either X or Y that represent respective Axes and must be enclosed within { }.
	Position	Set the Position of the Data Label on the Series of the FlexChart from the available options in the dropdown list.
Remove	Choose this option to remove the applied Data Labels from the FlexChart.

Series Collection Editor

Series Collection Editor of FlexChart can be used to add the series and set the related properties at design-time. You can set the data source, chart type, tooltip, visibility etc. of each series using this collection editor. Following are the steps to access the same:

Right-click the FlexChart or FlexRadar control on form.
Select Properties from the context menu.
In the Properties window, click the ellipsis button next to the Series property.

Series Collection Editor