Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Filemaker Chart vs Web Javascript chart

Recently have issues with Filemaker chart thus have to switch to web based charts. There are quite a number of similarities and oddities. The following is the comparison.

FilemakerWeb
Uses tablesUses variables
Forms data from table with data pre fetched from SQL resultForms data direct from SQL result
Charts PreformedCharts can be defined at run time
Number of legends fixedNumber of legends determined from runtime
Max number of legend fixedNo Max number of legend 
Max number of data rows not fixedMax number of rows not fixed
Titles, X,Y labels prefixedDetermined during runtime although can be prefixed
Chart type prefixedChart type can be changed runtime
Interactive chartInteractive chart
Data values can be displayedData values can be displayed
Number of chart types limitedNumber of chart types depends on the module writer. Some can have 90 plus chart types
No time lapse display of chart dataHave time lapse display of data
Charts module fixedCan practically create the chart from scratch.
Not resizable during run timeCan auto resize or changed during runtime
Color prefixedColor changeable during runtime if needed
Options setting prefixedOptions totally changeable runtime.
Events trigger not availableEvents trigger available depends on module writer.
Chart data can be added/removed runtimeChart data can be added/removed runtime
Must use Filemaker to view chartCharts can be rendered in any web programming language that can work with javascript and have a graphics display capability.
Expensive.Can be totally free.
Charts formed by fix app settingPlain javascript text setting.
Easy to do even with novicesA big learning curve especially when you create chart from scratch
StandardizedWay too flexible until it is scary

You can see that Filemaker charts are for easy creation but is fixed in most features. It is not flexible at all compared to Web Javascript charts. Both caters to specific group of people and interest.


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