ChartMaker: What's New

ChartMaker 2.1
by www.FlexibleLearning.com

LOOKING AT WHAT's NEW

Current release: Version 2.1 build 57

ChartMaker is a LiveCode™ library for Desktop and iOS software development.

This is a free update for v2.1 users. A discount upgrade path is available for v2.0 users. Simply download the current release, then use the 'Purchase' link above to get your keys and register your copy of ChartMaker now, or from within the software by clicking the 'Register...' or 'Upgrade...' button when displayed. The choice is yours...

CMbox DOWNLOAD the current release.

I've been using the evaluation version and am really impressed! Well done you guys - you make my work look great! I've just ordered my upgrade - looking forward to it."
~ Roger Kingston, UK

Why upgrade from version 2.0?

'professional charts in LiveCode'


ChartMaker upgraded to version 2.1 with the release of build 45 and the introduction of many new features. The build releases below have added even more improvements and enhancements, mainly as a result of user requests. If you are still using v2.0, see what you are missing here first.	HTM

2.1 build 57 ~ maintenance release

'helpful charts'


What's New in this build?
•	Marker Lines Vertical and horizontal 'marker pen' lines can now be displayed in any Line or Scatter chart for visual referencing. You can align the marker lines using either absolute positions by number, or relative positions by percentage. They can also be used to indicate an alternative origin. Additional parameters... • Color: The default line color is red, but you can independently specify any RGB, colorName or web-hex color to suit your chart. • Width: The default width is 5px, but you can choose a width 1-7px • Blend: The default blend level is 70%, but you can specify any blend level between 0 and 100%. - See MarkerLineH, MarkerLineV, MarkerLineBlend and MarkerLineWidth in the documentation.
•	'Aim' Lines You can now display dashed 'aim' or 'goal' lines by specifying the first and last data points. To show both a Trend and an Aim line, ensure the first series has no data gaps and include a second series that includes only the first and last values. A 'Trend Lines' sample is built into the Utility - See TrendLine in the documentation.
Improvements
•	Utility Syntax window: You can now include or omit empty parameters in the Syntax window. Helpful to indicate which additional display options are available.

2.1 build 56 ~ maintenance release

'drill-down data'


What's New in this build?
•	CMgetElementData ChartMaker can now retieve the specific details of any bar, column, line or pie slice to support more detailed user-interactivity such as drill-down or drill-up charts, your own look-up information, or any other application you need based on a specific display result. How do I investigate this feature? - See Playground 9 in the download for a coded example. - See CMgetElementData in the documentation.
Improvements
•	Bar charts: Sorting by value now works as expected when a specific series is selected by SeriesBinding
•	Bar charts: Tooltips now display the correct series title when a specific series is selected by SeriesBinding.
•	Line charts: Tooltips are now implemented for line charts and trend lines.

2.1 build 55 ~ maintenance release

'converting data to information'


What's New in this build?
•	Added Xformat ChartMaker can now not only convert and display your Categories in any date-time format of your choice, but also automatically apply any arbitrary increment if needed. How do I investigate Xformat? - There is a new 'Category Display' section with an Xformat wizard in the Utility. - There is a sample chart built into the Utility. - There are full details in the documentation.	See Xformat in the documentation for details.
Improvements
•	Added SetUp preferences
•	The Utility now refreshes the chart window layered on top.
•	Legends: Percentages are now only shown for Pie charts.
•	2D graphics will now display a dropShadow.
•	The graduated border introduced in build 49 now requires LC4.5 build 1080 or later, otherwise a solid border is applied.
•	Scrolling the Utility data table now refreshes any changed Cell field values.

2.1 build 49 ~ maintenance release

'fast, intuitive presentations'


Video presentation
Improvements
•	'Bevel' is now available as a pie chart style.
•	'Dome' is now available as a pie chart style.
•	DropShadows can now be applied to pie, bar and column charts.
•	Improved x-axis labelling display of smaller grid-based charts.
•	Improved the border option by applying graduated tints for a more elegant display.
•	The Utility set-up and position are now retained between sessions.

2.1 build 48 ~ maintenance release

'charts on demand'


Improvements
•	'Check for Updates' has been corrected. If you cannot check for updates, please download the current version here.	Download current version
•	Print2PDF now reports 'File may be open' if the given filename is in use.
•	Line chart data label display has been tweaked to improve presentation.

2.1 build 47 ~ maintenance release

'making your work look great'


Trend Line improvements
•	The trend information can now be retrieved from any displayed trend line.	See CMgetTrendInfo in the documentation for details.
•	Each trend line now includes a tooltip of the associated trend information.
•	Trend lines now display as expected when all values are the same.
•	Null values are now averaged from the other values. If the values cannot be resolved, no trend line is drawn.
•	Single point trend lines no longer throw an error. They are simply not drawn.

Pie Chart improvements
•	Pie charts now resolve rounding errors and handle null values.

Color Scheme improvements
•	Custom color schemes may now be defined in external text files.	See ColorScheme in the documentation for details.

2.1 build 46 ~ update

'compelling charts, easily'


What's new in this build?
•	Scatter charts A new parameter has been added so you can quickly generate scatter graphs. It supports multiple series and honors any selective data binding you specify. An example is included in the Utility and you can investigate the new Playground included in the download to see how it works. See Scatter in the documentation.
•	Trend lines Linear regression trend lines can now be included in any scatter or line chart. If you have more than one series, each will display its own trend line. See TrendLine and TrendColor in the documentation.
•	Trend line information If you include trend lines in your chart you can optionally show the underlying information, including the r-squared measure of trend line reliability. See TrendInfo in the documentation.
•	3-D Drop Shadow When presentation is important, add a 3-D drop shadow for that 'floating' feeling. See DropShadow in the documentation.
•	Quick-Pick Color Names With over 450 color names to choose from, ChartMaker Utility now displays full color drop-down menus to help you decide which is right.
•	Custom Color Palettes ChartMaker Utility displays a color picker palette for the Font, BackFill and GridFill menus. Now you can decide which palette is displayed. Choose from any of the 6 built-in color palettes or create as many of your own as you wish to ensure display consistency.
•	Color format choice Do you prefer to work in RGB, web codes or color names? Or all three? The Utility will now automatically format colors to suit you.
•	Cell Editing The Utility data table now has a quick checkbox option to select and edit individual table cells with arrow and tab key navigation. Choose your color in the new Preferences.
•	Alternating Row Color Sometimes it is easier to work with rows of altenating color in the Utility. This is independent of cell editing, so you can choose either, both or neither at any time using quick checkbox selection. Again, choose your color in the new Preferences.
•	Disclosure Layout With so many different choices, the Utility has been redesigned to show only what you actually want to see for each setting section. The result is a more compact display of options that is easier to use.
•	Chart Restorer The Chart Restorer quickly re-displays the data and settings for old charts. It is so useful, we have added a quick-access button in the Utility header bar.
•	New Chart Sample A new formula chart sample is now included demonstrating quadratic equations.
•	New Playground 8 Try out and investigate the new Scatter chart, trend lines and 3-D drop shadow features in the new Playground.

What's improved in this build?
•	The chart size restriction of 100 x 100 for iOS mobile devices has been lifted.
•	Blended gridFill colors are no longer always converted to RGB.
•	Mouse wheel scrolling in the Chart Restorer has been added.
•	Samples can now be modified and saved to your personal archive.
•	The Utility now handles an empty initial series value when there are no series titles.
•	Line chart x-axis labelling when xIsNumeric has been improved.