Some Newbie Help

[FunkyELF]

Hello everyone. I just started using jfreechart for a little project I'm working on.

It works great, nice and fast.

There are only a couple of things I'd like to change on the chart I'm making.

One is to emphasize the X axis (at 0) ...make it thicker or something.
The other thing is to add some labels at certain points of interest which I would compute myself based on the data.

I am having trouble finding documentation. I saw that I could purchase a developer guide book, but other than that I haven't found much.
Is this book good? Up to date?
Since jfreechart seems to be the most commonly used charting program, I wouldn't mind paying for some documentation if it is good.

Last thing...
I like how I can zoom in on a chart using the mouse and I figured out how to reset it back to the original size. When I am zoomed in however, is there a way to pan around the chart?

Thanks,
~Eric

[david.gilbert]

One is to emphasize the X axis (at 0) ...make it thicker or something.

If your chart is based on XYPlot, there are methods:

setRangeZeroBaselineVisible(boolean);
setRangeZeroBaselineStroke(Stroke);
setRangeZeroBaselinePaint(Paint);

...that can be used to highlight the zero line (simulating a kind of x-axis). What I can't figure out right now is, why is there no corresponding set of methods for the domain axis, and why is this not supported for the CategoryPlot class?

The other thing is to add some labels at certain points of interest which I would compute myself based on the data.

Look through the classes in org.jfree.chart.annotations.*.

I am having trouble finding documentation. I saw that I could purchase a developer guide book, but other than that I haven't found much.
Is this book good? Up to date?
Since jfreechart seems to be the most commonly used charting program, I wouldn't mind paying for some documentation if it is good.

It is good (not perfect) and getting better (I happen to be working on it right now). We provide swift refunds for people that are not satisfied with their purchase, and very few people have requested a refund. I think the guide is value for money (you also get all the source code for th JFreeChart demo collection), and it is the source of funding for my work on JFreeChart. So it would be great if you end up buying a copy.

I like how I can zoom in on a chart using the mouse and I figured out how to reset it back to the original size. When I am zoomed in however, is there a way to pan around the chart?

There is no panning facility at present, unfortunately.

[FunkyELF]

One is to emphasize the X axis (at 0) ...make it thicker or something.

If your chart is based on XYPlot, there are methods:

setRangeZeroBaselineVisible(boolean);
setRangeZeroBaselineStroke(Stroke);
setRangeZeroBaselinePaint(Paint);

...that can be used to highlight the zero line (simulating a kind of x-axis). What I can't figure out right now is, why is there no corresponding set of methods for the domain axis, and why is this not supported for the CategoryPlot class?

Yeah, by highlight the X axis I didn't mean to highlight X = 0, I meant to highlight Y = 0 which would actually be the X axis.

Unfortunately, this would require the missing domain methods of which you speak.

I am interested in pointing out places where the chart crosses the 0 boundary and labeling the X value at that spot, so a different color or stroke is actually what I'm looking for.

I am having trouble finding documentation. I saw that I could purchase a developer guide book, but other than that I haven't found much.
Is this book good? Up to date?
Since jfreechart seems to be the most commonly used charting program, I wouldn't mind paying for some documentation if it is good.

It is good (not perfect) and getting better (I happen to be working on it right now). We provide swift refunds for people that are not satisfied with their purchase, and very few people have requested a refund. I think the guide is value for money (you also get all the source code for th JFreeChart demo collection), and it is the source of funding for my work on JFreeChart. So it would be great if you end up buying a copy.

I bought a copy today.

[FunkyELF]

Actually, it was the range I was looking for, just didn't set it to visible.