Chart Data

ASP.NET Essential Chart can handle data in different ways. You can add the data points to a series and let the Chart manage it. Alternatively, achieve easier data binding to a DataSet using the built-in ChartDataBindModel control and specify the column names containing the X and Y values. For additional flexibility, you can implement the IChartSeriesModel interface and plug-in your custom model.

The simplest data population approach is to populate a ChartSeries with data points as shown below:

Essential Chart makes it very easy to bind a DataSet containing data point values to a ChartSeries. Use the built-in ChartDataBindModel control to set up this binding. An illustration of this feature is provided below:

Essential Chart simplifies the implementation of a custom "data model" using a simple data model interface. Use this method to encapsulate your data retrieval code within a scalable scope.

When dealing with large amounts of data, custom data models perform better than manual population of a ChartSeries.

Indexed and Non-indexed model interfaces are illustrated below:

ASP.NET Essential Chart utilizes Essential XlsIO to read and import data from Microsoft Excel to an Essential Chart data format.

Simple Excel data, containing values as illustrated below can be loaded using the Microsoft Jet OLEDB Data Provider.

Similarly, you can also export data from Essential Chart format to Microsoft Excel format.

Essential Chart now supports binding to LINQ query results. Use LINQ to create different concise and optimal views of your data. Bind to LINQ query results and view your data using many different chart types.

Binding a LINQ query result to a chart and the resultant display are illustrated below: