A simple area chart shades the area under a curve formed by the data points in a series. Multiple series result in overlapped areas. This chart type is used to display the trends of values over time or categories.
Simple Area Chart
A spline area chart is an area chart with a smooth spline curve connecting the data points.
Spline Area Chart
Stacked area charts are area charts with y-coordinate values stacked over one another in order of series. Chart data can be viewed as a sum of series parts in this chart type.
Stacked Area Chart
Step area charts are similar to regular area charts where, instead of a straight line tracing the shortest path between points, the values are connected by continuous vertical and horizontal lines that form a step-like progression.
Step Area Chart
A bar chart is the simplest and most versatile of all statistical diagrams. It compares values across categories and is ideal to highlight variations in an item value over time using horizontal bars. Points from adjacent series are drawn as bars next to each other.
Simple Bar Chart
Stacked bar charts are bar charts with y-coordinate values stacked over one another in order of series. Chart data can be viewed as the sum of series parts when using the stacked bar chart.
Stacked Bar Chart
Frequently used in project management, a Gantt chart provides a graphical illustration of a schedule to help plan, coordinate, and track specific tasks of a project.
Provides a graphical representation of the duration of the task against the progression of time. Each task takes up one row. The expected time requirement for each task is represented by a horizontal bar whose left and right ends mark the beginning and completion date of the task. Another bar, usually rendered behind the previously mentioned bar, is used to represent the progression of the task. Tasks may run in a sequential, parallel, or overlapped fashions.
Gantt Chart
A histogram is a bar (column) chart of a frequency distribution in which the width of a bar is proportional to the variable class and the height of a bar is proportional to the class frequency. The categories (bars) are generally non-overlapping intervals of the variable, and must be continuous. In addition, the chart has the capability to display a normal distribution curve.
Histogram Chart
A tornado chart is a bar chart that shows the variability of an output with respect to different inputs. Variability is displayed using relative lengths of bars across a range. It is mainly used in sensitivity analysis and shows how different random factors can influence the prognostic outcome of a variable.
Tornado Chart
Column charts are the most commonly used charts, where the data points are displayed by vertical bars. It is similar to a bar chart, except that the bars are vertical and not horizontal.
Used for comparing the frequency, count, total, or average of data in different categories.Ideal for displaying variations in the value of an item over time.Points from adjacent series are drawn as bars next to each other.Error bars are supported to indicate a degree of uncertainty in the plotted data through a bar indicating a range. Plenty of symbol options are available to be rendered on error bars.
Error Bars in a Column Chart
Data points from different series are rendered one over the other in the stacked column chart. They are very useful for indicating the cumulative effect of multiple series values.
Stacked Column Chart
100% Stacked Column Chart
In a 100% stacked column chart, the cumulative proportion of each stacked element always totals 100%. This type of chart is great to visualize the relative contribution of each series values to the whole.
100% Stacked Column Chart
Line charts refer to charts where the data points on a plot are joined using straight or curved 2–D or 3–D lines. These charts are ideal to represent time-dependent data that show trends in data at equal intervals.
Error bars, which are used to indicate a level of uncertainty in the points that are plotted, can also be included.
Error Bars in a Line Chart
A spline chart is a line-chart with a smooth line connecting the data points.
Spline Chart
Step line charts use horizontal and vertical lines to connect data points, resulting in a step-like progression.
Step Line Chart
A rotated spline chart is a spline chart rotated 90 degrees. It is useful for visualizing how far data points deviate from a median value.
Rotated Spline Chart
Pie and doughnut charts are ideal for displaying percentages in a fractional format of proportionate values.
Plots y values in one series as fractional parts of a circle.The data point value determines the portion of the pie that is taken up by the point.Displays only one data series at a time.Can be used to display only nominal (categorical, qualitative) data.Each data item in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend.Supports bevel, round, inside, outside, and custom chart types.
Pie Chart
Accumulation charts are typically single-series charts that represent data in percentages and do not utilize axes.
A funnel chart is a type of accumulation chart in which the height of the funnel segment corresponds to the y-coordinate value of a point in a series.
Funnel charts are often used to represent stages in a sales process and display the potential revenue for each stage. Alternatively, the y-coordinate value can also be made to correspond
to the width of the segment.
Funnel Chart with a Circular Base
3-D Funnel Chart with a Square Base
A pyramid chart is another type of accumulation chart that is triangular in shape. Similar to a funnel chart, the height of a segment is proportional to the y-coordinate value of the corresponding point.
Note that the base of the pyramid can be square or circular.
Pyramid Chart with a Circular Base
3–D Pyramid Chart with a Square Base
A radar chart is a clock-face form of a line chart.
Ability to compare the aggregate values of a data series.Represents each data series as a line around a central point.Provides a graphical display of the difference between actual and ideal performance.Useful for defining performance, and identifying strengths and weaknesses.
Radar Chart
A polar chart is a circular graph in which data is displayed in terms of values and angles.
An option is provided to perform a visual comparison between several quantitative or qualitative aspects.When charts are drawn for several situations using the same axes (poles), a visual comparison between the situations can be made.The x-coordinate value of a data point is used to set the angle.The y-coordinate value defines the distance from the center of the graph.
Polar Chart
Essential Chart supports 3-D mode for all chart types except polar and radar.
3-D Stacked Bar Chart
The depth of the axis in z-axis can be customized through the Depth property.
3–D Pie Chart with Custom Depth Value
The Real Mode option displays a chart in a 3-D plane. Users can also use the Rotation or Tilt properties to rotate the control programmatically.
3-D Real Mode
Spacing between Data Series
Spacing helps customize the space between series to give charts an uncluttered appearance. The spacing is calculated as a percentage and the default percentage value is 10. Increased spacing between columns automatically reduces the column widths.
No Space between Data Series
Spacing between Data Series (50%)
Spacing between Data Series in 3-D Mode
There is also support to control the spacing between data series in 3-D mode. Spacing is set as a percentage value of the z-axis depth of a column.
Spacing between Data Series in 3-D Mode
Skins have been added with nine built-in themes for a chart series, adding a new level of professionalism to charts. The following skins are available: pastel, nature, grayscale, earth tone, triad, default alpha, colorful, analog, and warm–cold.
Chart Series with Colorful Skin
Chart Series with Analog Skin
Chart Series with Grayscale Skin
Chart Series with Pastel Skin
Exporting a Chart to Several Formats
Essential Chart is capable of exporting a chart easily to any image file format. On top of that use our Reporting libraries to export into a Word document, PDF document, or an Excel worksheet.
Chart Exported to an Image File Format
Essential Chart features a zoom functionality that provides great flexibility by allowing users to zoom in on a chart by simply selecting a given area.
Once the image is magnified, scroll bars appear, allowing areas beyond the boundaries of the displayed area to be viewed. Optionally, you can hide these scroll bars and use the Zoom Out button to revert to the original image.
Zooming in on a Chart
After zooming, scrolling and panning can be used to see all the visible areas of a chart. Scroll the chart area vertically by using the mouse wheel, and scroll horizontally by using the mouse wheel while pressing the SPACEBAR. To pan, you can click and drag the chart area to reveal hidden sections.
You can also scroll the chart area by using the arrow keys. Scrolling the chart area with the mouse wheel is achieved without any specific code on the controller and view sides. When the ZoomFactor property of any axis is less than one, then the panning operation is automatically enabled if the ZoomActions property is set to panning.
Scrolling and Panning
Essential Chart supports 14 different chart model skins which enhances the look and feel of a chart. It affects the BackInterior and ChartInterior properties.
By setting the ChartModelSkins property in MVCChartModel, you can change the skins applied to the Chart control. Color codes for series are matched to the ChartInterior and BackInterior properties. You can also specify SeriesColor and ForeColor.
14 Different Built in Skins
