How to use the charting component?

[c.le_roq]

Hello,

I am a beginner with Office Web Components and I am wondering how to
implement the best architecture. My server side web programming
language is asp.net with vb.net.

My needs:
Provide my users with reporting charts through our intranet. If
possible use interactive graphs otherwise static pictures.

I got a few info and this is what I've understood so far:
- Client-Side: If my users have MS Office installed on their PC then I
can make a HTML page containing the Chart GUID and a bit of VBScript to
connect the Chart Object with Data from a Database. The users will be
able to interact with the ActiveX chart.
- Server-Side: If my users do not have MS Office on their PC then I can
process Server-Side GIF charts (OWC installed on the server) in ASP.net
code. The users will get a gif image on their browser.

My questions:
- Can we have interactive charts processed from the server-side?
- In client side, the user can see the VBSCript i.e the
ConnectionString and the Queries/Tables. It worries me for security
concerns. Is there a mean to hide this?
- In client-side, is it better to retrieve from a direct connection to
the database or would it be better to retrieve from the DB and then
copy the data into a Client PlaceHolder/XML?


Cheers for your help,

Chris

P.S: Any snippets codes welcome

 

[Alvin Bruney [MVP - ASP.NET]]

- Can we have interactive charts processed from the server-side?
Yes it is possible, technically. The black book illustrates a few examples
of this. However, you need to be very familiar with licensing before going
this route.

- In client side, the user can see the VBSCript i.e the
ConnectionString and the Queries/Tables. It worries me for security
concerns. Is there a mean to hide this?

You can try hiding the script in a js file for instance. As a general rule,
client-side attributes are available to the client.

- In client-side, is it better to retrieve from a direct connection to
the database or would it be better to retrieve from the DB and then
copy the data into a Client PlaceHolder/XML?

Either can do, really.

--
Regards,
Alvin Bruney - ASP.NET MVP

[Shameless Author Plug]
The Microsoft Office Web Components Black Book with .NET
Now available @ www.lulu.com/owc, Amazon.com etc

 

[c.le_roq]

thanks Alvin.
I'll get the data from queries inside the asp.net code (server side)
and copy it as XML in a PlaceHolder on the client side. Therefore my
connection String and Query will not be seen by the client.

I am now trying to format the default display of my graph.
It seems I could do that with the param name="XMLData" but it does do
anything. For example impossible to have a white interior plot area!

<object id="CSpace" height="400" width="700"
classid="clsid:0002E556-0000-0000-C000-000000000046">
<param name="XMLData"
VALUE='<xml xmlns:x="urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:excel">
<x:ChartSpace>
<x:OWCVersion>10.0.0.2621</x:OWCVersion>
<x:AllowPropertyBrowser></x:AllowPropertyBrowser>
<x:Chart>
<xlotArea>
<x:Interior>
<x:Color>#F8F8FF</x:Color>
<x:FillEffect>
<x:fill x:type='Solid'; x:color='#F8F8FF';></x:fill>
</x:FillEffect>
</x:Interior>
<x:Graph>
<x:Type>Line</x:Type>
<x:SubType>Standard</x:SubType>
<x:SubType>Marker</x:SubType>
</x:Graph>
</xlotArea>
</x:Chart>

etc...etc...

Is there a mean to use this XML above or can I modify the chart display
in the VBScript which processes the chart i.e:
CSpace.PlotArea.Interior.Color = "White"

Thanks

- Can we have interactive charts processed from the server-side?

Yes it is possible, technically. The black book illustrates a few examples
of this. However, you need to be very familiar with licensing before going
this route.

- In client side, the user can see the VBSCript i.e the
ConnectionString and the Queries/Tables. It worries me for security
concerns. Is there a mean to hide this?

You can try hiding the script in a js file for instance. As a general rule,
client-side attributes are available to the client.

- In client-side, is it better to retrieve from a direct connection to
the database or would it be better to retrieve from the DB and then
copy the data into a Client PlaceHolder/XML?

Either can do, really.

--
Regards,
Alvin Bruney - ASP.NET MVP

[Shameless Author Plug]
The Microsoft Office Web Components Black Book with .NET
Now available @ www.lulu.com/owc, Amazon.com etc

Hello,

I am a beginner with Office Web Components and I am wondering how to
implement the best architecture. My server side web programming
language is asp.net with vb.net.

My needs:
Provide my users with reporting charts through our intranet. If
possible use interactive graphs otherwise static pictures.

I got a few info and this is what I've understood so far:
- Client-Side: If my users have MS Office installed on their PC then I
can make a HTML page containing the Chart GUID and a bit of VBScript to
connect the Chart Object with Data from a Database. The users will be
able to interact with the ActiveX chart.
- Server-Side: If my users do not have MS Office on their PC then I can
process Server-Side GIF charts (OWC installed on the server) in ASP.net
code. The users will get a gif image on their browser.

My questions:
- Can we have interactive charts processed from the server-side?
- In client side, the user can see the VBSCript i.e the
ConnectionString and the Queries/Tables. It worries me for security
concerns. Is there a mean to hide this?
- In client-side, is it better to retrieve from a direct connection to
the database or would it be better to retrieve from the DB and then
copy the data into a Client PlaceHolder/XML?


Cheers for your help,

Chris

P.S: Any snippets codes welcome