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Line Chart Component

1. Introduction​

The Line Chart component is a powerful visualization tool used to display data trends over a continuous range, such as time or numerical values. It is ideal for applications that require users to analyze patterns, compare datasets, or track changes over time. The component supports multiple datasets, customizable styles, and smooth animations, making it a versatile choice for data-driven applications.

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Purpose and Use Cases​

  • Purpose: The Line Chart component is used to visualize data trends and relationships between variables.
  • Primary Use Cases:
    • Displaying time-series data, such as sales trends or stock prices.
    • Comparing multiple datasets on the same chart.
    • Visualizing changes in data over a continuous range.

Benefits​

  • Data Insights: Helps users quickly identify trends and patterns in data.
  • Customizable: Offers extensive styling options for lines, areas, and legends.
  • Interactive: Smooth animations enhance the user experience.
  • Responsive Design: Adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes and devices.

2. Properties​

The Line Chart component comes with several configurable properties to suit different use cases. Below is a detailed breakdown:

Code​

  • Description: A unique identifier for the component.
  • Purpose: Used to reference the component programmatically.
  • Required/Optional: Required

Title​

  • Description: The title displayed above the chart.
  • Purpose: Provides context for the chart's data.
  • Required/Optional: Optional

Name​

  • Description: The name of the chart.
  • Purpose: Used for internal reference or display purposes.
  • Required/Optional: Optional

Value​

  • Description: The labels on the X-axis, represented as an array of comma-separated numbers.
  • Purpose: Defines the data points along the X-axis.
  • Default: 0;1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9
  • Required/Optional: Optional

Data Sources​

  • Description: A list of datasets to be displayed on the chart.
  • Purpose: Each dataset adds a line to the chart, representing a unique set of data.
  • Attributes for Each Dataset:
    • Code: A unique identifier for the dataset.
    • Name: The name of the dataset.
    • Values: An array of comma-separated numbers representing the Y-axis values (default: 0;0;1;2;4;4;5;6;6;10).
  • Additional Configuration:
    • + Add Dataset Button: Allows users to add extra datasets to the chart.

3. Style​

The Line Chart component offers extensive styling options to ensure it aligns with the application's design. Below are the key styling properties:

Size and Position​

  • Reset: Resets size and position settings to default.
  • Size:
    • Width & Height: Define the dimensions of the chart.
    • Min Size: Minimum width and height (default: none).
    • Max Size: Maximum width and height (default: none).
  • Position:
    • Alignment: Left, right, top, bottom (default: left, top).
    • X Position: Horizontal offset from the edge.
    • Y Position: Vertical offset from the edge.
  • Z-Index: Specifies the stack order of the chart (default: 0).
  • Fixed Position: Locks the chart's position on the screen (default: OFF).
  • Hidden: Hides the chart from view (default: OFF).

Legend​

  • Visible:
    • Description: Determines whether the legend is displayed.
    • Default: ON
  • Orientation:
    • Description: Defines the layout of the legend.
    • Options: Horizontal (default), Vertical.
  • Position:
    • Left: Auto, left, center, right.
    • Top: Auto, top, middle, bottom.

Margin​

  • Reset: Resets margin settings to default.
  • Options: Normal.
    • Sides: Left, right, top, bottom, or all round.
    • Size: Margin size in pixels (default: 80).

Animation​

  • Animation:
    • Description: Enables or disables chart animations.
    • Default: ON
  • Animation Duration:
    • Description: The duration of the animation, expressed in milliseconds.
    • Default: 1000 ms

For Each Dataset​

  • Line Color:
    • Description: The color of the line, defined using a hexadecimal color code.
  • Area Color:
    • Description: The color of the area under the line, defined using a hexadecimal color code.
  • Area Transparency:
    • Description: The transparency level of the area under the line.
    • Default: 0.2
  • Smooth Lines:
    • Description: Determines whether the lines are smoothed.
    • Default: ON
  • Stack:
    • Description: Defines the stacking order of lines when they cross each other.
  • Line Type:
    • Description: The style of the line.
    • Options: Solid (default), Dashed, Dotted.
  • Line Width:
    • Description: The thickness of the line.
    • Default: 4 pixels

4. Actions​

The Line Chart component does not support any actions, as it is a static visualization tool.

5. Best Practices for UI/UX​

When and Why to Use​

  • Use the Line Chart component to visualize trends, patterns, and relationships in data.
  • Ideal for applications that require users to analyze time-series data or compare multiple datasets.

Effective Scenarios​

  • Desktop: Use for dashboards or data analysis tools where detailed trends need to be displayed.
  • Tablet/Smartphone: Ensure the chart is responsive and legible on smaller screens.

Tips for Optimal Use​

  • Use contrasting colors for different datasets to improve readability.
  • Keep the number of datasets manageable to avoid cluttering the chart.
  • Enable smooth animations to enhance the user experience.

6. Security Considerations​

Potential Risks​

  • External Resources: If the chart's data or styling is loaded from external sources, ensure they are trustworthy.

Best Practices​

  • Use secure HTTPS connections for any external resources.
  • Validate and sanitize all input data to prevent injection attacks.
  • Test the chart's responsiveness and behavior across different devices and screen sizes.