Installation of php-RGraph

Then check if you can access php-RGraph's documentation using url: http://your-host/your-install-directory/RGraph/index.html. If this is OK, you may read RGraph's reference and try out the provided samples.

Structure of php-RGraph chart scripts

• Define environment
  
  Every chart script must know, where resources for charts are located. This is done with embedding (including) script "environment.php". If this script does not work correctly charts cannot be created. See the layout of "environment.php", which shows what information is needed:

  <?php
  // php-Rgraph root directory
  $rgraph_root = "/your-install-directory/RGraph";
  
  // php-Rgraph library
  $lib = $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] . $rgraph_root . "/lib/rgraph_chart.php";
  if (!file_exists($lib))
   die ("Error: $lib not found");
  require_once ($lib);
  
  // directory for templates
  $templates =  $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] . $rgraph_root . "/templates/";
  if (!file_exists($templates))
      die ("Error: $templates not found");
  
  // directory for RGraphs's javascript library
  $rgraph_libraries = $rgraph_root . "/libraries/";
  
  // (optional) directory for Utilities
  $utility =   $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] . $rgraph_root . '/lib/util.php';
  

  Note: Nameing of variables is important for using templates.
  
  Since version 2.1.1 of php-RGraph, all classes are integrated in namespaces, so it is necessary to define the namespaced classes in addition to include file "environment.php" with "use" instructions:

  include_once "environment.php";
  use phpRGraph\rgraph_chart;
  use phpRGraph\rgraph_options;
  

  
  
• Define chart layout
  
  With four lines of code you define major layout of you chart:

  $template = "default.php";
  $draw_option = "draw();";
  $width = "500";
  $height = "350";
  

  You define width ("$width") and ("height") of the canvas and what method RGraph should use to draw the chart ("$draw_option"). And you must specify what template is used for rendering the chart.
  
  
• Define chart's data
  
  You may define chart's data coming from various sources:

  • define an array of numerical data direcly within your chart script
  • retrieve data from file
  • retrieve data from local or remote server
  • retrieve data from MySql database
  • retrieve data from csv file
  • retrieve data from Google sheets
  • generate data via math formula

  php-class rgraph_chart has various methods to support you in providing data for your chart. For more information see the reference guide or have a look at the samples.
  
  
• Define RGraph chart properties
  
  First step is to define a rgraph_chart object:

  $chart = new rgraph_chart($id, $data, $chart_type);
  

  • "$id" is required and will define the canvas id (e.g. "cvs").
  • "$data" defines the data to be used for charts
  • "$chart_type" sets the desired chart type (e.g. "Pie")
    valid types are:
    • Bar
    • HBar
    • Bipolar
    • Line
    • Pie
    • Fuel
    • Funnel
    • Gauge
    • Gantt
    • Meter
    • Odometer
    • Radar
    • Rose
    • RScatter
    • SemiCircularProgress
    • Scatter
    • Waterfall

  Once you have created a rgraph_chart object you may create a rgraph_options object and define chart properties.

   $options = new rgraph_options($ini-file);
   $options->set_option("title", "My first chart);
    ...
  

  With optional parameter "$ini_file" you may specify an ini-file with pre-defined properties (e.g. font-sizes, colors, font-families, ...etc).

  php-RGraph "knows" about 450 different chart properties for almost all charts RGraph has offered. php-class rgraph_options has various methods to support you in providing chart properties, for more information see the reference guide, have a look at the samples or or visit the home of RGraph.

  
  
• Build json object for RGraph
  
  Once you have created the chart object and its properties you first define the properties ($options object) to the chart object and then create a json object to be used with RGraph:

  $chart->set_options($options);
  $rgraph_json = $chart->toPrettyString();
  

  
  
• Use template for rendering the chart
  
  This is an easy task as the template's directory has been defined with "environment.php" and the template name has been defined already. So your code looks like:

   include_once ($templates . $template);