Mike Doub wrote:
Hello List,
I am looking for implementation advice on how best to solve a problem
displaying a graphical representation of a matrix of data.
I have a variable that is set up with each line representing a row of
information, and each item of the line a value. There are a variable number
of lines and values. I typically expect about 50 lines and 24 values.
Something like this (as you can see I am thinking of using arrays with split
and combine):
Label1|0,0,1,3,5,6...
Label2|1,4,6,7,2,0...
Label3|5,4,4,3,-1,1...
.
.
.
The graphic that I was envisioning was a group of small squares that would
contain colors, green for 0 and higher, orange for -1, red for -2 add below.
The label would be next to each row of boxes. I would also like the user to
be able to hover over one of the boxes and be able to see the actual value.
I have multiple data sets to be displayed. Initially I was thinking that I
would have one of this graphic per card, but having this as part of a
scrolling field would be nice. Anyway let's keep it simple and just assume
that it will be on each card.
I am a bit stumped at how to:
1) Build this graphical thing dynamically to accommodate difference numbers
of rows and columns
2) How to connect the appearance of each box to the data, both to set the
color and to get the hovering effect.
I am totally open to suggestions at this point in how to better layout the
data and to build this graphical control.
Thank you in advance for pointing me in a direction.
Hi Mike - I'll point in a number of directions :-)
I'd probably do #3 myself, assuming the 50 lines x 24 values is a
realistic estimate, and that the max size you need to handle isn't too
much larger than that.
I can see three ways to get the colored squares - though there are
probably dozens of other ways.
1. Use the "imageSource" for each character.
Create images (either in your stack, or as PNG files) each a square of a
different color.
Set the text of the field to be something like
Label 1 <tab> ABCD
Lab 2<tab> AADEC
etc.
Set the images source of each character to the appropriate PNG or image.
2. (similar)
Do the same but instead of using imageSource for each character, use
htmlText : set both color and bgcolor of each character in turn to the
relevant color value as needed.
(e.g. some code vaguely like:
set the itemdel to TAB
repeat with tLine = 1 to the number of lines in fld "Field"
put the number of chars in item 2 of line tLine of fld "Field"
into tNum
repeat with tChar = 1 to tNum
put char tChar of item 2 of line tLine of fld "Field" into tt
put "<font bgcolor=" & theColor[tt] & "><font color=" &
theColor[tt] & ">" & tt & "</font></font>" into tHtml
set the htmlText of char tChar of item 2 of line tLine of fld
"Field" to tHtml
end repeat
end repeat
where the array "theColor" has been set up ahead of time.
3. Use a number of buttons, all square.
Create a "template" button, with all the right characteristics (square,
no border, etc. and hidden)
Then for each value in each line create a new button (clone the template
one), set its position, set its color according to the value, and then
make it visible. [obviously, re-use buttons as needed]
For the "hover" value, in case 3 you can simply set the tooltip of each
button to the actual value.
For cases 1 or 2, I think you'd need to do your own tracking of the
mouse using a mouseMove handler and timer, then using mouse co-ords (or
mouseChunk ??) to determine which char is the relevant one, and pop up
the right value (maybe by setting the tooltip for the field - worth
looking into whether you could do that).
Hmmm - it would be nice if there was a tooltip event, which would
trigger a handler "pre-appearance" to allow you to adjust the text.
Would that be a worthwhile enhancement request ?
--
Alex Tweedly http://www.tweedly.net
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