Just in 10 days after the previous release - new 5.1.1 version has arrived. We’re happy to introduce several new features. “We’ve added feature-rich CSV support,” said Alex Batsuev, lead developer of AnyChart product.  “This feature began as a customer request.” It allows to make data file smaller and decrease loading time.  It is possible to reuse CSV tables in different series and dashboard views. Read more about CSV Data>>

Other AnyChart version 5.1.1 new features

• Adobe Flash Integration 
  New Feature - A set of samples making possible the use of AnyChart Charts, Maps and Gauges in Flash CS3.
  Read more Flash CS3 Integration >>
• Drag Ability for Scrollable Charts
  New Feature - Drag Ability for Scrollable Charts. You can configure chart to make it draggable when the chart area is zoomed.

Read more about AnyChart version history and plans for new upcoming releases. Feel free to contact us with your comments, ideas and suggestions.

We’re happy to announce the production release of AnyChart 5.1 - the most advanced flash charting component. Version 5.1 builds on the success of the earlier 5.0 offering by adding several new chart types, new features, significant performance improvements plus new advanced dashboard features and Adobe AIR support.

New chart types: TreeMaps, HeatMaps, Funnel Charts both in 2D and 3D, Accumulation Pyramid (also known as Pyramidal Funnel) both 2D/3D, 3D Pie and  Doughnut charts.

New features: Scrolling support,  Multiple X Axes both for Categorized and Scatter plots, Markers in Legend, Interactive Labels, Multiple Data Labels Support, Multiple Data Tooltips Support, Multiple Data Markers, Context Menu Localization, Axis Markers Styling Support.

Another exciting news - Now AnyChart is fully compatible with Adobe Air ™. Build your RIA or Desktop Application utilizing the power of AnyChart Flash Charting engine. Also all chart types can now be combined within interactive dashboard: all charts, gauges, maps, funnels.

And the last, but not the least - Significant Performance Improvements. (more…)

Sometimes it is necessary to create custom preview of the component in the Flex Builder “Design” view.
It is undocumented feature
I’ve found very interesting class in the Flex SDK 3: mx.core.UIComponentGlobals.

This class contains static field designMode:Boolean.

Just check that field in your component code.
You can download example component with the source code from here:
http://anychart.com/tips_and_tricks/designMode/DesignModeComponent.zip

Also you can download the usage sample:
http://anychart.com/tips_and_tricks/designMode/DesignModeComponentSample.zip

Running in the Flex Builder “Design” mode it shows AnyChart image. But when it runs in the flash player it shows only gray rectangle.

We have found a nice bug in mxmlc compiller

var a:Number = 10;
var b:Number = 20;
var c:Number = a - - b;
trace (c);

It’s correct! Result is 30. But mxmlc ant task doesn’t compile this code sometimes…

It’s very surprising bug.

Interesting in URLLoader and URLRequest.

If you are trying to load file using relative URL, that contains colon (”:”) and dot(”.”) in param values, you receive security error:

e.g.:
var request:URLRequest = new URLRequest("/test.flash?p=smth::else");
or
var request:URLRequest = new URLRequest("./test.flash?p=smth::else");

are not valid URL’s for Flash Player because flash player doesn’t escape “:” in urls.

You should use absolute URL’s for it:

e.g.:

var request:URLRequest = new
URLRequest("http://localhost:8080/test.flash?p=smth::else");

As I promised I’ve uploaded source code for solving the problem with flash content printing in Firefox and an example of its usage in Flash.

FFPrintFix library was extended and now it is called ACPrintManager. Now it is not only bug fix for printing, but also content control for printing from a browser.

See all details here:
http://www.anychart.com/blog/projects/acprintmanager/

I will let out a secret: we have solved a problem with printing Flash/Flex applications in Firefox

Here is the article how you can use it.

UPD1: http://www.anychart.com/blog/2007/10/27/ac-print-manager/
UPD2: http://www.anychart.com/blog/projects/acprintmanager/
UPD3: LGPL license

(more…)