# Charting the rails

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/charting-the-rails/145834>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [August 14, 2008, 11:13am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/charting-the-rails/145834 "2008-08-14T11:13:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![arvias](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@arvias](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/arvias)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 11:13am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/charting-the-rails/145834/1 "2008-08-14T11:13:20Z")

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Hi,

There are a multitude of options for charting in rails.

While looking I found Ziya, Open Flash Charts, Google API.

Which have you used and what where your experiences with them? Which  
one do you recommend?

–  
M.

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**Author:** ![arvias](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@arvias](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/arvias)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 1:01pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/charting-the-rails/145834/2 "2008-08-14T13:01:12Z")

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I like Open Flash Charts and the Rails interface to it. Have no info  
on the rest.

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**Author:** ![arvias](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@arvias](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/arvias)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 11:23pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/charting-the-rails/145834/3 "2008-08-14T23:23:40Z")

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> There are a multitude of options for charting in rails.
> 
> While looking I found Ziya, Open Flash Charts, Google API.
> 
> Which have you used and what where your experiences with them? Which  
> one do you recommend?

There’s a new one out there called ProtoChart which is all client  
side, no javascript. Seems pretty neat. I’ve used it for a basic Pie  
chart and it worked fine. Haven’t really hammered on it though.

[http://www.deensoft.com/lab/protochart/index.php](http://www.deensoft.com/lab/protochart/index.php)

I’d second open flash charts which I have put quite a bit of data  
through. I had some issues with the ruby library (this was about 4  
months ago) and had to tweak some things but sent patches back so  
hopefully they’ve made it in. Takes a little getting used to it does  
a pretty nice job.

I can say I wouldn’t recommend AnyChart – at least version 3.0. The  
way it wanted it’s data drove me nuts. Looks like they are at version  
5 so maybe it’s changed, but with the free options out there…

-philip

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![arvias](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@arvias](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/arvias)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 3:51am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/charting-the-rails/145834/4 "2008-08-15T03:51:41Z")

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Opencharts development is quite active now and they have rewritten  
from scratch. It is called the Opencharts 2 plugin.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![arvias](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@arvias](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/arvias)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 4:30am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/charting-the-rails/145834/5 "2008-08-15T04:30:50Z")

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I’m not a fan of the static image ones. I like the flash libs out  
there better. These are my favorite:

> **[JavaScript Charts & Maps - amCharts](https://www.amcharts.com/)**
>
> JavaScript / HTML5 charts and maps data-viz libraries for web sites and applications. Fast and responsive. WordPress plugin available. Developed since 2006.

I use them on Cashboard…example here:  
[http://info.getcashboard.com/topics/reporting-and-visualization](http://info.getcashboard.com/topics/reporting-and-visualization)

Good luck with your search.

* * *

## seth - subimage llc

## [http://sublog.subimage.com](http://sublog.subimage.com)

## Cashboard - Estimates, invoices, and time tracking software - for free! [http://www.getcashboard.com](http://www.getcashboard.com)

Substruct - Open source RoR e-commerce software.  
[http://code.google.com/p/substruct/](http://code.google.com/p/substruct/)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![arvias](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@arvias](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/arvias)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 2:13am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/charting-the-rails/145834/6 "2008-08-15T02:13:57Z")

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FusionCharts has rich collection of chart components and they are  
interactive too.  
I used FusionCharts about an year ago and I would recommend it (it’s a  
not free though)

Did you look at SparkLines and Yahoo UI (Charting components) ?

-Pavan