Charts API

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The OutSystems API for plotting charts.

You can create a chart by dragging a chart widget to the screen. The widget property SourceDataPointList is the list consisting of the DataPoint elements. The DataPoint element defines drawing of the chart: Label, Value, DataSeriesName, Tooltip and Color. You need to provide values to the DataPoint, and in charts with more than one series, you need to specify each series you want to represent in the chart.

OutSystems uses Highcharts 6.1.0 to generate the charts, and you should consult the Highcharts documentation for implementation and the API.

Summary

Widget	Description
AreaChart	Area charts illustrate the contribution of values to a total over time.
BarChart	Bar charts compare multiple values using horizontal bars. In this chart, the X-axis runs vertically and the Y-axis runs horizontally.
ColumnChart	Column charts compare multiple values using vertical bars.
LineChart	Line charts illustrate trends of values over time.
PieChart	Pie charts illustrate proportions of values.

Action	Description
AdvancedFormat_Init	Initializes an AdvancedFormat record with the values passed as arguments. The record is returned by the action.
ChartFormat_Init	Initializes a ChartFormat record with the values passed as arguments. The record is returned by the action.
DataPoint_GetClicked	Returns the data point that was clicked on the chart. Execute this action in the On Click action of a chart.
DataPoint_Init	Initializes a DataPoint record with the values passed as arguments. The record is returned by the action.
DataPoint_InitMissing	Initializes a DataPoint to plot a gap on the chart. The record is returned by the action.
XAxisFormat_Init	Initializes an XAxisFormat record with the values passed as arguments. The record is returned by the action.
YAxisFormat_Init	Initializes an YAxisFormat record with the values passed as arguments. The record is returned by the action.

Structure	Description
AdvancedDataPointFormat	Information to format a data point using Highcharts JSON.
AdvancedDataSeriesFormat	Information to format a data series using Highcharts JSON.
AdvancedFormat	Information to format chart elements using Highcharts JSON.
ChartFormat	Information to format the chart.
DataPoint	Information to plot a data point on the chart.
XAxisFormat	Information to format the X-axis on the chart.
YAxisFormat	Information to format the Y-axis on the chart.

Static Entity	Description
LegendPosition	The position where the legend is displayed on charts.
StackingType	The way to plot multiple data series on Area, Bar, or Column charts: - ‘NoStacking’: plot data series side by side to compare them; - ‘Stacked’: plot data series stacked to show their contribution to a total; - ‘Stacked100Percent’: plot data series stacked to show their percentage in a total.
XAxisValuesType	The data type of labels displayed on the X-axis to format them. Using ‘Auto’ means the type is inferred from the label of the first data point.

Widgets

AreaChart

Area charts illustrate the contribution of values to a total over time.

Inputs

SourceDataPointList: Type: mandatory, DataPoint List.
The list of all data points to be plotted on the chart.
StackingType: Type: optional, StackingType Identifier.
The way to plot multiple data series on the chart:
- ‘NoStacking’: plot data series overlapped to compare them;
- ‘Stacked’: plot data series stacked to show their contribution to a total;
- ‘Stacked100Percent’: plot data series stacked to show their percentage in a total.
‘Stacked’ is the default option.
Height: Type: optional, Integer.
The vertical size of the chart in pixels (300 by default).
The horizontal size of the chart is the parent’s width.
LegendPosition: Type: optional, LegendPosition Identifier.
The position where the legend is displayed on the chart (‘Bottom’ by default).
The legend is hidden if no series name is set in any data point.
XAxisFormat: Type: optional, XAxisFormat.
Formatting options for the X-axis.
Action XAxisFormat_Init helps to create and initialize this parameter.
YAxisFormat: Type: optional, YAxisFormat.
Formatting options for the Y-axis.
Action YAxisFormat_Init helps to create and initialize this parameter.
ChartFormat: Type: optional, ChartFormat.
Formatting options for the chart.
Action ChartFormat_Init helps to create and initialize this parameter.
Clickable: Type: optional, Boolean.
Set to True to allow clicking on plotted values and execute the On Click action (False by default).
AdvancedFormat: Type: optional, AdvancedFormat.
Highcharts JSON to format elements displayed on the chart.
Action AdvancedOptions_Init helps to create and initialize this parameter.

BarChart

Bar charts compare multiple values using horizontal bars.
In this chart, the X-axis runs vertically and the Y-axis runs horizontally.

Inputs

SourceDataPointList: Type: mandatory, DataPoint List.
The list of all data points to be plotted on the chart.
StackingType: Type: optional, StackingType Identifier.
The way to plot multiple data series on the chart:
- ‘NoStacking’: plot data series side by side to compare them;
- ‘Stacked’: plot data series stacked to show their contribution to a total;
- ‘Stacked100Percent’: plot data series stacked to show their percentage in a total.
‘NoStacking’ is the default option.
Height: Type: optional, Integer.
The vertical size of the chart in pixels (300 by default).
The horizontal size of the chart is the parent’s width.
LegendPosition: Type: optional, LegendPosition Identifier.
The position where the legend is displayed on the chart (‘Bottom’ by default).
The legend is hidden if no series name is set in any data point.
XAxisFormat: Type: optional, XAxisFormat.
Formatting options for the X-axis.
Action XAxisFormat_Init helps to create and initialize this parameter.
YAxisFormat: Type: optional, YAxisFormat.
Formatting options for the Y-axis.
Action YAxisFormat_Init helps to create and initialize this parameter.
ChartFormat: Type: optional, ChartFormat.
Formatting options for the chart.
Action ChartFormat_Init helps to create and initialize this parameter.
Clickable: Type: optional, Boolean.
Set to True to allow clicking on plotted values and execute the On Click action (False by default).
AdvancedFormat: Type: optional, AdvancedFormat.
Highcharts JSON to format elements displayed on the chart.
Action AdvancedOptions_Init helps to create and initialize this parameter.

ColumnChart

Column charts compare multiple values using vertical bars.

Inputs

SourceDataPointList: Type: mandatory, DataPoint List.
The list of all data points to be plotted on the chart.
StackingType: Type: optional, StackingType Identifier.
The way to plot multiple data series on the chart:
- ‘NoStacking’: plot data series side by side to compare them;
- ‘Stacked’: plot data series stacked to show their contribution to a total;
- ‘Stacked100Percent’: plot data series stacked to show their percentage in a total.
‘NoStacking’ is the default option.
Height: Type: optional, Integer.
The vertical size of the chart in pixels (300 by default).
The horizontal size of the chart is the parent’s width.
LegendPosition: Type: optional, LegendPosition Identifier.
The position where the legend is displayed on the chart (‘Bottom’ by default).
The legend is hidden if no series name is set in any data point.
XAxisFormat: Type: optional, XAxisFormat.
Formatting options for the X-axis.
Action XAxisFormat_Init helps to create and initialize this parameter.
YAxisFormat: Type: optional, YAxisFormat.
Formatting options for the Y-axis.
Action YAxisFormat_Init helps to create and initialize this parameter.
ChartFormat: Type: optional, ChartFormat.
Formatting options for the chart.
Action ChartFormat_Init helps to create and initialize this parameter.
Clickable: Type: optional, Boolean.
Set to True to allow clicking on plotted values and execute the On Click action (False by default).
AdvancedFormat: Type: optional, AdvancedFormat.
Highcharts JSON to format elements displayed on the chart.
Action AdvancedOptions_Init helps to create and initialize this parameter.

LineChart

Line charts illustrate trends of values over time.

Inputs

SourceDataPointList: Type: mandatory, DataPoint List.
The list of all data points to be plotted on the chart.
Height: Type: optional, Integer.
The vertical size of the chart in pixels (300 by default).
The horizontal size of the chart is the parent’s width.
LegendPosition: Type: optional, LegendPosition Identifier.
The position where the legend is displayed on the chart (‘Bottom’ by default).
The legend is hidden if no series name is set in any data point.
XAxisFormat: Type: optional, XAxisFormat.
Formatting options for the X-axis.
Action XAxisFormat_Init helps to create and initialize this parameter.
YAxisFormat: Type: optional, YAxisFormat.
Formatting options for the Y-axis.
Action YAxisFormat_Init helps to create and initialize this parameter.
ChartFormat: Type: optional, ChartFormat.
Formatting options for the chart.
Action ChartFormat_Init helps to create and initialize this parameter.
Clickable: Type: optional, Boolean.
Set to True to allow clicking on plotted values and execute the On Click action (False by default).
AdvancedFormat: Type: optional, AdvancedFormat.
Highcharts JSON to format elements displayed on the chart.
Action AdvancedOptions_Init helps to create and initialize this parameter.

PieChart

Pie charts illustrate proportions of values.

Inputs

SourceDataPointList: Type: mandatory, DataPoint List.
The list of all data points to be plotted on the chart.
Height: Type: optional, Integer.
The vertical size of the chart in pixels (300 by default).
The horizontal size of the chart is the parent’s width.
LegendPosition: Type: optional, LegendPosition Identifier.
The position where the legend is displayed on the chart (‘Bottom’ by default).
ChartFormat: Type: optional, ChartFormat.
Formatting options for the chart.
Action ChartFormat_Init helps to create and initialize this parameter.
Clickable: Type: optional, Boolean.
Set to True to allow clicking on plotted values and execute the On Click action (False by default).
AdvancedFormat: Type: optional, AdvancedFormat.
Highcharts JSON to format elements displayed on the chart.
Action AdvancedOptions_Init helps to create and initialize this parameter.

Actions

AdvancedFormat_Init

Initializes an AdvancedFormat record with the values passed as arguments. The record is returned by the action.

Inputs

DataPointFormats: Type: optional, AdvancedDataPointFormat List.
Advanced JSON formatting for the data points.
DataSeriesFormats: Type: optional, AdvancedDataSeriesFormat List.
Advanced JSON formatting for the data series.
XAxisJSON: Type: optional, Text.
Advanced JSON formatting for the X-axis.
Refer to Highcharts API (http://api.highcharts.com/highcharts#xAxis) for all available options.
As an example, format the dates on the X-axis to "MMM YYYY" using the following Highcharts JSON:
"labels:{ formatter: function() { return Highcharts.dateFormat('%b %Y', this.value); } }"
YAxisJSON: Type: optional, Text.
Advanced JSON formatting for the Y-axis.
Refer to Highcharts API (http://api.highcharts.com/highcharts#yAxis) for all available options.
As an example, prevent using decimals in the axis values using the following Highcharts JSON:
"allowDecimals: false"
HighchartsJSON: Type: optional, Text.
Advanced JSON formatting for any element of the chart.
Refer to Highcharts API (http://api.highcharts.com/highcharts) for all available options.

Outputs

AdvancedFormat: Type: AdvancedFormat.
The initialized AdvancedFormat record.

ChartFormat_Init

Initializes a ChartFormat record with the values passed as arguments. The record is returned by the action.

Inputs

ShowDataPointValues: Type: optional, Boolean.
Set to True to display the value of the data points.
UseAnimation: Type: optional, Boolean.
Set to True to plot the chart with animation.

Outputs

ChartFormat: Type: ChartFormat.
The initialized ChartFormat record.

DataPoint_GetClicked

Returns the data point that was clicked on the chart.
Execute this action in the On Click action of a chart.

Outputs

DataPoint: Type: DataPoint.
The clicked Data Point.

DataPoint_Init

Initializes a DataPoint record with the values passed as arguments. The record is returned by the action.

Inputs

Label: Type: mandatory, Text.
The label on the X-axis for the data point.
To display dates in the X-axis use the Platform Server date format (by default YYYY-MM-DD).
Value: Type: mandatory, Decimal.
The value to be plotted.
DataSeriesName: Type: optional, Text.
Name of the series where the data point belongs.
Tooltip: Type: optional, Text.
Custom tooltip for the data point when hovering the mouse.
Color: Type: optional, Text.
Custom color for the data point.

Outputs

DataPoint: Type: DataPoint.
The initialized DataPoint record.

DataPoint_InitMissing

Initializes a DataPoint to plot a gap on the chart. The record is returned by the action.

Inputs

Label: Type: mandatory, Text.
The label on the X-axis for the data point.
To display dates in the X-axis use the Platform Server date format (by default YYYY-MM-DD).
DataSeriesName: Type: optional, Text.
Name of the series where the data point belongs.

Outputs

DataPoint: Type: DataPoint.
The initialized DataPoint record.

XAxisFormat_Init

Initializes an XAxisFormat record with the values passed as arguments. The record is returned by the action.

Inputs

Title: Type: optional, Text.
The text displayed next to the X-axis.
LabelsRotation: Type: optional, Integer.
The rotation in degrees of all labels displayed on the X-axis.
MinValue: Type: optional, Text.
The minimum value that is displayed on the X-axis.
MaxValue: Type: optional, Text.
The maximum value that is displayed on the X-axis.
ValuesType: Type: optional, XAxisValuesType Identifier.
The data type of labels displayed on the X-axis to format them.
Using ‘Auto’ means the type is inferred from the label of the first data point.

Outputs

XAxisFormat: Type: XAxisFormat.
The initialized XAxisFormat record.

YAxisFormat_Init

Initializes an YAxisFormat record with the values passed as arguments. The record is returned by the action.

Inputs

Title: Type: optional, Text.
The text displayed next to the Y-axis.
MinValue: Type: optional, Decimal.
The minimum value that is displayed on the Y-axis.
MaxValue: Type: optional, Decimal.
The maximum value that is displayed on the Y-axis.
ValuesPrefix: Type: optional, Text.
The text prefixing the values displayed on the Y-axis.
ValuesSuffix: Type: optional, Text.
The text suffixing the values displayed on the Y-axis.
GridLineStep: Type: optional, Decimal.
The step by which grid lines are displayed on the Y-axis.

Outputs

YAxisFormat: Type: YAxisFormat.
The initialized YAxisFormat record.

Structures

AdvancedDataPointFormat

Information to format a data point using Highcharts JSON.

Attributes

DataPoint: Type: DataPoint.
Data point to format.
DataPointJSON: Type: Text (50).
Highcharts JSON to format the data point.
Refer to Highcharts API (http://api.highcharts.com/highcharts#series) for all available options.
As an example, show a custom data label in this point, using the following Highcharts JSON:
"dataLabels: { enabled: true, formatter: function () { return 'top value' } }"

AdvancedDataSeriesFormat

Information to format a data series using Highcharts JSON.

Attributes

DataSeriesName: Type: Text (50).
Name of the data series to format.
DataSeriesJSON: Type: Text (50).
Highcharts JSON to format the data series.
All data points belonging to the data series are affected by this formatting.
Refer to Highcharts API (http://api.highcharts.com/highcharts#series and http://api.highcharts.com/highcharts...Options.series) for all available options.
As an example, plot a series with a thicker line in a Line chart using the following Highcharts JSON:
"lineWidth: 5"

AdvancedFormat

Information to format chart elements using Highcharts JSON.

Attributes

DataPointFormats: Type: AdvancedDataPointFormat List.
Highcharts JSON to format data points.
DataSeriesFormats: Type: AdvancedDataSeriesFormat List.
Highcharts JSON to format data series.
XAxisJSON: Type: Text (50).
Highcharts JSON to format the X-axis.
Refer to Highcharts API (http://api.highcharts.com/highcharts#xAxis) for all available options.
As an example, format the dates on the X-axis to "MMM YYYY" using the following Highcharts JSON:
"labels:{ formatter: function() { return Highcharts.dateFormat('%b %Y', this.value); } }"
YAxisJSON: Type: Text (50).
Highcharts JSON to format the Y-axis.
Refer to Highcharts API (http://api.highcharts.com/highcharts#yAxis) for all available options.
As an example, prevent using decimals in the axis values using the following Highcharts JSON:
"allowDecimals: false"
HighchartsJSON: Type: Text (50).
Highcharts JSON to format any element of the chart.
Refer to Highcharts API (http://api.highcharts.com/highcharts) for all available options.

ChartFormat

Information to format the chart.

Attributes

ShowDataPointValues: Type: Boolean.
Set to True to display the value of the data points.
UseAnimation: Type: Boolean.
Set to True to plot the chart with animation.

DataPoint

Information to plot a data point on the chart.

Attributes

Label: Type: Text (50).
The label on the X-axis for the data point.
To display dates in the X-axis use the Platform Server date format (by default YYYY-MM-DD).
Value: Type: Decimal (37, 0).
The value to be plotted.
DataSeriesName: Type: Text (50).
Name of the series where the data point belongs.
Tooltip: Type: Text (50).
Custom tooltip for the data point when hovering the mouse.
Color: Type: Text (50).
Custom color for the data point.
As an example, set the color of a data point to red using either of the following values: "Red", "#FF0000", "rgb(255,0,0)" or "rgba(255,0,0,1)"

XAxisFormat

Information to format the X-axis on the chart.

Attributes

Title: Type: Text (50).
The text displayed next to the X-axis.
LabelsRotation: Type: Integer.
The counterclockwise rotation in degrees of all labels displayed on the X-axis.
MinValue: Type: Text (50).
The minimum value that is displayed on the X-axis.
MaxValue: Type: Text (50).
The maximum value that is displayed on the X-axis.
ValuesType: Type: XAxisValuesType Identifier.
The data type of labels displayed on the X-axis to format them.
Using ‘Auto’ means the type is inferred from the label of the first data point.

YAxisFormat

Information to format the Y-axis on the chart.

Attributes

Title: Type: Text (50).
The text displayed next to the Y-axis.
MinValue: Type: Decimal (37, 0).
The minimum value that is displayed on the Y-axis.
MaxValue: Type: Decimal (37, 0).
The maximum value that is displayed on the Y-axis.
ValuesPrefix: Type: Text (50).
The text prefixing the values displayed on the Y-axis.
ValuesSuffix: Type: Text (50).
The text suffixing the values displayed on the Y-axis.
GridLineStep: Type: Decimal (37, 0).
The step by which grid lines are displayed on the Y-axis.

Static Entities

LegendPosition

The position where the legend is displayed on charts.

Attributes

Id: Type: Integer.
Order: Type: Integer.
Is_Active: Type: Boolean.

Records

Bottom
Top
Hidden
Inside
Right
Left

StackingType

The way to plot multiple data series on Area, Bar, or Column charts:
- ‘NoStacking’: plot data series side by side to compare them;
- ‘Stacked’: plot data series stacked to show their contribution to a total;
- ‘Stacked100Percent’: plot data series stacked to show their percentage in a total.

Attributes

Id: Type: Integer.
Order: Type: Integer.
Is_Active: Type: Boolean.

Records

NoStacking
Stacked100Percent
Stacked

XAxisValuesType

The data type of labels displayed on the X-axis to format them.
Using ‘Auto’ means the type is inferred from the label of the first data point.

Attributes

Id: Type: Integer.
Label: Type: Text (50).
Order: Type: Integer.

Records

Text
Auto

Articles in this Section

Create Pie and Donut Charts
Learn how to create a simple Pie or Donut chart in OutSystems.
Create Column and Bar Charts
Learn how to create a simple Column or Bar chart in OutSystems.
Create Line and Area Charts
Learn how to create a simple Line or Area chart in OutSystems.
Advanced Charts customization with JSON
Learn how to customize Charts with JSON.

Training

Documentation