How do I make a graph or chart for my website?

[WolfCmnder]

I would like to know how to graph or chart certain data that will be shown on my website? The graph would be simular to what you can create using Excel, first I should ask is that possible? And if it is, how would I go about doing that?

[polorboy]

Well, first off you posted this in the wrong forum. What you want to do has nothing to do with graphics. The graphics forum is for stuff about images, as in digital imaging, photography and such. What you want to do really depends on what kind of data are you going to be graphing. If it is something from a database, then you need to ask a question in the server side forums, if the data is from user input that isn't going into a database (like MySQL or such) then possibly it could be done with javascript or some other client side programming. I know it can be done with php but I don't know the specifics on how to do it. The only reason I am replying to your post is becuase I saw it on webdeveloper.com's home page. Anyway, first you need to decided what it is your going to graph and how are you going to collect the data, then pick the best way to code for it on your page.

[potterd64]

what server-side language are you using?
Go to google and lookup "web chart frameworks packages" or something similar. Add the language you are using to your search as well (JSP, ASP, PHP, etc).

There are a ton of em out there, here's a few I know of:
There is one called Chart Director at this site http://www.advsofteng.com
I've never used it, I think you have to pay to get the full version, but it looks pretty robust and is available for many languages.

I use one called JFreeChart (http://www.jfree.org/jfreechart/) for Java. It can make cool interactive charts which can be put into an applet, or you can just use it to make static charts to display in your web page. This one is free and simple to use if you're going to make just a simple chart. The free documentation is a little lacking if you want to do more complicated stuff, a full manual costs around 40 bucks or so.

If you use Flash in your site it would probably be very easy to find a free flash chart plugin. You could even make your own in flash without too much trouble.