VML, SVG, FLASH or what? Need Web Charts Ideas

[vunet.us]

I would like to create web charts. My site is using AJAX, so I thought
of VML and SVG for chart graphics. But there is a browser compatibility
issue. Flash would be a good solution but I do not know ActionScript
(only basic animation). Any other ideas or links or feedbacking the 3
above technologies are so welcome...
Thank you.

 

[VK]

I would like to create web charts. My site is using AJAX, so I thought
of VML and SVG for chart graphics. But there is a browser compatibility
issue.

VML/SVG (SVL) covers Firefox 1.5>, IE5.5>, Opera8>, Netscape8>,
Camino1> That can be enough of coverage on not depending on your
particular demand.

Flash would be a good solution but I do not know ActionScript
(only basic animation).

If you know JavaScript, ActionScript-JS will be easy to recognize
because it's an ECMAScript outlet as well. (ActionScript-VB is very
rarely used by now and no one is forcing to use it anyway).

Any other ideas

A server-side image generating program (.bmp or .gif) with image.src
updated client-side. The oldest solution under the moon, but still in
use. That gives you full coverage for any javascript-enabled UA but you
have a server load impact.

 

[vunet.us]

Thank you. Your answer is very helpful. Because I use AJAX (JS + XML),
I see 2 solutions on top so far: VML/SVG or Flash. I research them to
see what is involved. Either way I will have to learn them. Your hint
about ActionScript-JS was extremely useful, I am looking into that now.

The question stays: out of these two solutions, what would be the best
one for AJAX app and why. It is just if you want to share with your
knowledge...
Thank you.

 

[VK]

Thank you. Your answer is very helpful. Because I use AJAX (JS + XML),
I see 2 solutions on top so far: VML/SVG or Flash.

For Flash programming it is still better to ask in more Flash-related
newsgroups.

For SVG/VML you may take a look at the library written by Lutz
Tautenhahn <http://www.lutanho.net/svgvml3d/index.html>
Unfortunately the SVG part is not optimized for the native browser
support (if presented) but uses Adobe SVG Viewer everywhere.
Still more than a year ago it became the inspiration idea for my SVL
(Superimposed Vector Language) library. It doesn't mean I used anything
from the code, but I fully realised the hidden graphics power of modern
UA's. I wanted to release a light version of SVL library as open
source, but there are some copyright protections I'd like to take care
first. ("Money first, community after" - kidding

Dojo <http://dojotoolkit.org/> also has a SVG/VML module but from my
humble experience the effectiveness and reliability of their modules
is regularly below my humble standards.