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Range Area Series

This topic explains, with code examples, how to use the RangeAreaSeries in the UltraDataChart™ control.

Introduction

Range Area Series belongs to a group of Category Series and it is rendered using two lines with the area between the lines filled in. This type of series emphasizes the amount of change between low values and high values in the same data point over a period of time or compares multiple items. Range values are represented on the y-axis (NumericYAxis) and categories are displayed on the x-axis (CategoryXAxis or CategoryDateTimeXAxis). The RangeAreaSeries is identical to the RangeColumnSeries in all aspects except that the ranges are represented as filled area rather than a set of vertical columns. For more conceptual information, comprehension with other types of series, and supported types of axes, refer to the Category Series and Chart Axes topics.

Series Preview

Figures 1 and 2 demonstrate how the RangeAreaSeries and RangeColumnSeries look when plotted in the UltraDataChart control.

Using xamDataChart Range Area Series  01.png

Figure 1: Sample implementation of the RangeAreaSeries type.

Using xamDataChart Range Area Series  02.png

Figure 2: Sample implementation of the RangeColumnSeries type.

Series Recommendations

Although the UltraDataChart supports plotting unlimited number of various types of series, it is recommended to use the RangeAreaSeries with similar types of series. Refer to the Multiple Series topic for information on what types of series are recommended with the RangeAreaSeries and how to plot multiple types of series.

Data Requirements

While the UltraDataChart control allows you to easily bind it to your own data model, make sure to supply the appropriate amount and type of data that the series requires. If the data does not meet the minimum requirements based on the type of series that you are using, an error is generated by the control. Refer to the Series Requirements and Category Series topics for more information on data series requirements.

The following is a list of data requirements for the RangeAreaSeries type:

  • The data model must contain at least two numeric data columns for rendering the range between the values.

  • The data model may contain an optional string or date time field for labels

  • The data source should contain at least two data items.

Data Rendering Rules

The RangeAreaSeries renders data using the following rules:

  • Each row with two data values specified as the LowMemberPath and HighMemberPath properties of the data mapping is drawn as a pair of lines representing the difference between of these data values.

  • The string or DateTime column that is mapped to the Label property of data mapping on the x-axis is used as the category labels. If the data mapping for Label is not specified, default labels are used.

  • Category labels are drawn on the x-axis. Data values are drawn on the y-axis.

  • When rendering, multiple series of the RangeAreaSeries type is rendered in layers with each successive series rendered in front of the previous one in the Series collection of the UltraDataChart control.

Data Binding Example

The code snippet below shows how to bind the RangeAreaSeries object to sample of category data (which is available for download from Sample Energy Data resource). Refer to the data requirements section of this topic for information about data requirements for the RangeAreaSeries.

In C#:

var data = new EnergyDataSource();
var yAxis = new NumericYAxis();
var xAxis = new CategoryXAxis();
xAxis.DataSource = data;
xAxis.Label = "{Country}";

var series1 = new RangeAreaSeries();
series1.DataSource = data;
series1.HighMemberPath = "Coal";
series1.LowMemberPath = "Oil";
series1.Title = "Coal vs Oil";
series1.XAxis = xAxis;
series1.YAxis = yAxis;
var series2 = new RangeAreaSeries();
series2.DataSource = data;
series2.HighMemberPath = "Hydro";
series2.LowMemberPath = "Nuclear";
series2.Title = "Hydro vs Nuclear";
series2.XAxis = xAxis;
series2.YAxis = yAxis;
var chart = new UltraDataChart();
chart.Axes.Add(xAxis);
chart.Axes.Add(yAxis);
chart.Series.Add(series1);
chart.Series.Add(series2);

In Visual Basic:

Dim data As New EnergyDataSource()
Dim yAxis As New NumericYAxis()
Dim xAxis As New CategoryXAxis()
xAxis.DataSource = data;
xAxis.Label = "{Country}"

Dim series1 As New RangeAreaSeries()
series1.DataSource = data
series1.HighemberPath = "Coal"
series1.LowMemberPath = "Oil"
series1.Title = "Coal vs Oil"
series1.XAxis = xAxis
series1.YAxis = yAxis
Dim series2 As New RangeAreaSeries()
series2.DataSource = data
series2.HighemberPath = "Hydro"
series2.LowMemberPath = "Nuclear"
series2.Title = "Hydro vs Nuclear"
series2.XAxis = xAxis
series2.YAxis = yAxis
Dim chart As New UltraDataChart()
chart.Axes.Add(xAxis)
chart.Axes.Add(yAxis)
chart.Series.Add(series1)
chart.Series.Add(series2)