Getting Data Into Your Graph (2)

Getting Data Into Your Graph Object Lesson 3

Now we come to the section where we need to add our own data in a programmatic fashion to the object. I thought this was going to be an easy one but No No No. The usual wild search through MSDN etc and finally I came up with something that showed me how to add data.

For this example, add a new button to the graph which I have called cmdAddData

msgraphdata1

Now add the following code to the Form_Load event.

Private Sub Form_Load()
' Set the standard format for the graph
' Search CF_Text for more info on formats supported

With OLE1
.Format = "CF_TEXT"
.SizeMode = vbOLESizeStretch
.CreateEmbed "", "MSGRAPH"

End With

Now you are going to build a string that allows you to transfer the data to the object. How you get this data in the first place is not part of this lesson but the datatext method initiates the transfer.

Private Sub cmdAddData_Click()
' Add some data to the graph

Dim msg, NewLine, Tabb

Tabb = vbTab
NewLine = vbNewLine

msg = Tabb + "Beer" & Tabb & "Wine" & Tabb & "Spirits"
msg = msg & NewLine + "Australia" & Tabb & 100 & Tabb & 65 & Tabb & 14
msg = msg & NewLine + "USA" & Tabb & 120 & Tabb & 85 & Tabb & 33
msg = msg & NewLine + "UK" & Tabb & 130 & Tabb & 53 & Tabb & 24

With OLE1
'   Use this if you want the object to remain hidden until you click on the data button
'   .DoVerb vbOLEShow

    If .AppIsRunning Then

      .DataText = msg
      .Update
    Else

      MsgBox "Graph is not active"
    End If

End With

End Sub

Other options worth looking into would be using arrays, the flex-grid control and automating transfers from text files.

Switching The Standard Data Format

As it is highly likely that you will be transferring your data from a recordset, you will need to change the project setup from the standard Series in rows to Series in Columns. To do this, Edit the graph object and select the Data menu as in the screen shot below.

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