What do I use to display CSV data as a chart?

Question

I have a set of data stored in text files, which I have now via Perl put into a CSV file. The data in question now needs to be displayed in a chart.

What suggestions do you have for doing this? XML was suggested, but XML can't put the data into a chart itself.

Ideally what would happen is: the data would be decoded from the text file, put into an Excel spreadsheet and displayed as a chart, all with one bit of code, as there are many of these text files with data in them.

Perl, XML, C, C++, C# and VB are all available to use.

Answer 1

With Perl, you can use the Win32::OLE module to automate placing the data in an Excel spreadsheet and displaying it in a chart.

You will need to be familiar with the OLE library though in order to understand what methods/properties to call and set.

Answer 2

Spreadsheet::WriteExcel is an excellent CPAN module for creating Excel files in Perl.

In particular take a look at Spreadsheet::WriteExcel::Chart which allows you to create charts within the excel file.

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Answer 3

For my use, I have found GD::Graph to be a decent option for generating charts in PNG format. You can also use Chart::Gnuplot.

I also have an example of creating a chart in an Excel document using Win32::OLE.

Answer 4

How about Gnuplot? You can send the data and commands to it through STDIN, which works in Perl very well or there are some libraries.

Answer 5

Chart::Clicker is good. Its output is less pixelated than that of GD::Graph, and it supports transparent overlapping parts.