Question

I’m looking for an API or some sort of solution to do 3d surface charts within IE9, and I like how javascript-surface-plot works, but it does not work in IE9.

Are there any other ways to do 3d rendering like that for charts in IE9?

I’m using Telerik controls for my other charts, but they do not seem to have a 3d surface chart.

I’ve also considered the use of a java applet, but would like to keep the load lightweight.

Flash is not an option.

Just to clarify, when I say “3d” I don’t mean shiny bar charts. I mean a x,y,z rendered scene that can be rotated with the mouse similar to how java-script-surface-plot is done.

Thanks!

Answer 1

I’ve never used this, but d3 looks pretty cool and might do the job. Take a look at this example.

Edit:

After further investigation, I’m not sure that’s what you’d need, though d3 does look pretty good, wouldn’t you admit?

It does appear it’d be pretty easy to change it to work in IE9
take a look at this function in SurfacePlot.js

    function createCanvas()
    {
            canvas = document.createElement("canvas");

            if (isIE())
            {
                    G_vmlCanvasManager.initElement(canvas);
                    canvas.style.width = width;
                    canvas.style.height = height;
            }

          //...rest of the code here
    }

It’d bee tempted to just remove those lines relating to isIE() in your local copy and say if you’re using IE8, be damned ! (That or attempt to use Flash Canvas). IE8 has little support for VML, and I think excanvas runs even slower in IE8 than IE7.