Question

I’m looking for (javascript or HTML-based) chart libraries that work on Internet Explorer. Any suggestions? Interactivity is a plus, but not necessary.

I’ve tried using Flot, but I’m having trouble getting it to work in IE8 (though a recent patch fixed it for IE9). I’ve also used the Google Chart API, but something a little more easily customizable would be preferred.

Answer 1

It depends a bit on what all you need to accomplish with your library,
but maybe you’ll find these musings useful…

You can do quite a bit with just CSS
and make your own “library”, albeit a limited one,
for graphs such as horizontal bar charts.
For instance:

http://meyerweb.com/eric/css/edge/bargraph/demo.html

http://applestooranges.com/blog/post/css-for-bar-graphs/

jQuery Sparklines is not a true “library”, either,
but it has some great options, and it works all the way
back to IE 6. Definitely underrated.

http://omnipotent.net/jquery.sparkline/

Highcharts could be a good bet.

http://www.highcharts.com/

If Protovis had full support for IE, it might have to be
considered the best, because it adheres to best practices for data visualization.
However, it doesn’t have the world’s most accessible api, and it doesn’t support IE, at least not entirely – read issue 15:

http://vis.stanford.edu/protovis/

http://code.google.com/p/protovis-js/issues/detail?id=15

Amcharts has flash-based charts at the moment, but take note:
I believe they are working on javascript library for their charts.
If and when they do come out with their library, I have a feeling
it will be pretty good.

http://www.amcharts.com/

Please also consider this when choosing a library:
if you see a plethora of 3-d stacked pie charts, or glossy bars, or drop-shadows,
then be careful: it’s a good bet the makers of those charts didn’t create them with
data visualization best practices in mind.