Graph ZX - Publishing Graphs

Graphs may be published by selecting the Publish option on the main menu. You have two options available to you.

1. Once off/Quick publish
2. Create a project. This allows you to republish multiple files at the click of a button. If you have a number of graphs for a presentation and you make a few changes to any of the graphs you can republish them all by re-running the Publish project.

Step 1 - Starting publishing

If you are creating a project or doing a once off publication the options available to you are very similar. To start the process for a once off click on the Once Off - Quick Publish button. For the project option click on New. (See below)

Step 2 - Publish Type

The first screen asks for the publish type. If you are creating a project you are also asked for the name of the project. (This is the name that will be displayed in the list box on the front publishing page)

The options for publishing are:

1. Internet. This will create/copy all the files needed to display graphs on the Internet to the directory of your choice. This includes:-
   - Compiling the graphs into very small .swf files (about 5kb)
   - Copying all images/effects etc used in the graphs to your chosen directory.
   - Copying the Graph ZX engine (about 35kb) used by the graphs. This is only
   loaded once by each client, regardless of how many graphs they view.
   - Generating of HTML file to embed the Flash SWF files or Popup the Flash files
   in a separate browser window.
   
   Graph ZX is extremely efficient for web graphs. The graph engine is loaded once as is only 34kb. After that each graph loading is only about 5kb. Images and effects attached to the graph are loaded separately so the graph will display and then the images and effects will load. If you have selected 'Allow ASP paramenters passed to file to load data' on the Data tab of the Graph designing window, you can modify the data displayed by the graph by changing parameters passed into the file. Refer to Using ASP to modify graphs on a website for more details.
   
2. PowerPoint. Generate the files needed to include the graphs in your Powerpoint presentation. For instructions on how to add the files to your presentation refer to Embedding a Graph ZX graph in Powerpoint. The publish procedure does the following:

   - Compiles the graphs into standalone .swf files
   - Copies all images/effects etc used in the graphs to your chosen directory.

3. Flash Standalone SWF files. Generates Macromedia Flash .swf files for each of your graphs. These files can then be used in other presentations/websites etc

   You have the choice of using a tiny .SWF calling file (About 5kb) that uses the common GraphZX SWF graphing engine that downloads only once (about
   30kb) or to make larger standalone SWF files that include the engine inside the graph SWF file. The SWF files created can be called from any Flash file so you can incorporate graphs into your own Flash presentation.

   Refer to Embedding a Graph ZX graph in your own Flash project for help on including Graphs in your own Flash files.

Step 3 - Files to Include and Where to Publish

You need to select the graphs you have designed to include in the project. Click on Add (Labelled 1 in the image) and locate the graph to include. You can include as many as you like in a project or once off Publication.

Click on 2 to find a directory to publish to. It is best to publish to an empty directory.

If your graphs or some of you graphs have been linked to an Excel Spreadsheet at design time (see Linking a graph to an Excel Spreadsheet ) then click on the check box labelled 3 will tell Graph ZX to re-extract the data from the Excel Spreadsheet before publishing. This means that you can set up the data for your graphs in an Excel Spreadsheet. Link your graphs to different areas on the Spreadsheet and then edit the data on the spreadsheet and regenerate all the graphs by running a Publish project.

 

Step 4 - Additional Information

If you are Publishing to the Internet you will be asked if you want to embed the Graphs in a Web Page or Create a webpage that loads the Graph in a separate page as a popup.

If you are publishing to Flash Standalone SWF files you will be given a number of choices

If you choose to use the Graph ZX engine, Graph ZX makes a very small standalone SWF with the same name as your graph. You need to include the file 'GraphZXV3.swf' in the same directory as swf files created. This file will automatically be copied for you when you publish with this option.

Making a single standalone file includes the engine in the SWF file created for the Graph. The SWF file will therefore be larger. This is a good option for Flash presentations or for embedding in PowerPoint or other applications.

Step 5 - Confirmation

Now you are ready to Publish your project. A review screen of your choices will be displayed. If you are running a Once Off publication clicking on finish will run the publication. If you are setting up a Publishing Project you will see a save button. Click on Save to save the project. (See below)

You will return to the front screen. To run the Saved project. Highlight it and select Run (See below)