Introduction

Welcome to KavaChart! KavaChart is the leading tool for adding charting functionality to Java environments. KavaChart can be used to display dynamic charts in applets (KavaChart AlaCarte), it can generate chart images from an application server (KavaChart ProServe), and it can be used as a programming tool to add charts to a desktop application (KavaChart Enterprise Edition), or it can be used in almost any other way you can imagine.

Visual Engineering has been doing graphics and charting software since 1983, and consequently, we are in a unique position to create robust, efficient, and re-usable components. We are able to share these components with you for a tiny fraction of the cost of developing your own software or trying to use freeware tools.


Document Overview

This document provides you with information about using KavaChart AlaCarte Applets and KavaChart ProServe server objects. You can get detailed softcopy or hardcopy documentation by downloading The KavaChart ProServe User's Guide or The KavaChart AlaCarte User's Guide in PDF form. These on-line books can be browsed or printed as a desktop reference.

This HTML form of the documentation contains much of the same information in an easily browsable form. ProServe and AlaCarte HTML documentation is combined because the products share a common set of properties for defining chart styles, labelling, and data.

Browse the documentation by using the links in the left-hand frames of this document. These links provide:

Note:Within some of these chapters you will find links to the KavaChart API reference manual. If you have not purchased the KavaChart Enterprise Edition, links to the API reference manual will be empty. The Enterprise Edition includes full API documentation. You can also download the complete Enterprise User's Guide here.


Getting Started

KavaChart products attempt to accomodate a wide range of target users. If you're most comfortable with HTML, and prefer to experiment with already working examples, we suggest you consult the Applet Tutorial and the KavaChart AlaCarte chapter to get an overview of KavaChart's capabilities. You can also view the applet demos, found in "demos" beneath the top-level directory of this download, and use the online ChartWizard to understand charting features and to generate complete applet definitions. A complete guide to KavaChart AlaCarte

If you're a web application developer in a JSP environment, we recommend that you install the KavaChart ProServe's "kavachart.war" sample application to see some live examples. The online ChartWizard is also a great resource for creating JSP and taglib chart definitions. See the chapters on server-side charting for properties specific to application servers. You can find complete KavaChart ProServe documentation in the KavaChart ProServe User's Guide

If you're an experienced Java developer and you're building a desktop application, you should probably print and review the complete KavaChart User's Guide. This document gives you the most thorough introduction to the KavaChart Enterprise Edition. You'll also have access to the complete KavaChart API through this document.