Patent Publication Number: US-7584415-B2

Title: Common charting using shapes

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   A chart is a graphical representation of numerical data. Charts are particularly useful for presenting complicated data in a concise and easily-understandable form. In today&#39;s desktop publishing environment, users can create impressive presentations using charts. Charts are based on underlying data that is entered into an application program such as “EXCEL” from MICROSOFT CORPORATION. The underlying data can then be used to create a chart of the data in a number of different formats, such as pie-chart, bar-chart, histogram, line chart, etc. In addition, each part of the chart can have associated colors, textures, and other effects to improve the appearance of the chart, which is very important for conveying information. 
   Application programs have traditionally used primitive function calls to render charts. The graphics display interface (GDI or GDI+) from “MICROSOFT WINDOWS” and GEL from “MICROSOFT OFFICE”, for example, are relatively low-level interfaces that are often used by application programs to render charts. Such low-level interfaces typically provide functions for rendering chart elements at a pixel level. For example, to draw a line, an application program must specify a beginning pixel and an ending pixel. Later, if the line were being stretched, the application program must again specify the new beginning and/or ending pixel. The traditional interfaces do not include higher-level functions, such as a line-stretching function, for handling a group of pixels as a line. 
   Another problem is that different application programs have traditionally rendered charts differently. For example, in “MICROSOFT WINDOWS”, one application program may use the GDI, while another application may use a combination of calls to GEL and GDI. Because the charts are rendered differently, similar elements in charts rendered by different application programs may appear different to the user. Thus, a chart that should otherwise appear the same in MICROSOFT “POWERPOINT” and “EXCEL”, for example, may appear slightly different in the two application programs. 
   Users often copy a chart from one application program and import it into another application program. For example, a chart can be copied from “EXCEL” and pasted into a MICROSOFT “WORD” document or a “POWERPOINT” presentation. Traditionally, a user has been able to paste the chart as either a chart object or a picture. Unfortunately, when the user pastes the chart as a picture, the chart is severed from the underlying data that was used to create the picture. This means the user can no longer manipulate the underlying data of the chart through the pasted chart. For example, the user cannot edit the numerical data or labels in the chart once the chart is pasted as a picture. 
   In addition, when they are not pasted as pictures, charts in documents can have certain drawbacks. These drawbacks are primarily due to the fact that the chart that is not in picture format is not generated with presentation aspects in mind. For example, sometimes charts appear with an aliasing effect that is distracting to the eye. As another example, when the user resizes the chart, text can appear unusual because the font scaling is imprecise. As yet another example, the chart that is not pasted as a picture sometimes appears different on the computer screen as it does in a printout, because of a difference in coordinate mapping. 
   Thus, there is a need for the ability to render and manipulate charts consistently across applications. In addition, there is a need to provide a consistent, high-quality presentation of charts while enabling users to manipulate underlying elements of the chart. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary charting system employing shape-based charting using a common charting component; 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating rendering a chart using shapes derived from a chart object; 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating translating a chart object to a shape-based chart definition; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a chart having data, labels, series, and other chart elements that can be translated to shapes and/or grouped by the translation engine; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a general purpose computer that can be used to implement common charting systems and methods described herein. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Described herein are various implementations of systems and methods for rendering and manipulating charts. In accordance with various implementations described herein, a chart is translated from a chart object to a shape-based definition. The chart object defines portions of the chart in terms of chart elements and references the underlying chart data on which the chart is based. Although the chart is rendered as shapes, the chart object is maintained to allow for manipulation of the underlying chart data. A common charting component that is common to one or more application programs uses the chart object to enable a user to manipulate underlying elements of the chart. 
   The shape-based definition defines the chart in terms of shapes. The shape-based definition is used by a common graphics module to provide consistent shape rendering services and shape manipulation services for different applications. In addition, the common graphics module provides group manipulation functions, whereby a group of related shapes can be manipulated in the chart. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary charting system  100  for carrying out common charting using a shape-based chart definition. The term common charting refers to common methods of chart manipulation across multiple and/or different applications. Included in the system  100  are an application program  102  that provides access to a document  104  and a common graphics module  106  for rendering the document  104  on a computer monitor screen  108 . 
   As used herein, a document  104  is a computer-readable file that includes user-readable information, such as text and graphics. The document  104  may be viewed and edited by a user through a user interface of the application program  102 . Exemplary types of documents include, but are not limited to, a spreadsheet, a presentation, or a conventional text document. Thus, depending on the type of document, the application program  102  may be, for example, but not limited to, MICROSOFT “WORD”, “POWERPOINT”, “EXCEL”, or other application program. By way of example, as shown on the screen  108 , the document  104  is a ‘Presentation,’ which is often, but not always, associated with “POWERPOINT”. 
   Particularly relevant to the present description is a chart  110  in the presentation. The chart  110  shown in the particular implementation of  FIG. 1  is a column chart. In accordance with other implementations, the chart  110  is not limited to a column chart, but can be any other type of chart, such as, but not limited to, a pie chart, a line chart, or a scatter plot. The various data in the chart  110  is originally specified by the document  104 . The document  104  specifies the chart  110  with a chart definition called a chart object  112 . 
   The chart object  112  defines the chart  110  in terms of chart elements. Generally, a chart element is a data unit representing an aspect of a chart. Typically a chart element represents an aspect of the chart in relation to the information that the chart conveys or the type of chart. Exemplary chart elements include bars (e.g., for a bar chart), chart axis, chart legends, chart titles, chart labels, element colors, text fonts, element locations, data sources and so on. One implementation of the chart object  112  is a set of extensible markup language (XML) code. To illustrate, an example of XML code from a chart object  112  is shown below: 
   
     
       
         
             
             
           
             
                 
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
               - &lt;c:Chart xmlns:c=“chart” xmlns:s=“shape”&gt; 
             
             
                 
               - &lt;c:Scaling&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;c:ScaleID&gt;0&lt;/c:ScaleID&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:Orientation&gt;MinMax&lt;/c:Orientation&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                 &lt;/c:Scaling&gt; 
             
             
                 
               - &lt;c:Scaling&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;c:ScaleID&gt;1&lt;/c:ScaleID&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:Orientation&gt;MinMax&lt;/c:Orientation&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                 &lt;/c:Scaling&gt; 
             
             
                 
                 &lt;c:Name&gt;Chart 1&lt;/c:Name&gt; 
             
             
                 
               - &lt;c:PlotArea&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;c:Shape /&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               - &lt;c:Graph&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;c:Type&gt;Column&lt;/c:Type&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:SubType&gt;Clustered&lt;/c:SubType&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:Overlap&gt;0&lt;/c:Overlap&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:ScaleID&gt;0&lt;/c:ScaleID&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:ScaleID&gt;1&lt;/c:ScaleID&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                   - &lt;c:Series&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;c:Index&gt;0&lt;/c:Index&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:Name&gt;Series 1&lt;/c:Name&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                   - &lt;c:Shape&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               - &lt;s:Fill&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               - &lt;s:Pattern&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;s:Title&gt;Wide upward diagonal&lt;/s:Title&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;s:Color&gt;black&lt;/s:Color&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;s:Color2&gt;white&lt;/s:Color2&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                 &lt;/s:Pattern&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                 &lt;/s:Fill&gt; 
             
             
                 
               - &lt;s:Border&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;s:Weight&gt;0&lt;/s:Weight&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;s:Solid&gt;black&lt;/s:Solid&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                 &lt;/s:Border&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;/c:Shape&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                   - &lt;c:DataLabels&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               - &lt;c:Shape&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               - &lt;s:Font&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;s:FontName&gt;Arial&lt;/s:FontName&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;s:Size&gt;18&lt;/s:Size&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;s:AutoScale /&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;/s:Font&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;/c:Shape&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               - &lt;c:Number&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;c:FormatString&gt;0.0&lt;/c:FormatString&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                 &lt;/c:Number&gt; 
             
             
                 
                 &lt;c:ShowValue /&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;/c:DataLabels&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               - &lt;c:Category&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;c:DataSource&gt;0&lt;/c:DataSource&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:Data&gt;Sheet1!$A$1:$A$3&lt;/c:Data&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                 &lt;/c:Category&gt; 
             
             
                 
               - &lt;c:Value&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;c:DataSource&gt;0&lt;/c:DataSource&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:Data&gt;Sheet1!$B$1:$B$3&lt;/c:Data&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                 &lt;/c:Value&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;/c:Series&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;c:PlotVisible /&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                 &lt;/c:Graph&gt; 
             
             
                 
               - &lt;c:Axis&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;c:Placement&gt;Bottom&lt;/c:Placement&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:AxisID&gt;0&lt;/c:AxisID&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:ScaleID&gt;0&lt;/c:ScaleID&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:CrossingAxis&gt;1&lt;/c:CrossingAxis&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                   - &lt;c:Shape&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               - &lt;s:Font&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;s:FontName&gt;Arial&lt;/s:FontName&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;s:Size&gt;18&lt;/s:Size&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;s:AutoScale /&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                 &lt;/s:Font&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;/c:Shape&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                   - &lt;c:Number&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;c:SourceLinked /&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:BuiltInFormat&gt;0&lt;/c:BuiltInFormat&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;/c:Number&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:MajorTick&gt;None&lt;/c:MajorTick&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:TickMarkSkip&gt;1&lt;/c:TickMarkSkip&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:Type&gt;Automatic&lt;/c:Type&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                 &lt;/c:Axis&gt; 
             
             
                 
               - &lt;c:Axis&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;c:Placement&gt;Left&lt;/c:Placement&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:AxisID&gt;1&lt;/c:AxisID&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:ScaleID&gt;1&lt;/c:ScaleID&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:CrossingAxis&gt;0&lt;/c:CrossingAxis&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:CrossesAt&gt;Minimum&lt;/c:CrossesAt&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:CrossBetween&gt;Between&lt;/c:CrossBetween&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                   - &lt;c:Shape&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               - &lt;s:Font&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;s:FontName&gt;Arial&lt;/s:FontName&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;s:Size&gt;18&lt;/s:Size&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;s:AutoScale /&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                 &lt;/s:Font&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;/c:Shape&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                   - &lt;c:Number&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;c:SourceLinked /&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:BuiltInFormat&gt;0&lt;/c:BuiltInFormat&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;/c:Number&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:MajorTick&gt;Cross&lt;/c:MajorTick&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:MinorTick&gt;Cross&lt;/c:MinorTick&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:Type&gt;Value&lt;/c:Type&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;c:MajorUnit&gt;5&lt;/c:MajorUnit&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;/c:Axis&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                &lt;/c:PlotArea&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;/c:Chart&gt; 
             
             
                 
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   The document  104  typically also has other document data  114 , which includes, but is not limited to, text and formatting information. In accordance with one implementation, when the application program  102  is launched and the document  104  is opened, the chart object  112  is passed to a common graphics interface  116  of the common graphics module  106  for rendering. 
   The common graphics interface  116  determines what type of graphic is represented by the chart object  112 . Types of graphics that may be handled by the common graphics interface  116  include, but are not limited to, diagrams, charts, or autoshapes. The chart object  112  includes an identifier that indicates that it defines a chart. Based on the chart identifier, the common graphics interface  116  determines that the chart object  112  defines a chart and sends it to a common charting module  118 . 
   The common charting module  118  includes a translation engine  120  that translates the chart object  112  into a form that the graphics module  106  uses for rendering the chart  110  to the screen  108 . Specifically, the translation engine  120  translates the chart object  112  into a shape-based chart definition  122 . As its name suggests, the shape-based chart definition  122  defines the chart in terms of shapes, rather than chart elements. As will be described, use of shapes can improve the chart rendering process, chart appearance, and chart manipulation, by allowing for a common mechanism for interacting with graphics. 
   In the translation process, the translation engine  120  performs a number of operations. For example, the translation engine  120  retrieves data (e.g., numerical data) that makes up the chart  110  from data source(s) referenced in the chart object  112 . The data source(s) may be the document  104  itself, or some other source, such as, but not limited to, another document, a database, a file, the Internet, or a queue. In addition to the data, the translation engine  120  may retrieve numerical formatting information that describes how the data is formatted. Numerical formatting information includes, but is not limited to a currency symbol, number of decimal points, percentage or fraction format, or date and time format. 
   The translation engine  120  also translates the chart elements into shapes, such as lines, rectangles, circles, triangles, and so on. A shape is a data unit that simply represents the visual appearance of a chart element and is not tied to, or reliant upon, the underlying numerical chart data. Thus, for example, a bar in the chart object  112  will be translated into a rectangle in the shape-based chart definition  122 ; a chart axis will be translated into a line, and so on. 
   In addition, the translation engine  120  groups selected related shapes to facilitate manipulation of related shapes by the user. The common graphics interface  116  provides functions that allow a user to interact with groups of related shapes. The translation engine  120  takes advantage of those functions by grouping related chart elements such as, but not limited to, related data labels and related data series. After retrieving the data, translating chart elements into shapes, and grouping related shapes, the translation engine  120  generates the shape-based chart definition  122 . 
   An implementation of the shape-based chart definition  122  is composed of XML code. To illustrate, XML code from an exemplary shape-based chart definition  122  is shown below: 
   
     
       
         
             
           
             
                 
             
           
          
             
               - &lt;group&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;id&gt;Chart&lt;/id&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;shapes&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;rect&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;id&gt;ChartArea&lt;/id&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;style&gt;margin-left:0;margin-top:9.75pt;width:501pt;height:319.5pt;z- 
             
             
               index:1&lt;/style&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;border&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;Solid&gt;black&lt;/Solid&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;Weight&gt;0&lt;/Weight&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;/border&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;/rect&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;group&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;id&gt;Series 1&lt;/id&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;style&gt;margin-left:88.5pt;margin- 
             
             
               top:60pt;width:359.25pt;height:220.5pt;z-index:3&lt;/style&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;coordorigin&gt;438,743&lt;/coordorigin&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;coordsize&gt;479,294&lt;/coordsize&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;Fill&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;Pattern&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;Title&gt;Wide upward diagonal&lt;/Title&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;Color&gt;black&lt;/Color&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;Color2&gt;white&lt;/Color2&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;/Pattern&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;/Fill&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;border&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;Solid&gt;black&lt;/Solid&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;Weight&gt;0&lt;/Weight&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;/border&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;shapes&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;rect&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;id&gt;Point 1&lt;/id&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;style&gt;left:438;top:839;width:80;height:198&lt;/style&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;/rect&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;rect&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;id&gt;Point 2&lt;/id&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;style&gt;left:638;top:743;width:80;height:294&lt;/style&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;/rect&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;rect&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;id&gt;Point 3&lt;/id&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;style&gt;left:837;top:931;width:80; height:106&lt;/style&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;/rect&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;/shapes&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;/group&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;group&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;id&gt;Y Axis&lt;/id&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;border&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;Solid&gt;black&lt;/Solid&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;Weight&gt;0&lt;/Weight&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;/border&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;shapes&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;line&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;id&gt;Y Axis Line&lt;/id&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;style&gt;z-index:4&lt;/style&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;from&gt;45pt,32.25pt&lt;/from&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;to&gt;45pt,280.5pt&lt;/to&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;/line&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;line&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;id&gt;Y Axis Tick Mark 1&lt;/id&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;style&gt;z-index:5&lt;/style&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;from&gt;40pt,281pt&lt;/from&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;to&gt;48pt,281pt&lt;/to&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;/line&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;line&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;id&gt;Y Axis Tick Mark 2&lt;/id&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;style&gt;z-index:6&lt;/style&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;from&gt;40pt,256pt&lt;/from&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;to&gt;48pt,256pt&lt;/to&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;/line&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;line&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;id&gt;Y Axis Tick Mark 3&lt;/id&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;style&gt;z-index:7&lt;/style&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;from&gt;40pt,231pt&lt;/from&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;to&gt;48pt,231pt&lt;/to&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;/line&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;line&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;id&gt;Y Axis Tick Mark 4&lt;/id&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;style&gt;z-index:8&lt;/style&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;from&gt;40pt,207pt&lt;/from&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;to&gt;48pt,207pt&lt;/to&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;/line&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;line&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;id&gt;Y Axis Tick Mark 5&lt;/id&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;style&gt;z-index:9&lt;/style&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;from&gt;40pt,182pt&lt;/from&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;to&gt;48pt,182pt&lt;/to&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;/line&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;line&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;id&gt;Y Axis Tick Mark 6&lt;/id&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;style&gt;z-index:10&lt;/style&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;from&gt;40pt,157pt&lt;/from&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;to&gt;48pt,157pt&lt;/to&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;/line&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;line&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;id&gt;Y Axis Tick Mark 7&lt;/id&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;style&gt;z-index:11&lt;/style&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;from&gt;40pt,132pt&lt;/from&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;to&gt;48pt,132pt&lt;/to&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;/line&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;line&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;id&gt;Y Axis Tick Mark 8&lt;/id&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;style&gt;z-index:12&lt;/style&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;from&gt;40pt,108pt&lt;/from&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;to&gt;48pt,108pt&lt;/to&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;/line&gt; 
             
             
               - &lt;line&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;id&gt;Y Axis Tick Mark 9&lt;/id&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;style&gt;z-index:13&lt;/style&gt; 
             
             
                 &lt;from&gt;40pt,83pt&lt;/from&gt; 
             
             
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   The graphics interface  116  receives the shape-based chart definition  122  and renders the chart  110  on the screen  108  as a set of shapes specified by the shape-based chart definition. The common graphics interface  116  typically performs the rendering by making calls to operating system or display controller functions. For example, in the WINDOWS operating system, the common graphics interface  116  may make calls to the graphics display interface (GDI+). 
   As shown, the common graphics module  106  includes a set of common graphics services  124 . The common graphics services  124  include services accessible by the application program for manipulating the chart  110 . The common graphics services  124  provide one or more application programming interface(s) (API) to access the services. 
   Because the common graphics module  106  renders, shapes, the graphics services  124  are able to offer high-level functions for manipulating the chart  110 . The graphics services  124  can, for example, perform vector-graphics functions on shapes within the chart. To illustrate, a rectangle can be moved easily by calling a single function of the graphics services  124  that moves a shape, rather than calling numerous low-level functions to redraw the rectangle in a new location. In addition, the common graphics module  106  is common to multiple application programs, so that shape manipulation/editing and appearance will be consistent among the application programs. Thus, the common graphics module  106  can present a common graphics user interface for editing shapes in the chart  110 , regardless of the type of application program  102 . 
   The common graphics module  106  also includes other services  126  for rendering and/or manipulating contents of the document  104  on the screen  108 . The other services  126  can include, but are not limited to, memory allocation and text-related manipulations. 
   After the chart  110  is rendered, the user may manipulate the shapes in the chart  110  or the underlying data of the chart  110 . Most commands to edit the chart are passed to the common charting component  128 . The common charting component  128  can then act on the command or pass the command back to the graphics services  124 . Prior to passing a command to the graphics services  124 , the common charting component  128  can modify the command, if needed. If the user edits the underlying chart data and thereby changes the chart object  112 , the translation engine  118  automatically translates the chart object  112  again into an updated shape-based chart definition  122 . 
   When the user manipulates the underlying data of the chart  110 , a common charting component  128  provides functions for the manipulations. In the past, when the user manipulated a chart, the application program  102  performed the manipulations. This resulted in different chart presentation and behavior, and different user interaction between different application programs. In implementations described herein, the common charting component  128  provides a common set of functions for manipulating the underlying chart data that makes up the chart  110 . As a result, when the user edits the underlying chart data, the behavior of the chart  110  is consistent across all application programs. 
   Beneficially, although the chart  110  is rendered using a shape-based chart definition  122 , the underlying chart data is still maintained in (i.e., not removed from) the document  104  in the chart object  112 . The common charting component  128  uses the chart object  112  when the user edits the underlying chart data (e.g., the numerical data). Thus, the user is enabled to edit shapes of the chart  110  via the common graphics interface  116 , and edit underlying chart data via the common charting component  128 . Even when the document  104  is closed, the chart object  112  is maintained in the document  104 . As a result, the user can edit the chart  110  as a chart and/or a picture. 
   In a particular implementation, the shape-based chart definition  122  can be saved for future use. In this implementation, the shape-based chart definition  122  could be saved with the document  104  or in a cache memory (not shown) before the document  104  is closed. Then, when the document  104  is opened later, the shape-based chart definition  122  is retrieved from memory and used for rendering the chart  110 . In this implementation, the translation engine  120  would not need to translate the chart object  112  every time the document  104  is opened. 
   The term module is used in a general sense to describe a component that is operable to perform one or more designated functions. A module may be implemented in various ways and forms. For example, a module may be implemented in or as hardware, software, firmware, or in various combinations of hardware, software, and/or firmware, depending on such factors as speed, cost, size, etc. For example, and without limitation, in one implementation each of the modules in the system  100  comprises software, such as a dynamic link library (DLL), that is stored on a computer-readable medium and executed on a computing system, such as the computing system described below with respect to  FIG. 6 . 
   Exemplary Operations 
     FIG. 2  illustrates a common charting algorithm  200  that can be carried out by the charting system  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . The common charting algorithm  200  may likewise be carried out by systems other than the common charting system  100 . The common charting algorithm  200  includes exemplary operations for using shapes to render a chart associated with a document, while maintaining a chart object to enable a user to edit underlying chart data. 
   Initially, a retrieving operation  202  retrieves a chart object that provides a definition of the chart. Typically, the chart object is retrieved from the document. The chart object defines parts of the chart with chart elements, such as bars, axis, labels, numerical data, and so on, which are inherently related to a chart. The chart object provides references to data sources of the underlying chart data, on which the chart is based. 
   A translating operation  204  translates the chart object into a shape-based chart definition, so that the chart can be rendered and edited using shapes. Shapes specify the visual appearance (e.g., size, location, and color) of chart elements. A data label or other text element can also be converted into a shape by creating a rectangle with the corresponding text or label in the rectangle. A text or label rectangle can be edited to be filled with a specified color, or to have a border, or other graphical effects appropriate for a rectangle. An exemplary translating operation  204  is shown in  FIG. 3  and described below. 
   After the chart object is translated into a shape-based definition, a rendering operation  206  renders the chart using the shapes specified in the shape-based definition. Typically, the chart is rendered at a location specified by the document. Locations, colors, groupings, dimensions, and other attributes of shapes within the chart can be specified by the shape-based definition. 
   Although the chart is rendered with shapes, the chart object persists in association with the document. In other words the chart object is not disassociated from the document. Because the chart object is maintained, a user can continue to edit the underlying chart data. Whenever the user edits the chart object by editing the underlying chart data, the translating operation  204  will be performed. 
   Turning to  FIG. 3 , there is shown an exemplary translating operation  204 . The translating operation  204  can be performed at any relevant time or in response to a relevant event. For example, and without limitation, the translating operation  204  can be performed automatically whenever the document is opened, or when the chart is copied from one document and imported into another document. The translating operation  204  is discussed with reference to  FIG. 4 , for ease of illustration. Thus, for purposes of illustration, it will be assumed here that the chart object and the corresponding shape-based definition define the chart  400  shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   Initially a determining operation  302  determines the type of chart  400 . In the particular case shown, the chart object includes a chart type identifier indicating that the chart is a column chart. Thus, the determining operation  302  determines that the chart is a column chart. The type of chart is determined because the chart type is typically relevant to give meaning to data values, and dictate how chart elements will be translated to shapes. 
   A retrieving operation  304  then retrieves underlying data that serves as the basis for the chart. Typically, but without limitation, the underlying chart data includes data values, labels, and data formats, such as currency type or decimal place. The underlying data is retrieved from one or more data sources specified by the chart object. Thus, with reference to the chart  400 , the underlying data that is retrieved includes data label  402   a  (6.0), data label  402   a  (8.9), and data label  402   c  (3.2). 
   A translating operation  306  then translates chart elements into corresponding shapes. With reference to the chart  400 , a first column in the chart object, for example, is translated into a rectangle  404   a , whose dimensions are based on the data value associated with the column. The translating operation  306  determines the dimensions of the rectangle  404   a  by first identifying the column  404   b  with the greatest value (in this case 8.9), and linearly scaling the rectangle  404  a based on the height of the chart. Similarly, the translating operation  306  translates the other two columns into associated rectangles  404   b  and  404   c.    
   A grouping operation  307  then groups related shapes. It is best to group shapes that a user may want to edit or manipulate as a group. For example, the data labels  402   a ,  402   b , and  402   c  can be grouped. As another example, rectangles  404   a ,  404   b , and  404   c  can be grouped. The grouping operation  307  inserts a group indicator into the shape-based chart definition that indicates which shapes are in a group. 
   After related shapes are grouped, a common graphics module (e.g., common graphics module  104 ,  FIG. 1 ), can apply group effects based on user input. For example, if the user wants to change the color of all the rectangles in the chart  400 , the user only needs to select one of the rectangles and change the color. Such groups can be useful because the user can then manipulate every shape in a group by clicking on a shape in the group once. If the user wants to manipulate a single shape in a group, the user clicks twice on the shape. 
   Exemplary Computing Device 
   With reference to  FIG. 5 , an exemplary system for implementing the operations described herein includes a general-purpose computing device in the form of a conventional personal computer  20 , including a processing unit  21 , a system memory  22 , and a system bus  23 . System bus  23  links together various system components including system memory  22  and processing unit  21 . System bus  23  may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. System memory  22  includes read only memory (ROM)  24  and random access memory (RAM)  25 . A basic input/output system  26  (BIOS), containing the basic routine that helps to transfer information between elements within the personal computer  20 , such as during start-up, is stored in ROM  24 . 
   As depicted, in this example personal computer  20  further includes a hard disk drive  27  for reading from and writing to a hard disk (not shown), a magnetic disk drive  28  for reading from or writing to a removable magnetic disk  29 , and an optical disk drive  30  for reading from or writing to a removable optical disk  31  such as a CD ROM, DVD, or other like optical media. Hard disk drive  27 , magnetic disk drive  28 , and optical disk drive  30  are connected to the system bus  23  by a hard disk drive interface  32 , a magnetic disk drive interface  33 , and an optical drive interface  34 , respectively. These exemplary drives and their associated computer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, computer programs and other data for the personal computer  20 . 
   Although the exemplary environment described herein employs a hard disk, a removable magnetic disk  29  and a removable optical disk  31 , it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of computer readable media which can store data that is accessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks, random access memories (RAMs), read only memories (ROMs), and the like, may also be used in the exemplary operating environment. 
   A number of computer programs may be stored on the hard disk, magnetic disk  29 , optical disk  31 , ROM  24  or RAM  25 , including an operating system  35 , one or more application programs  36 , other programs  37 , and program data  38 . A user may enter commands and information into the personal computer  20  through input devices such as a keyboard  40  and pointing device  42  (such as a mouse). 
   A camera  55  (such as a digital/electronic still or video camera, or film/photographic scanner) capable of capturing image data can also be included as an input device to the personal computer  20 . The images data is input into the computer  20  via an appropriate camera interface  57 . In this example, interface  57  is connected to the system bus  23 , thereby allowing the images to be routed to and stored in the RAM  25 , or one of the other data storage devices associated with the computer  20 . It is noted, however, that image data can be input into the computer  20  from any of the aforementioned computer-readable media as well, without requiring the use of the camera  55 . 
   Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit  21  through a serial port interface  46  that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, game port, a universal serial bus (USB), etc. 
   A monitor  47  or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus  23  via an interface, such as a video adapter  45 . In addition to the monitor, personal computers typically include other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers and printers. 
   Personal computer  20  may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer  49 . Remote computer  49  may be another personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the personal computer  20 . 
   The logical connections depicted in  FIG. 5  include a local area network (LAN)  51  and a wide area network (WAN)  52 . Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, Intranets and the Internet. 
   When used in a LAN networking environment, personal computer  20  is connected to local network  51  through a network interface or adapter  53 . When used in a WAN networking environment, the personal computer  20  typically includes a modem  54  or other means for establishing communications over the wide area network  52 , such as the Internet. Modem  54 , which may be internal or external, is connected to system bus  23  via the serial port interface  46 . 
   In a networked environment, computer programs depicted relative to personal computer  20 , or portions thereof, may be stored in a remote memory storage device. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used. 
   Various modules and techniques may be described herein in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Typically, the functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributed as desired in various embodiments. 
   An implementation of these modules and techniques may be stored on or transmitted across some form of computer-readable media. Computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media may comprise “computer storage media” and “communications media.” 
   “Computer storage media” includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by a computer. 
   “Communication media” typically embodies computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as carrier wave or other transport mechanism. Communication media also includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above are also included within the scope of computer-readable media. 
   Although the exemplary operating embodiment is described in terms of operational flows in a conventional computer, one skilled in the art will realize that the present invention can be embodied in any platform or environment that processes and/or communicates video signals. Examples include both programmable and non-programmable devices such as hardware having a dedicated purpose such as video conferencing, firmware, semiconductor devices, hand-held computers, palm-sized computers, cellular telephones, and the like. 
   Although some exemplary methods and systems have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the methods and systems shown and described are not limited to the particular implementation described herein, but rather are capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the spirit set forth herein.