Charts Integration Example

Overview

TeeGrid can display TeeChart chart instances directly in grid cells, creating powerful data visualizations within your grid. This is perfect for dashboards, reports, and visual data analysis.

Basic Chart Integration

Data Structure

Create a record or class that includes a TChart instance:

uses
  VCLTee.Chart, VCLTee.Series;

type
  TMyData = record
    Values: Array of Integer;
    Chart: TChart;
  end;

Creating Chart Data

var
  MyData: TArray<TMyData>;

procedure TChart_in_Grid.RandomData;

  function NewChart(const AIndex: Integer): TChart;
  begin
    result := TChart.Create(Self);
    result.AddSeries(TBarSeries).AddArray(MyData[AIndex].Values);
  end;

begin
  SetLength(MyData, 3);
  
  MyData[0].Values := [20, 40, 15];
  MyData[0].Chart := NewChart(0);
  
  MyData[1].Values := [120, 30, 150, 60];
  MyData[1].Chart := NewChart(1);
  
  MyData[2].Values := [5, 9];
  MyData[2].Chart := NewChart(2);
end;

Binding to Grid

uses
  Tee.GridData.Rtti;

procedure TChart_in_Grid.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
begin
  RandomData;
  
  // Bind array to grid - TChart will be automatically displayed
  TeeGrid1.Data := TVirtualArrayData<TMyData>.Create(MyData);
  
  // Customize appearance
  TeeGrid1.Rows.Height.Automatic := False;
  TeeGrid1.Rows.Height.Value := 250;  // Make rows tall enough for charts
  
  TeeGrid1.Columns['Chart'].ReadOnly := True;
  TeeGrid1.Columns['Chart'].Width.Value := 400;
end;

Complete Example

From Unit_Chart_and_Grid.pas:

unit Unit_Chart_and_Grid;

interface

uses
  Vcl.Forms, VCLTee.Control, VCLTee.Grid;

type
  TChart_in_Grid = class(TForm)
    TeeGrid1: TTeeGrid;
    procedure FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
  private
    procedure RandomData;
  end;

implementation

uses
  Tee.GridData.Rtti, VCLTee.Chart, VCLTee.Series;

type
  TMyData = record
    Values: Array of Integer;
    Chart: TChart;
  end;

var
  MyData: TArray<TMyData>;

procedure TChart_in_Grid.RandomData;

  function NewChart(const AIndex: Integer): TChart;
  begin
    result := TChart.Create(Self);
    result.AddSeries(TBarSeries).AddArray(MyData[AIndex].Values);
  end;

begin
  SetLength(MyData, 3);
  
  MyData[0].Values := [20, 40, 15];
  MyData[0].Chart := NewChart(0);
  
  MyData[1].Values := [120, 30, 150, 60];
  MyData[1].Chart := NewChart(1);
  
  MyData[2].Values := [5, 9];
  MyData[2].Chart := NewChart(2);
end;

procedure TChart_in_Grid.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
begin
  RandomData;
  
  TeeGrid1.Data := TVirtualArrayData<TMyData>.Create(MyData);
  
  // Cosmetics
  TeeGrid1.Rows.Height.Automatic := False;
  TeeGrid1.Rows.Height.Value := 250;
  
  TeeGrid1.Columns['Chart'].ReadOnly := True;
  TeeGrid1.Columns['Chart'].Width.Value := 400;
end;

end.

Advanced Chart Customization

Different Chart Types

uses
  VCLTee.TeEngine, VCLTee.Series;

function CreateLineChart(const AData: Array of Double): TChart;
var
  Series: TLineSeries;
begin
  result := TChart.Create(Self);
  
  Series := TLineSeries.Create(result);
  Series.ParentChart := result;
  Series.AddArray(AData);
  
  // Customize
  Series.LinePen.Width := 2;
  Series.Pointer.Visible := True;
  
  result.Legend.Visible := False;
  result.View3D := False;
end;

function CreatePieChart(const AData: Array of Double): TChart;
var
  Series: TPieSeries;
begin
  result := TChart.Create(Self);
  
  Series := TPieSeries.Create(result);
  Series.ParentChart := result;
  Series.AddArray(AData);
  
  result.Legend.Visible := True;
  result.View3D := True;
end;

function CreateAreaChart(const AData: Array of Double): TChart;
var
  Series: TAreaSeries;
begin
  result := TChart.Create(Self);
  
  Series := TAreaSeries.Create(result);
  Series.ParentChart := result;
  Series.AddArray(AData);
  
  Series.AreaLinesPen.Visible := True;
  Series.Transparency := 50;
end;

Multiple Series

function CreateMultiSeriesChart: TChart;
var
  Series1, Series2: TLineSeries;
begin
  result := TChart.Create(Self);
  
  // First series
  Series1 := TLineSeries.Create(result);
  Series1.ParentChart := result;
  Series1.AddArray([10, 20, 15, 25]);
  Series1.Title := 'Series 1';
  
  // Second series
  Series2 := TLineSeries.Create(result);
  Series2.ParentChart := result;
  Series2.AddArray([15, 18, 22, 20]);
  Series2.Title := 'Series 2';
  
  result.Legend.Visible := True;
end;

Chart Formatting

Remove Chart Borders and Background

function CreateCleanChart(const AData: Array of Integer): TChart;
begin
  result := TChart.Create(Self);
  result.AddSeries(TBarSeries).AddArray(AData);
  
  // Clean appearance
  result.Legend.Visible := False;
  result.Title.Visible := False;
  result.View3D := False;
  result.Color := clWhite;
  result.Frame.Visible := False;
  result.LeftAxis.Visible := False;
  result.BottomAxis.Visible := False;
end;

Responsive Charts

procedure SetupResponsiveCharts;
begin
  // Charts automatically resize with cell size
  TeeGrid1.Rows.Height.Value := 200;
  TeeGrid1.Columns['Chart'].Width.Value := 300;
  
  // Or use automatic sizing
  TeeGrid1.Rows.Height.Automatic := True;
  TeeGrid1.Columns['Chart'].Width.Automatic := True;
end;

Sparkline-Style Charts

Create minimal charts for compact visualization:

function CreateSparkline(const AData: Array of Double): TChart;
var
  Series: TLineSeries;
begin
  result := TChart.Create(Self);
  
  Series := TLineSeries.Create(result);
  Series.ParentChart := result;
  Series.AddArray(AData);
  
  // Sparkline appearance
  result.View3D := False;
  result.Legend.Visible := False;
  result.Title.Visible := False;
  result.Color := clNone;  // Transparent background
  result.Frame.Visible := False;
  result.LeftAxis.Visible := False;
  result.BottomAxis.Visible := False;
  result.RightAxis.Visible := False;
  result.TopAxis.Visible := False;
  
  Series.LinePen.Width := 1;
  Series.Pointer.Visible := False;
  Series.Color := clBlue;
end;

Use Cases

Sales Dashboard

type
  TSalesData = record
    Product: String;
    Sales: Array of Integer;  // Monthly sales
    Chart: TChart;
    Total: Integer;
  end;

function CreateSalesChart(const ASales: Array of Integer): TChart;
var
  Series: TBarSeries;
begin
  result := TChart.Create(Self);
  
  Series := TBarSeries.Create(result);
  Series.ParentChart := result;
  Series.AddArray(ASales);
  
  result.Title.Text.Text := 'Monthly Sales';
  result.BottomAxis.Title.Caption := 'Month';
  result.LeftAxis.Title.Caption := 'Units';
end;

Stock Trends

type
  TStockData = record
    Symbol: String;
    Prices: Array of Double;
    Chart: TChart;
    Change: Double;
  end;

function CreateStockChart(const APrices: Array of Double): TChart;
var
  Series: TLineSeries;
begin
  result := TChart.Create(Self);
  
  Series := TLineSeries.Create(result);
  Series.ParentChart := result;
  Series.AddArray(APrices);
  
  // Color based on trend
  if APrices[High(APrices)] > APrices[Low(APrices)] then
    Series.Color := clGreen
  else
    Series.Color := clRed;
  
  result.View3D := False;
  result.Legend.Visible := False;
end;

Performance Metrics

type
  TMetricData = record
    Name: String;
    Values: Array of Double;
    Target: Double;
    Chart: TChart;
  end;

function CreateMetricChart(const AValues: Array of Double;
  const ATarget: Double): TChart;
var
  Series: TLineSeries;
  TargetSeries: TLineSeries;
begin
  result := TChart.Create(Self);
  
  // Actual values
  Series := TLineSeries.Create(result);
  Series.ParentChart := result;
  Series.AddArray(AValues);
  Series.Title := 'Actual';
  
  // Target line
  TargetSeries := TLineSeries.Create(result);
  TargetSeries.ParentChart := result;
  TargetSeries.AddXY(0, ATarget);
  TargetSeries.AddXY(Length(AValues) - 1, ATarget);
  TargetSeries.Title := 'Target';
  TargetSeries.LinePen.Style := psDash;
  TargetSeries.Color := clRed;
end;

Interactive Charts

Clickable Charts

type
  TMyChart = class(TChart)
  private
    FRowIndex: Integer;
    procedure DoClick(Sender: TObject);
  public
    property RowIndex: Integer read FRowIndex write FRowIndex;
  end;

procedure TMyChart.DoClick(Sender: TObject);
begin
  ShowMessage(Format('Clicked chart in row %d', [FRowIndex]));
end;

function CreateClickableChart(const AData: Array of Integer;
  const ARowIndex: Integer): TChart;
var
  MyChart: TMyChart;
begin
  MyChart := TMyChart.Create(Self);
  MyChart.RowIndex := ARowIndex;
  MyChart.OnClick := MyChart.DoClick;
  MyChart.AddSeries(TBarSeries).AddArray(AData);
  result := MyChart;
end;

Performance Considerations

Lazy Chart Creation

type
  TChartData = record
    Values: Array of Integer;
  private
    FChart: TChart;
    function GetChart: TChart;
  public
    property Chart: TChart read GetChart;
  end;

function TChartData.GetChart: TChart;
begin
  if FChart = nil then
  begin
    FChart := TChart.Create(Application.MainForm);
    FChart.AddSeries(TBarSeries).AddArray(Values);
  end;
  result := FChart;
end;

Memory Management

procedure TForm1.FormDestroy(Sender: TObject);
var
  i: Integer;
begin
  // Free all charts
  for i := 0 to High(MyData) do
    MyData[i].Chart.Free;
end;

Key Concepts

Automatic Rendering

TeeGrid automatically:

Detects TChart instances in your data
Renders them in the appropriate cells
Handles resizing
Manages paint events

Cell Sizing

For best results:

Set row height large enough for charts (150-300 pixels)
Set column width appropriate for chart aspect ratio
Consider disabling automatic sizing for consistency

Read-Only Charts

// Prevent editing chart cells
TeeGrid1.Columns['Chart'].ReadOnly := True;

Available Chart Types

All TeeChart series types are supported:

Line Charts: TLineSeries, TFastLineSeries
Bar Charts: TBarSeries, THorizBarSeries
Area Charts: TAreaSeries
Pie Charts: TPieSeries, TDonutSeries
Point Charts: TPointSeries
Bubble Charts: TBubbleSeries
Candlestick: TCandleSeries
Gantt: TGanttSeries
And many more…

Best Practices

Set row height explicitly for chart cells
Make chart columns read-only to prevent editing
Simplify chart appearance for grid display
Consider memory usage with many charts
Use lazy loading for large datasets
Free charts in FormDestroy

Limitations

Charts increase memory usage
Too many visible charts can impact performance
Consider using images for static charts
For thousands of rows, use sparklines or simpler visualizations

Next Steps

Learn about Performance optimization
Explore Virtual Mode for large datasets
See TeeChart documentation for chart customization

Getting Started

Data Binding

Customization

Advanced

Charts Integration Example

Overview

Basic Chart Integration

Data Structure

Creating Chart Data

Binding to Grid

Complete Example

Advanced Chart Customization

Different Chart Types

Multiple Series

Chart Formatting

Remove Chart Borders and Background

Responsive Charts

Sparkline-Style Charts

Use Cases

Sales Dashboard

Stock Trends

Performance Metrics

Interactive Charts

Clickable Charts

Performance Considerations

Lazy Chart Creation

Memory Management

Key Concepts

Automatic Rendering

Cell Sizing

Read-Only Charts

Available Chart Types

Best Practices

Limitations

Next Steps

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Getting Started

Data Binding

Customization

Advanced

Documentation Index

​Overview

​Basic Chart Integration

​Data Structure

​Creating Chart Data

​Binding to Grid

​Complete Example

​Advanced Chart Customization

​Different Chart Types

​Multiple Series

​Chart Formatting

​Remove Chart Borders and Background

​Responsive Charts

​Sparkline-Style Charts

​Use Cases

​Sales Dashboard

​Stock Trends

​Performance Metrics

​Interactive Charts

​Clickable Charts

​Performance Considerations

​Lazy Chart Creation

​Memory Management

​Key Concepts

​Automatic Rendering

​Cell Sizing

​Read-Only Charts

​Available Chart Types

​Best Practices

​Limitations

​Next Steps

​Related Examples

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Overview

Basic Chart Integration

Data Structure

Creating Chart Data

Binding to Grid

Complete Example

Advanced Chart Customization

Different Chart Types

Multiple Series

Chart Formatting

Remove Chart Borders and Background

Responsive Charts

Sparkline-Style Charts

Use Cases

Sales Dashboard

Stock Trends

Performance Metrics

Interactive Charts

Clickable Charts

Performance Considerations

Lazy Chart Creation

Memory Management

Key Concepts

Automatic Rendering

Cell Sizing

Read-Only Charts

Available Chart Types

Best Practices

Limitations

Next Steps

Related Examples