A three-dimensional (3-D) graph is a graph in which data is plotted in a three-dimensional frame.
The three-dimensional frame can be manipulated, using the ThreeDViewMatrix
object that is associated with the graph.
You usually use 3-D graphs when you want to present a more interesting visual display of the data. You might also use a 3-D graph when the shape of the data in a 3-D graph is more revealing than it is in a two-dimensional graph.
Do not use a 3-D graph when it is important for viewers to know exact data values, because exact data values are hard to see on a 3-D graph.
The following 3-D graph types are available.
THREED_BAR
-- A three-dimensional bar graph
THREED_CUBE
-- A three-dimensional point graph
THREED_AREA_SERIES
-- A three-dimensional area graph
THREED_RIBBON_SERIES
-- A three-dimensional line graph
THREED_SURFACE
-- A three-dimensional graph in which the data points in both
series and groups are all connected, which constructs a topographical surface.
In general, 3-D graphs have the same data requirements as their two-dimensional counterparts. The restrictions are:
All graph types show numeric data only.
3-D ribbon graphs must have at least two groups of data.
3-D area graphs must have at least two groups of data.
3-D surface graphs must have at least two groups and two series of data.
You may notice that some 3-D markers are difficult to see because the markers around them are much larger and block the view. To fix this problem, you can rearrange the data so that all of it is easy to see.
Each 3-D graph has a different data structure:
Handling Problems
in Graph Data
Specifying Data for a Graph
Example: Setting JDBC Data on
a Simple Graph
Example: Setting Data from a
File on a Simple Graph