Choose the perfect tool for creating professional strip charts across different platforms and industries
Comprehensive comparison of strip chart creation tools
| Tool | Platform | Learning Curve | Real-time | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LabVIEW | Desktop | Medium | Commercial | Industrial Engineering | |
| Python (Matplotlib) | Cross-platform | Medium | Free | Data Science | |
| JavaScript (D3.js) | Web | High | Free | Web Applications | |
| ArcGIS | Desktop/Web | Medium | Commercial | Geospatial Analysis | |
| Ignition | Web-based | Medium | Commercial | SCADA Systems | |
| WinCC | Windows | Medium | Commercial | Industrial Automation | |
| iFIX | Windows | Medium | Commercial | Process Control | |
| AG Charts | Web | Low | Commercial | Enterprise Web Apps | |
| R | Cross-platform | High | Free | Statistical Analysis | |
| GraphPad Prism | Desktop | Low | Commercial | Scientific Research | |
| Microsoft Excel | Cross-platform | Low | Commercial | Business Applications |
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LabVIEW (Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench) is the premier platform for creating strip charts in industrial and engineering applications. Its Waveform Chart control provides native "Strip Chart" mode with real-time data streaming capabilities.
// LabVIEW Block Diagram
// Waveform Chart Properties:
// - Chart Type: Strip Chart
// - Update Mode: Continuous
// - Buffer Size: 1000 points
// - Time Scale: Auto
// Data Acquisition Loop
while (running) {
// Read data from DAQ device
data = DAQ_Read();
// Update strip chart
Waveform_Chart.Update(data);
// Wait for next sample
Wait(100ms);
}Powerful data science approach with extensive customization
Python with Matplotlib provides a powerful and flexible approach to creating strip charts. Using animation capabilities, you can create real-time strip charts with extensive customization options for research and data science applications.
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import matplotlib.animation as animation
import numpy as np
class StripChart:
def __init__(self, max_points=1000):
self.max_points = max_points
self.data = []
self.fig, self.ax = plt.subplots()
def update(self, new_data):
self.data.append(new_data)
if len(self.data) > self.max_points:
self.data.pop(0)
self.ax.clear()
self.ax.plot(self.data)
self.ax.set_title('Real-time Strip Chart')
def animate(self, frame):
# Generate new data point
new_data = np.sin(frame * 0.1) + np.random.normal(0, 0.1)
self.update(new_data)
# Create and run strip chart
chart = StripChart()
ani = animation.FuncAnimation(chart.fig, chart.animate,
interval=100, blit=False)
plt.show()Web-based solutions for interactive strip charts
JavaScript libraries like D3.js and Chart.js provide excellent solutions for creating interactive strip charts in web browsers. Perfect for dashboards and web applications that require real-time data visualization.
// Chart.js Strip Chart Implementation
const ctx = document.getElementById('stripChart').getContext('2d');
const chart = new Chart(ctx, {
type: 'line',
data: {
datasets: [{
label: 'Real-time Data',
data: [],
borderColor: 'rgb(37, 99, 235)',
tension: 0.1
}]
},
options: {
responsive: true,
animation: {
duration: 0
},
scales: {
x: {
type: 'linear',
position: 'bottom'
}
}
}
});
// Update function for real-time data
function updateStripChart(newData) {
chart.data.datasets[0].data.push({
x: Date.now(),
y: newData
});
// Keep only last 100 points
if (chart.data.datasets[0].data.length > 100) {
chart.data.datasets[0].data.shift();
}
chart.update('none');
}ArcGIS provides powerful tools for creating spatial strip charts and temporal data visualization across geographic regions. Ideal for environmental monitoring and geospatial analysis applications.
Ignition by Inductive Automation is a powerful web-based SCADA platform that provides excellent tools for creating industrial strip charts. Its Perspective module offers real-time data visualization with web-based accessibility.
// Ignition Perspective Strip Chart Configuration
// Component: Line Chart
// Data Source: Tag History
// Update Mode: Real-time
// Chart Properties:
{
"dataSource": "TagHistory",
"tags": [
"Temperature_Sensor_1",
"Pressure_Sensor_1",
"Flow_Rate_1"
],
"timeRange": "1h",
"updateInterval": 1000,
"stripChartMode": true,
"maxDataPoints": 1000
}
// Real-time update script
function updateStripChart() {
var currentTime = new Date();
var data = system.tag.readBlocking([
"Temperature_Sensor_1",
"Pressure_Sensor_1",
"Flow_Rate_1"
]);
chart.addDataPoint(currentTime, data);
}WinCC (Windows Control Center) by Siemens is a comprehensive SCADA system that provides powerful strip chart capabilities for industrial automation. It offers real-time data visualization with extensive customization options.
// WinCC Strip Chart Configuration
// Object: WinCC Trend Control
// Properties: Strip Chart Mode
// Trend Control Properties:
TrendControl.ChartType = "StripChart";
TrendControl.UpdateMode = "RealTime";
TrendControl.TimeRange = 3600; // 1 hour
TrendControl.MaxPoints = 1000;
// Data Source Configuration
TrendControl.AddTag("Temperature", "DB1.DBD0");
TrendControl.AddTag("Pressure", "DB1.DBD4");
TrendControl.AddTag("Flow", "DB1.DBD8");
// Real-time update
void UpdateStripChart() {
TrendControl.UpdateData();
TrendControl.Refresh();
}iFIX by GE Digital is a comprehensive HMI/SCADA platform that provides excellent strip chart capabilities for industrial process visualization. It offers real-time data display with extensive customization options.
// iFIX Strip Chart Configuration
// Object: iFIX Trend Object
// Mode: Strip Chart
// Trend Object Properties
TrendObject.ChartType = "StripChart";
TrendObject.TimeSpan = 3600; // 1 hour
TrendObject.UpdateRate = 1000; // 1 second
TrendObject.MaxPoints = 1000;
// Data Source Setup
TrendObject.AddDataSource("Temperature", "TIC001.PV");
TrendObject.AddDataSource("Pressure", "PIC001.PV");
TrendObject.AddDataSource("Flow", "FIC001.PV");
// Real-time update function
Sub UpdateStripChart()
TrendObject.Refresh()
TrendObject.UpdateData()
End SubAG Charts is a powerful, enterprise-grade charting library that provides excellent strip chart capabilities for web applications. It offers high-performance rendering with extensive customization options.
// AG Charts Strip Chart Implementation
import { AgCharts } from 'ag-charts-community';
const options = {
data: [],
series: [{
type: 'line',
xKey: 'time',
yKey: 'value',
stroke: '#2563eb',
strokeWidth: 2
}],
axes: [{
type: 'time',
position: 'bottom',
title: { text: 'Time' }
}, {
type: 'number',
position: 'left',
title: { text: 'Value' }
}],
title: { text: 'Real-time Strip Chart' }
};
const chart = AgCharts.create(options);
// Real-time update function
function updateStripChart(newData) {
const currentTime = new Date();
chart.data.push({
time: currentTime,
value: newData
});
// Keep only last 1000 points
if (chart.data.length > 1000) {
chart.data.shift();
}
AgCharts.update(chart, options);
}R is a powerful statistical computing environment that provides excellent tools for creating strip charts and time series visualizations. With packages like ggplot2 and plotly, you can create sophisticated strip charts for data analysis.
# R Strip Chart Implementation
library(ggplot2)
library(plotly)
library(dplyr)
# Create strip chart function
create_strip_chart <- function(data, title = "Strip Chart") {
p <- ggplot(data, aes(x = time, y = value)) +
geom_line(color = "blue", size = 1) +
labs(title = title, x = "Time", y = "Value") +
theme_minimal() +
theme(plot.title = element_text(hjust = 0.5))
return(ggplotly(p))
}
# Generate sample data
set.seed(123)
time_series <- data.frame(
time = seq(as.POSIXct("2024-01-01"), by = "1 min", length.out = 1000),
value = cumsum(rnorm(1000, 0, 0.1))
)
# Create interactive strip chart
strip_chart <- create_strip_chart(time_series, "Real-time Data")
print(strip_chart)GraphPad Prism is a comprehensive scientific graphing and statistical analysis software that provides excellent tools for creating strip charts and time series visualizations. It's designed specifically for scientific research and data analysis.
// GraphPad Prism Strip Chart Setup
// Data Table: XY table with time series data
// Graph Type: XY Graph
// Analysis: Time series analysis
// Data Organization:
// Column A: Time (X-axis)
// Column B: Value 1 (Y-axis)
// Column C: Value 2 (Y-axis)
// Column D: Value 3 (Y-axis)
// Graph Settings:
GraphType = "XY";
XAxis = "Time";
YAxis = "Values";
DataPoints = 1000;
UpdateMode = "RealTime";
// Analysis Options:
StatisticalAnalysis = "TimeSeries";
TrendLine = "Linear";
ConfidenceInterval = 95;
SignificanceLevel = 0.05;Microsoft Excel provides basic strip chart capabilities through its line chart functionality. While not as sophisticated as specialized tools, it's accessible and widely used for business applications and simple data visualization needs.
// Microsoft Excel Strip Chart Setup
// Data Range: A1:C1000
// Chart Type: Line Chart
// Update Mode: Manual
// Data Structure:
// Column A: Time (X-axis)
// Column B: Value 1 (Y-axis)
// Column C: Value 2 (Y-axis)
// Chart Properties:
ChartType = "Line";
XAxis = "Time";
YAxis = "Values";
DataLabels = "None";
Legend = "Bottom";
Title = "Strip Chart";
// VBA Macro for Real-time Update:
Sub UpdateStripChart()
Dim ws As Worksheet
Set ws = ActiveSheet
' Add new data point
ws.Cells(ws.Rows.Count, 1).End(xlUp).Offset(1, 0).Value = Now()
ws.Cells(ws.Rows.Count, 2).End(xlUp).Offset(1, 0).Value = Rnd() * 100
' Refresh chart
ws.ChartObjects(1).Chart.Refresh
End Sub