Re: [office] Are all charts always backed by a table?

[Patrick Durusau <patrick@durusau.net>]

Pete,

I can't speak for the TC but I do think that charts are always backed by 
a table.

I base that on the language in 10.2 that reads:

> The chart data is specified by the |<chart:plot-area>| element's 
> |table:cell-range-address| attribute. The |<chart:plot-area>| element 
> represents the visualization container of all data series in the chart.
>
I think the "may" language in the second list item is unfortunate and 
mis-leading.

What was intended (utter speculation on my part) was to distinguish when 
data is specified in the <chart:chart> element and therefore "not" in 
the document, versus being specified in the document and hence not 
inside the <chart:chart> element. Even as I write that I find it 
unconvincing and wonder why it would be worthy of note.

So, there are two cases: a <table:table> element inside <chart:chart> or 
the value of the table:cell-range-address attribute of the 
<chart:plot-area> element.

Note that the new "navigation" links that Michael has created enable the 
reader to quickly go to <chart:plot-area> and then to the definition of 
the table:cell-range-address attribute, 18.946. Which does appear to 
presume that tables are being addressed but does not explicitly say so.

So, I think the answer is yes, all charts are backed by tables but that 
your question does raise the question of the need to make the 
table:cell-range-address attribute a bit more specific about what it can 
address.

(Apologies for bragging a bit on Michael's work on the cross-referencing 
but I have found it very valuable. I think it is going to result in a 
much tighter ODF 1.2.)

Hope you are having a great day!

Patrick



Pete Brunet wrote:
>
> Hi, I have not yet received a response from the TC.
>
> *Pete Brunet*
>                                                                          
> IBM Accessibility Architecture and Development
> 11501 Burnet Road, MS 9022E004, Austin, TX 78758
> Voice: (512) 838-4594, Cell: (512) 689-4155
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>
>
> *Pete Brunet/Austin/IBM@IBMUS*
>
> 08/01/2008 04:29 PM
>
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> To
> 	office@lists.oasis-open.org
> cc
> 	
> Subject
> 	[office] Are all charts always backed by a table?
>
>
>
> 	
>
>
>
>
>
>
> For accessibility purposes the AccSC needs to know if all ODF charts 
> are *always* backed by a table.  (Tables are accessible and easier to 
> navigate and interpret.)  Due to the use of the word "may" in sections 
> 10.2 and 10.3 of the spec, it's not clear that all charts are *always" 
> backed by a table.  Could someone please clarify this?  Does the text 
> need to be touched up?
>
> 10.2 Introduction to Chart Documents
> Chart documents are always contained within other XML documents. There 
> are two types of chart container documents:
>
>     * Documents that do not provide data for the chart: The chart data
>       is contained in a <table:table> element inside the <chart:chart>
>       element.
>     * Documents that provide data for the chart: The chart data *may
>       be* contained in a <table:table> element in the parent document,
>       for example, in a spreadsheet or text document.
>
>
> 10.3 <chart:chart>
> The <chart:chart>  element represents an entire chart, including 
> titles, a legend, and the graphical object that visualizes the 
> underlying data called the plot area. The data underlying the chart is 
> represented by a table element. This element *may also exist* for 
> embedded charts that get the data from the container document. In that 
> case the chart can be rendered without getting the data from the 
> container document.
>
> Thanks,*
> Pete Brunet*
>                                                                        
> IBM Accessibility Architecture and Development
> 11501 Burnet Road, MS 9022E004, Austin, TX 78758
> Voice: (512) 838-4594, Cell: (512) 689-4155
> Ionosphere: WS4G