Color from unique string
lazarus / 39-Graphics

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dibo · 2013-03-19 13:08

Hi,

I'm using TChart . I dynamicaly create TLineSeries where count depend
on list count. I would like that each series have different color
depend on string item. For example:
Code: [Select]Series1.SeriesColor := GetUniqueColor('table1')
Series2.SeriesColor := GetUniqueColor('table2')
Series3.SeriesColor := GetUniqueColor('table3')
etc...Can't find any interesting function in Graphics unit

Regards

----------------------------------------------------------------------
wp · 2013-03-19 13:39

There is no "official" function for that. But you can use a random
color
Code: [Select]uses LCLIntf;
  Series1.SeriesColor := rgb(random(256), random(256), random(256));or
use an array of predefined colors:
Code: [Select]const
  NUMCOLORS = 10;
  SERIESCOLORS: array[0..NUMCOLORS-1] of TColor = (
    clRed, clBlue, clOlive, //... etc
   );

function GetSeriesColor(AIndex: integer): TColor;
begin
  Result := SERIESCOLORS[AIndex mod NUMCOLORS];
end;

Series1.SeriesColor := GetSeriesColor(0);
Series2.SeriesColor := GetSeriesColor(1);
// etc.
Note that in the last solution the colors are repeated after the
predefined colors are used up.

A variation would be to read the colors from an external file which
gives the user the opportunity to change the colors:

Code: [Select]var
  SeriesColors: array of TColor;

procedure ReadColorsFromFile(AFileName: string);
var
  List: TStringList;
begin
  List := TStringList.Create;
  try
    List.ReadFromFile(AFileName);
    SetLength(SeriesColors, List.Count);
    for i:=0 to List.Count-1 do
      SeriesColors[i] := StringToColor(List[i]);
  finally
    List.Free;
  end;

It's your choice...