Examples of VML and SVG

This section shows a series of business and scientific graphics. The examples were all designed with GraPL, and saved in 3 formats - a slightly reduced image file (0.8 of normal size), a full-sized VML graphic inline in a webpage, and a stand-alone SVG file.

You can read through the examples with any browser. To see the VML versions, you will need to have IE5.0 or higher, and to see the SVG examples you will need to visit Adobe's website to install their SVG viewer.

• Paper Aeroplanes. A typical set of experimental results from a school Physics course
• Tank volume. A set of 3 charts which were used to help an investigation into a simple maths challenge.
• Daily Rainfall Data. Shows a composite of the daily rainfall (the vertical spikes) and the monthly total.
• Checkweigher Data. Illustrates a typical composite plot, resulting from the overlay of a computed curve on experimental results.
• Barbeque Forecasting. Comparing two related data series
• Frost-free days. Using a max-min chart to show the span of time across the page.
• Two sets of Errorbars. Errorbars used for both the x and y dimensions of a scatterplot.
• Norber Erratics. Four frequency plots arranged as a trellis.
• Distribution map. a variety of plants in the North York Moors national park, overlayed on a simple map showing place-names and rivers.

Viewing the Examples

All the examples in this sequence follow the same pattern. There is a paragraph of introductory text, followed by a reduced-size picture of the graphic. You can choose to see it at full size in either VML or SVG (assuming you have the correct support installed in your browser). The examples have all been generated from GraPL (desktop) and have been chosen to emphasise the contrast between the image, VML and SVG formats.

View example as VML

View example as SVG

In general, if you have IE5.0 or above, you should be able to see the VML image with no problems. To view the SVG graphic you will need to install the viewer component from Adobe.

Currently, it is not possible to run SVG graphics ‘in-line’ as part of the body content of the page – they have to be linked to as ‘objects’ if you want to use them as part of a website design. This restriction should be lifted when native SVG support becomes available in the mainline browsers.