Scrollable JFree domain axis and custom marker label

Question

I have this code to draw graph, this works fine. I need two things here

1. on domain axis (x) I want to be able to scroll.
2. On markers I see a thick bold line. I want to be able to see some readable text for this marker.

For now I see this output

and upon zooming I see this

3. Also on domain axis I have millis values. can I map it to human readable dates ?

   public class Grapher extends ApplicationFrame {
   
       public Grapher(final String title, List<PriceModel> priceModels) {
   
           super(title);
           final XYSeries series = new XYSeries("foo");
           double max = Double.MIN_VALUE, min = Double.MAX_VALUE;
           for (int i = 0; i < priceModels.size(); i++) {
               double price = priceModels.get(i).getPrice();
               if (price < min) {
                   min = price;
               }
               if (price > max) {
                   max = price;
               }
               series.add((double) priceModels.get(i).getDate(), price);
           }
   
           final XYSeriesCollection data = new XYSeriesCollection(series);
           final JFreeChart chart = ChartFactory.createXYLineChart(
                   "XY Series Demo",
                   "X",
                   "Y",
                   data,
                   PlotOrientation.VERTICAL,
                   true,
                   true,
                   false
           );
   
           for (int i = 0; i < priceModels.size(); i++) {
               if (priceModels.get(i).getAction() != null) {
                   Marker marker = new ValueMarker((double) priceModels.get(i).getDate());
                   marker.setLabelAnchor(RectangleAnchor.BOTTOM_RIGHT);
                   marker.setLabelTextAnchor(TextAnchor.TOP_RIGHT);
   
                   if (priceModels.get(i).getAction() == Types.Action.SELL) {
                       marker.setPaint(Color.green);
                       marker.setLabel("SELL");
                   } else {
                       marker.setPaint(Color.red);
                       marker.setLabel("BUY");
                   }
                   marker.setStroke(new BasicStroke(10.0f));
                   chart.getXYPlot().addDomainMarker(marker);
               }
           }
           chart.getXYPlot().setBackgroundPaint(Color.white);
           chart.getXYPlot().getRenderer().setPaint(Color.BLUE);
           chart.getXYPlot().getRangeAxis().setRange(min - 1, max + 1);
           final ChartPanel chartPanel = new ChartPanel(chart);
           chartPanel.setBackground(Color.WHITE);
           chartPanel.setRangeZoomable(true);
           chartPanel.setPreferredSize(new java.awt.Dimension(500, 270));
           setContentPane(chartPanel);
       }
   
       public static void draw(List<PriceModel> priceModels) {
           final Grapher demo = new Grapher("foo", priceModels);
           demo.pack();
           RefineryUtilities.centerFrameOnScreen(demo);
           demo.setVisible(true);
       }
   }
   

Answer 1

You'll have to combine several approaches:

1. Domain scrolling alternatives:

   • Try a SlidingXYDataset, implemented here and illustrated here.
   • Enable panning, e.g. plot.setDomainPannable(true), as suggested here.
   • Look at paging.
   • Use a JScrollPane, e.g. add(new JScrollPane(chartPanel);.

2. Marker text: Use XYTextAnnotation, for example.

3. Format dates: Replace the factory's axis with a DateAxis and use setDateFormatOverride(), for example.