Why cannot I use text as category x series?

Hi All,

I am trying to generate the a line chart like a time series for a set of products.
I am using Value(Y)Series as Value column, Optional Y Series Grouping as Product column and Category (X) Series as MonthStr column.
I am getting this following error "Unable to use a text data to render a numerical/datetime axis".
So I added one more column for the numerical representation of months. If I make the Catetory (X) as Month coumn it works fine.
My question is cant we have a text value as category on xaxis? Can any one respond me.

Thanks in advance.

Product | MonthStr | Value

ProductA Sales 2008 December 1000
ProductA Sales 2009 January 1300
ProductA Sales 2009 February 2100
ProductB Sales 2008 December 300
ProductB Sales 2009 January 230
ProductB Sales 2009 February 230
ProductC Sales 2008 December 200
ProductC Sales 2009 January 440
ProductC Sales 2009 February 300
ProductD Sales 2008 December 180
ProductD Sales 2009 January 430
ProductD Sales 2009 February 230
ProductE Sales 2008 December 290
ProductE Sales 2009 January 130
ProductE Sales 2009 February 870

Product |Month| MonthStr | Value

ProductA Sales 1 2008 December 1000
ProductA Sales 2 2009 January 1300
ProductA Sales 3 2009 February 2100
ProductB Sales 1 2008 December 300
ProductB Sales 2 2009 January 230
ProductB Sales 3 2009 February 230
ProductC Sales 1 2008 December 200
ProductC Sales 2 2009 January 440
ProductC Sales 3 2009 February 300
ProductD Sales 1 2008 December 180
ProductD Sales 2 2009 January 430
ProductD Sales 3 2009 February 230
ProductE Sales 1 2008 December 290
ProductE Sales 2 2009 January 130
ProductE Sales 3 2009 February 870

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Comments

mwilliams

Hi manu2ka,

So, that is the data you're using in your report? What version of BIRT are you using?

manu2ka

I am using 2.2.2.r222 and mysql as the database.

mwilliams

manu2ka,

Are you setting anything else on that chart or is that it?

If I use the data from your first post and put it in a flat file with Product of type string, StrMonth of type string, and Value as type integer, my chart renders just fine with the string as the x-axis, the value as the y-axis, and the product as the optional grouping. Not sure what is causing your issue unless there are other changes you're doing in the chart editor that I'm not doing. Can you recreate the issue with a flat file of your data or with the sample database? If so, I can run that and see what you're seeing.

manu2ka

Hi Michael,

I have attacted my report and database sql script and the screen shot.
Please let me know where I am going wrong

Thanks
manu

manu2ka

Can any one help me out!

Thanks

cypherdj

Go to the Format Chart tab, select Chart Area->Axis->x-Axis.

Change the Type dropdown from Linear to Text.

The error should no longer appear.

Regards,
Cedric

manu2ka

thanks Cedric!