php and dynamic graphics

makit3d

Hello everyone, I am moderately new to PHP and very green in the coding area. I am building a site and the owner wants to have a dynamic graphic. They also want everything done in PHP. Everything.

They want a dial (such as a automobile speedometer or oil gauge) where the needle position changes according to specific statistics. If this can be done dynamically it would be perfect, but if not they can live with a static design.

Sgarissta

You COULD modify the graphic, or you could create several graphics, and swap them out based on the statistics.

makit3d

I've considered that, but the client desired a dynamic graphic instead of static. My only thought was the possibility of adding coding to have ImageMagik (or GD?) generate the dynamic gauge needle.

I would use flash but I'm not allowed to use it or Java in this design.

d_l

Although you say you can't use Flash .. a compromise might be to enable Ming extension (php_ming.dll) to generate a "speedometer.swf" file ..

http://uk.php.net/ming
http://ming.sourceforge.net/
http://www16.brinkster.com/gazb/ming/

makit3d

Thank you, this is wonderful. No wonder MS is so creeped out about Opensource when so much incredible software is available by so many talented programmers.

<I'm going to tear up>..I'm so happy....

I think I will spend some time and dig through all the extensions and see what all these items do. I feel like a kid in a candy store!