I am trying to create a simple bar graph to display results of an athletic event (e.g. 100m race) I have already generated a 'Results' table where the results of this event are displayed - but I want the user of the site to be able to click a 'view graph' type button which will show these results in a (horizontal) bar chart.
What's the easiest/simplest way?
The following is what I have already on my 'viewesults3.php' page:
<?php
session_start();
require_once("connect.php");
//require_once("restriction.php");
?>
<html>
<body>
<div id="mainFrame">
<form id="results" method="get">
<table id="results" border="1" bordercolor="#FFCC66">
<th bgcolor="#FFCC66">Result ID: </th>
<th bgcolor="#FFCC66">Position: </th>
<th bgcolor="#FFCC66">Time: </th>
<th bgcolor="#FFCC66">Event ID: </th>
<th bgcolor="#FFCC66">Athlete ID: </th>
<?php
$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM Results");
while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result))
{
$rID = $row['rID'];
$position = $row['position'];
$time = $row['time'];
$meID = $row['meID'];
$atID = $row['atID'];
echo "<tr data-row='$rID'><td>$rID</td>";
echo "<td>".$position."</td>";
echo "<td>".$time."</td>";
echo "<td>".$meID."</td>";
echo "<td>".$atID."</td>";
echo "</tr>";
}
?>
</table>
</form>
</div>
<center>
<div id="graphs" align="center">
<a href=".php" class="button">Generate graph!</a>
</div>
</center>
</body>
</html>
One easy way using plain sql is mysql's REPEAT function. You can repeat a character X times for whatever the result value is (round or truncate to remove fractions).
Here is an example:
http://sqlfiddle.com/#!2/0e2d7/1/0
In that example I repeat the pipe character ( | ) x times depending on the "score" value (adjust as needed).
You can also highlight the the pipe characters in your HTML, making each a solid bar.