topic Re: Can the Flash-based timeline be rewritten in Javascript/JQuery? in Splunk Search

Can the Flash-based timeline be rewritten in Javascript/JQuery?

CraigF — Wed, 26 May 2010 00:57:11 GMT

Without starting a flame war, I'm wondering if you guys can replace the Flash-based timeline with something lighter-weight/browser agnostic like JQuery.

Re: Can the Flash-based timeline be rewritten in Javascript/JQuery?

sideview — Wed, 26 May 2010 01:40:22 GMT

Sure. It's totally feasible to make one in canvas, or just HTML tables and colored divs (like the old 3.X timeline), or use a higher-order charting system like HighCharts etc (probably the way to go).

There actually is a prototype module in the build called 'AsciiTimeline', that dates back from the very beginnings of the 4.0 codebase in early 2008. It is what it sounds like - it draws a little ascii bar graph using "x" characters.

We dont test or support the AsciiTimeline module, in fact its conf file warns you somewhat sternly that it is a prototype, it may have bugs and it's generally not a module to be taken seriously.

Also I just looked and there's a JS error that is currently breaking the selection behavior, so while it will still render the ascii bar chart, the clicks and drags dont work anymore, at least not in 4.1.

That said, if you're asking whether it's possible for a partner or third party to try and write such a module, looking at the JS source of AsciiTimeline and FlashTimeline is not a bad starting place.

We've spent a very modest amount of time and energy prototyping a module that uses HighCharts, and I think it's safe to say that at some point we will probably provide an official non-flash alternative to FlashTimeline and someday FlashChart

Re: Can the Flash-based timeline be rewritten in Javascript/JQuery?

zscgeek — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 07:39:05 GMT

Would love to see something other then flash charts.

Re: Can the Flash-based timeline be rewritten in Javascript/JQuery?

sideview — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:44:06 GMT

just for fun :: after this post i spent a few minutes and fixed the bugs in AsciiTimeline so I believe the click/drag functionality will work again in 4.1.5 if it didnt already in 4.1.4.
And in general, although im not basing this on any specifics, I think it'll definitely happen in the next couple releases. 😃

Re: Can the Flash-based timeline be rewritten in Javascript/JQuery?

yannK — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:07:12 GMT

Since 4.3. the rendering is using JSChart by default.