FlashStockCharts allows Flash developers to add financial charts to web sites or existing Flash applications. Developers can customize and compile the provided ActionScript source code to display financial charts on literally any platform that supports Adobe Flash.

Why Adobe Flash?

Since the debut of Google Finance stock charts, companies have been seeking a full-featured financial charting component for Adobe Flash.

Compared to other plug-ins such as Java, Flash Player has a small install size and fast initialization time making it ideal for web based financial applications.

The Flash format has become extremely widespread. According to an NPD study, 97.3% of all Internet users were found to have Flash Player installed, compared with only 88% for the Java runtime environment.

In addition, Flash players exist for a wide variety of different systems and devices. Flash content can run consistently on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, Linux and various other Unix platforms, in addition to Smart Phones, PDAs, and other devices.

Web Enabled Financial Charts - Pros and Cons

There are at least four ways to display financial charts on your web site as explained below:

1. Use a Server or Desktop component such as StockChartX to render static images and return those images to the client's web browser.

Pro: This is a simple, lightweight solution. End users do not have to install any components or plug-ins. All processing is done on the server side and virtually nothing can go wrong on the client's computer.

Con: Static GIF images on the client side provide little or no drawing features for interactivity.

2. Use a browser plug-in or client-side ActiveX component.

Pro: This method allows your stock charts to be fully dynamic and interactive.

Con: Requires your end users to install a web browser plug-in or ActiveX component. Not cross-platform.

3. Build a trading application as an executable program (EXE) in VB.NET, C#, VB6, or C++ using a component such as StockChartX. Visitors can download a signed EXE file from your web site.

Pro: This is the best solution if your application needs to be powerful and robust. Most brokerages take this approach for online trading platforms. The software does not run inside a web browser and you have more options.

Con: Although this is the best method for established clients who are willing to install your software, its not always the best or most cost effective approach for providing interactive financial charting applications on the web.

4. Provide stock charts within a client-side web browser plug-in, such as Flash or Silverlight.

Pro: This is the best method for web based charting. There are no executables to distribute - web visitors simply view a chart inside Flash. This method is cross-platform, fully interactive, and easy to deploy.

Con: Although this method is cross-platform, care must be taken to ensure that end users are running a compatible version of the plugin. This can be accomplished within the HTML code.

Flash is much preferred over HTML5 for business applications.
Please review our article regarding HTML5 for Business Applications.
Another article regarding HTML5 Financial Charts.

Requirements

Installing, maintaining, and customizing FlashStockCharts is straight forward. FlashStockCharts requires Windows Server or greater with IIS web server. Installation requires knowledge of ASP, JavaScript, and HTML. An example function is provided that reads market data from standard CSV files. If your data is stored in a different format (see the overview for format specifications) or retrieved from a remote server, you must modify the FlashChartServer.dll ATL COM component that is written in VC++. If you need to modify the source code, your development team must make the modifications or you may request our consulting group to make the modifications for you.