Setting Highcharts Series and Category data dynamically

Question

Im trying to update a chart via an AJAX call using the following code

$j(document).ready(function () {
    $j("#filter").click(function () {
        BuildReport();
    });

    $j("#container").highcharts({
        chart: {
            type: 'column',
            marginRight: 130,
            marginBottom: 100
        },
        title: {
            text: 'SEs open by Group',
            x: -20 //center
        },
        yAxis: {
            title: {
                text: ''
            },
            min: 0,
            allowDecimals: false
        },
        xAxis: {},
        tooltip: {
            formatter: function () {
                return '<b>' + this.x + '</b><br/>' +
                            this.series.name + ': ' + this.y + '<br/>' +
                            'Total: ' + this.point.stackTotal;
            }
        },
        plotOptions: {
            column: {
                stacking: 'normal',
                cursor: 'pointer',
                }
            }
        },
        legend: {
            layout: 'vertical',
            align: 'right',
            verticalAlign: 'top',
            x: -10,
            y: 100,
            borderWidth: 0
        },
        series: {}
    });

    BuildReport();
});

function SetChartSeries(series) {
    debugger;
    chart = $j("#container").highcharts();
    chart.xAxis[0].setCategories(getReportCategories(series));
    chart.series = $j.map(series, function (item) {
        return {
            name: item.Name,
            color: item.Colour,
            data: $j.map(item.Items, function (list) {
                return {
                    name: list.Category,
                    y: list.Value,
                    id: list.ID
                };
            })
        };
    });
}

function getReportCategories(data) {
    var catArray = [];
    $j.each(data, function (index, value) {
        $j.each(value.Items, function (index, value) {
            if ($j.inArray(value.Category, catArray)) {
                catArray.push(value.Category);
            }
        });
    });

    return catArray;
}

function BuildReport() {
    $j.ajax({
        url: "ChartDataHandler.ashx",
        dataType: "json",
        cache: false,
        success: function (data) {
            SetChartSeries(data.Series);
        }
    });
}

When the page loads or the filter button is clicked BuildReport calls the handler and passes the series data to SetChartSeries. From here I can see that the chart properties are set, but the chart is never drawn. Am I doing something obviously wrong?

Answer 1

If you want to create new series you need to use Chart.addSeries() method

If you want to set new data in an existing series you need to use Series.setData() method.

As I see, you create new series for each request and use addSeries method