# Use chart.js or highchart API **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [March 1, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/use-chart-js-or-highchart-api/12736 "2017-03-01T14:19:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![flavien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@flavien](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/flavien)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/use-chart-js-or-highchart-api/12736/1 "2017-03-01T14:19:36Z")
Hi, I have one question about charts in Ignition which I think, are ugly and look old. Can we use others Java charts library in Ignition ? For example, I would like to use a new library to my charts look like Chart.js or Highcharts. Thanks, ---
**Author:** ![Kevin.Herron](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kevin.herron/32/7259_2.png) [@Kevin.Herron](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Kevin.Herron)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/use-chart-js-or-highchart-api/12736/2 "2017-03-01T15:34:30Z")
Both of those libraries you mentioned are Javascript libraries, not Java libraries. No, you can’t just drop in another library and expect anything to work. It’s technically possible to create your own new charting components using the module SDK but it’s a tremendous amount of work. ---
**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 4:04pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/use-chart-js-or-highchart-api/12736/3 "2017-03-01T16:04:48Z")
[quote=“Kevin.Herron”]It’s technically possible to create your own new charting components using the module SDK but it’s a tremendous amount of work.[/quote]Ahem. Well, if you subclass from the built-in chart components, it’s not quite as difficult as Kevin makes it sound. My [NoteChart module](https://inductiveautomation.com/moduleshowcase/module/automation-professionals-llc-notechart) is less than 3000 lines of java. Several hundred lines of that are simple boilerplate adapted from the SDK examples. ---
**Author:** ![flavien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@flavien](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/flavien)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 10:08am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/use-chart-js-or-highchart-api/12736/4 "2017-03-02T10:08:27Z")
Thanks for you answers, I know that chart.js and highcharts are Javascript libraries, but the visual is very cool and easy to read. I hoped that a Java library exists with the same visual. Will there be an update of charts library in a later version of Ignition ? ---
**Author:** ![anna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@anna](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/anna)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 11:38pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/use-chart-js-or-highchart-api/12736/5 "2017-03-03T23:38:25Z")
flavien, if you are talking about appearance, then you should be able to achieve most if not all of those looks (based on the screenshots I see) using built-in tools as well as JFree Chart API. ---
**Author:** ![flavien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@flavien](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/flavien)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 9:17am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/use-chart-js-or-highchart-api/12736/6 "2017-05-03T09:17:44Z")
Thanks for your answer. For example, if I want to create or modify a component I have to use Java and JFreeChart API ? Python too ? ---
**Author:** ![anna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@anna](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/anna)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 6:27pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/use-chart-js-or-highchart-api/12736/7 "2017-05-08T18:27:29Z")
Flavien, that depends on what component you are trying to modify and how. For some changes, you can use available properties, for some other changes, you can use Java API, some other changes may require using Ignition SDK to develop your own component. ---
**Author:** ![flavien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@flavien](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/flavien)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 2:37pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/use-chart-js-or-highchart-api/12736/8 "2017-05-18T14:37:24Z")
Will you add a new chart library in the next version of Ignition ? ---
**Author:** ![anna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@anna](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/anna)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 11:41pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/use-chart-js-or-highchart-api/12736/9 "2017-05-18T23:41:46Z")
Flavien, which new library are you referring to? Also, if you have a feature request to make, you can post it here: [http://ideas.inductiveautomation.com](http://ideas.inductiveautomation.com) Make sure to describe your use case and rationale in your request. ---
**Author:** ![zackscriven](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/zackscriven/32/7213_2.png) [@zackscriven](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/zackscriven)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/use-chart-js-or-highchart-api/12736/10 "2017-05-25T00:45:14Z")
> [@pturmel](#): > > [quote="Kevin.Herron"]It's technically possible to create your own new charting components using the module SDK but it's a tremendous amount of work.[/quote]Ahem. > Well, if you subclass from the built-in chart components, it's not quite as difficult as Kevin makes it sound. My [NoteChart module](https://inductiveautomation.com/moduleshowcase/module/automation-professionals-llc-notechart) is less than 3000 lines of java. Several hundred lines of that are simple boilerplate adapted from the SDK examples. Spoken like a true professional... Automation professional.