How to add shapes to line graph in jfreechart

Question

Edited to add working image at end.

I need to add some sort of annotation to a line graph that I've generated. The red line is the data I'm graphing successfully using a XYLineChart and a XYLineAndShapeRenderer. The squares and text are samples of what I would like to add but have been unable to get working. The data for the graph may be updated as fast as once per second.

Here is how I'm creating the chart:

private JFreeChart createChart(XYDataset dataset) {
    final JFreeChart result = ChartFactory.createXYLineChart(
            TITLE, // chart title
            XAXIS, // domain axis label (x-axis)
            YAXIS, // range axis label (y-axis)
            dataset, // data
            PlotOrientation.VERTICAL, // orientation
            false, // include legend
            true, // tooltips?
            false // URLs?
    );

    customizeChart(result);

    return result;
}

private void customizeChart(final JFreeChart result) {
    // NOW DO SOME OPTIONAL CUSTOMIZATION OF THE CHART...
    // set the background color for the chart...
    result.setBackgroundPaint(null); //makes background transparent.

    // get a reference to the plot for further customisation...
    XYPlot plot = (XYPlot) result.getPlot();
    plot.setRangeAxisLocation(AxisLocation.BOTTOM_OR_LEFT);
    plot.setRangePannable(false);

    XYLineAndShapeRenderer renderer = new XYLineAndShapeRenderer(true, true);
// I've also tried to use a spline renderer
//        XYSplineRenderer renderer = new XYSplineRenderer();
    renderer.setSeriesShapesVisible(0, false);
    renderer.setBaseShapesVisible(true);
    plot.setRenderer(renderer);

    // set the range axis to display integers only...
    NumberAxis rangeAxis = (NumberAxis) plot.getRangeAxis();
    rangeAxis.setStandardTickUnits(NumberAxis.createIntegerTickUnits());
    rangeAxis.setTickUnit(new NumberTickUnit(10.0)); //otherwise tick units will randomly change to be 5's sometimes.

    //set the max/min values
    rangeAxis.setUpperBound(MAX);
    rangeAxis.setLowerBound(MIN);
//        rangeAxis.setInverted(true);
    rangeAxis.setInverted(false);

    //get the other axis for work in the next step.
    NumberAxis domainAxis = (NumberAxis) plot.getDomainAxis();
    domainAxis.setAutoRange(true);

    domainAxis.setStandardTickUnits(NumberAxis.createIntegerTickUnits());

    //do some font stuff
    Font axisFont = new Font("Tahoma", Font.BOLD, 12);
    Font tickFont = new Font("Tahoma", Font.PLAIN, 11);
    Font titleFont = new Font("Tahoma", Font.BOLD, 18);
    result.getTitle().setFont(titleFont);
    rangeAxis.setLabelFont(axisFont);
    rangeAxis.setTickLabelFont(tickFont);
    domainAxis.setLabelFont(axisFont);
    domainAxis.setTickLabelFont(tickFont);
}

Here's how I'm trying to get something to draw right now:

XYPlot plot = chart.getXYPlot();
            XYLineAndShapeRenderer renderer = (XYLineAndShapeRenderer) plot.getRenderer();

            BasicStroke stroke = new BasicStroke(2.0f);
            Rectangle2D.Double rect = new Rectangle2D.Double(10, 10, 10, 20);
//                renderer.addAnnotation(new XYShapeAnnotation(
//                        rect, stroke, Color.GREEN), Layer.BACKGROUND);
            plot.addAnnotation(new XYShapeAnnotation(
                    rect, stroke, Color.GREEN));

            Ellipse2D.Double circle = new Ellipse2D.Double(8, 8, 20, 20);
            renderer.addAnnotation(new XYShapeAnnotation(
                    circle, stroke, blue), Layer.BACKGROUND);

            plot.drawAnnotations((Graphics2D) chartPanel.getGraphics(), chartPanel.getBounds(), chartPanel.getChartRenderingInfo().getPlotInfo());

// This line does draw, but immediately disappears
            Graphics2D g2 = (Graphics2D) chartPanel.getGraphics();
            Line2D line = new Line2D.Double(0, 100, 500, 350);
            g2.draw(line);

Thanks.

Edit with working image:

Invoking `getGraphics()` on a `Component` is not appropriate. It looks like you started [here](http://stackoverflow.com/a/6802375/230513). Also look at `XYTextAnnotation`, seen [here](http://stackoverflow.com/a/18328489/230513). It's not clear what's not working. Please edit your question to include a [mcve] that shows your current approach. — trashgod, Jun 15 '16 at 02:26
Sorry I wasn't clear, whats not working is that nothing is drawing on my graph. I did start at your first link, and also ventured to several of your other related answers. I have been able to get the XYTextAnnotation to show so far this morning. I think maybe the circle and rect I was trying to add are off of the visible chart coordinate space, so I'm going to experiment with that now. Thanks. — pk., Jun 15 '16 at 13:22
Sounds good. Note that the annotation coordinates are specified in model (dataset) coordinates, not view (plot) coordinates. — trashgod, Jun 15 '16 at 14:02
I've been able to get it working. Similar to what trashgod mentions, I thought that I needed to specify plot coordinates. My example range is 1925 - 1995, and I was trying to add at x=8 and x=10. @trashgod if you want to add an answer I'll accept it. — pk., Jun 15 '16 at 14:47
Glad you got it sorted. I've added a general answer for future passersby. Please let me know if you also [answer your own question](http://meta.stackoverflow.com/q/17463/163188). — trashgod, Jun 15 '16 at 14:54

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 15 '16 at 14:51

I think maybe the circle and rectangle I was trying to add are off of the visible chart coordinate space.

It may help to note that org.jfree.chart.annotations typically require that coordinates are specified in model (dataset) coordinates, not view (plot) coordinates.

How to add shapes to line graph in jfreechart

1 Answers1