Algorithm for “nice” grid line intervals on a graph

Question

I need a reasonably smart algorithm to come up with \"nice\" grid lines for a graph (chart).

For example, assume a bar chart with values of 10, 30, 72 and 60. You k

Answer 1

Here's another implementation in JavaScript:

var calcStepSize = function(range, targetSteps)
{
  // calculate an initial guess at step size
  var tempStep = range / targetSteps;

  // get the magnitude of the step size
  var mag = Math.floor(Math.log(tempStep) / Math.LN10);
  var magPow = Math.pow(10, mag);

  // calculate most significant digit of the new step size
  var magMsd = Math.round(tempStep / magPow + 0.5);

  // promote the MSD to either 1, 2, or 5
  if (magMsd > 5.0)
    magMsd = 10.0;
  else if (magMsd > 2.0)
    magMsd = 5.0;
  else if (magMsd > 1.0)
    magMsd = 2.0;

  return magMsd * magPow;
};