Choosing an attractive linear scale for a graph's Y Axis

Question

I\'m writing a bit of code to display a bar (or line) graph in our software. Everything\'s going fine. The thing that\'s got me stumped is labeling the Y axis.

The

Answer 1

Converted this answer as Swift 4

extension Int {

    static func makeYaxis(yMin: Int, yMax: Int, ticks: Int = 10) -> [Int] {
        var yMin = yMin
        var yMax = yMax
        var ticks = ticks
        // This routine creates the Y axis values for a graph.
        //
        // Calculate Min amd Max graphical labels and graph
        // increments.  The number of ticks defaults to
        // 10 which is the SUGGESTED value.  Any tick value
        // entered is used as a suggested value which is
        // adjusted to be a 'pretty' value.
        //
        // Output will be an array of the Y axis values that
        // encompass the Y values.
        var result = [Int]()
        // If yMin and yMax are identical, then
        // adjust the yMin and yMax values to actually
        // make a graph. Also avoids division by zero errors.
        if yMin == yMax {
            yMin -= ticks   // some small value
            yMax += ticks   // some small value
        }
        // Determine Range
        let range = yMax - yMin
        // Adjust ticks if needed
        if ticks < 2 { ticks = 2 }
        else if ticks > 2 { ticks -= 2 }

        // Get raw step value
        let tempStep: CGFloat = CGFloat(range) / CGFloat(ticks)
        // Calculate pretty step value
        let mag = floor(log10(tempStep))
        let magPow = pow(10,mag)
        let magMsd = Int(tempStep / magPow + 0.5)
        let stepSize = magMsd * Int(magPow)

        // build Y label array.
        // Lower and upper bounds calculations
        let lb = stepSize * Int(yMin/stepSize)
        let ub = stepSize * Int(ceil(CGFloat(yMax)/CGFloat(stepSize)))
        // Build array
        var val = lb
        while true {
            result.append(val)
            val += stepSize
            if val > ub { break }
        }
        return result
    }

}