A method for rendering a chart associated with a document includes
translating a chart object into a shape-based chart definition, wherein
the chart object defines the chart with chart elements, and the
shape-based shape definition defines the chart with shapes, and
maintaining the chart object in the document to enable access to
underlying chart data contained in the chart. A system includes a chart
object defining a chart with chart elements, a graphics module operable
to render shapes, a charting module generating a shape-based chart
definition based on the chart object, wherein the shape-based chart
definition defines the chart with shapes that can be rendered by the
graphics module.