Visualizations → Scatter

About a Scatter visualization

A scatter visualization allows you to represent and illustrate correlations between numeric variables. Information in a scatter visualization is plotted on an x-axis and a y-axis, where both the x and y dimensions are quantitative. Each entity represented in a scatter plot is assigned a symbol called a point shape. The point shapes in a scatter plot represent the values of individual data points as well as the patterns when the data are taken as a whole.

A scatter visualization is ideal for displaying both nominal or ordinal data as a chart. Nominal data is categorical. The categories are arbitrary labels without numerical significance that function to describe calculated values. Ordinal data has a natural sequence where the distinct (and often numerical) order functions categorize the calculated values.

The distinction between a visualization and an insight is that an insight is an instance of the visualization. As an instance, an insight has unique configurations that a dashboard developer determines for displaying a chart on a dashboard tab. Insight configurations affect the available user interactions for a dashboard consumer such as the ability to drill down into a grouping dimension.

With two possible dimensions, a scatter visualization offers a dashboard developer the ability to create an insight that groups one or more aggregated or calculated values by one or more attributes. The result is a scatter chart on a dashboard tab that shows:

  • a grouping dimension as the categories
  • a measure as an independent variable along the x-axis (horizontal axis) and a dependent variable along the y-axis (vertical axis)

Configurations for a scatter insight

A dashboard developer first selects a scatter visualization for an insight in the Analyzer. Using the Analyzer, a dashboard developer configures pill properties, filter properties, and insight settings. Insight settings and pill properties determine not only how the scatter chart appears as an insight in a dashboard tab, but also how a dashboard consumer can interact with the scatter chart.

The visualization selection in the Insight panel of the Analyzer determines the available trays. From the Data panel, a dashboard developer adds a column or a formula to a tray. A column or a formula in a tray is a Pill.

Each pill has configurable properties. The parent tray determines the available properties of a pill.

The available trays for a scatter insight are:

  • Grouping Dimension
  • Measure
  • Individual Filter
  • Aggregate Filter
Note

A scatter insight requires two measure pills and one grouping dimension pill.

Grouping Dimension

From the Data panel, you can add a column or a formula to the Grouping Dimension tray. The Grouping Dimension pill represents the categories in the Scatter insight, such as Product Category, or Subcategory.

Measure

To create an aggregation or calculation, you can add a column or a formula from the Data panel to the Measure tray.

A scatter insight plots the first measure pill as the independent variable on the x-axis and the second measure pill as the dependent variable on the y-axis.

You can select the measure pill to open the Properties panel. In the Properties panel, you can configure various properties such as the Aggregation and Format properties.

Individual Filter

To filter individual rows for the scatter insight, define an individual filter for the insight. You can add a column or a formula to the Individual Filter tray from the Data panel.

You can select the individual filter pill to open the Filter panel. Using the Filter panel, you can specify the filter operator, one or more filter values, or the filter expression itself with the Formula Builder. You can also disable the individual filter.

To learn more about filter expressions for an individual filter, review Concepts → Individual Filter.

Aggregate Filter

You can define a filter expression that contains an aggregation or calculation using the Aggregate Filter tray.

To create a filter expression, you can add a column or a formula to the Aggregate Filter tray from the Data panel. You can select the aggregate filter pill to open the Filter panel.

Using the Filter panel, you can specify the aggregation, the filter operator, one or more filter values, or the filter expression itself with the Formula Builder. You can also disable the aggregate filter.

To learn more about filter expressions for an aggregate filter, review Concepts → Aggregate Filter.

Pill properties

The parent tray determines the available properties of a pill. There are various possible configurations for each pill type:

  • Grouping dimension pill properties
  • Measure pill properties
  • Individual filter properties for a filter expression
  • Aggregate filter properties for a filter expression

You can edit the properties of a grouping dimension, or a measure pill with the Properties panel for a scatter insight.

To create a filter expression, you can edit the properties of an individual filter or aggregate filter pill with the Filter panel.

In the case of the Filter property of a measure pill, you can open the Filter panel from the Properties panel to create the filter expression.

To open the Properties panel or Filter panel, select the pill arrow.

Grouping dimension pill properties

Here are the properties of a pill in the grouping dimension tray in a scatter insight:

PropertyControlDescription
Column fully qualified namelabelThe fully qualified name of the selected column. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a column in the tray. Select the information icon (the letter i in a circle) to preview the column function (dimension, key, or measure) and sample data. You can also use the Copy Column Name option (two paper sheets icon) to copy the column’s fully qualified name.
Formulatext boxWhen you select this property, it invokes the Formula Builder to create the formula expression you want. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a formula added to the tray.
Data → Column Labeltext boxEnter the label for the grouping dimension column or formula pill. The label of the first pill will be the x-axis title.
Data → Date Partdrop down listWhen the selected column is a date or timestamp, select the part of the date used. The options are:

  ●   Full (default)
  ●  Year
  ●  Quarter
  ●   Month
  ●  Day
Data → HierarchytoggleThis property is available only for columns from objects with data hierarchy (physical schema objects with self-join). Enable this property to specify the level of data in the hierarchy that you want to include in the insight for the respective column.
Hierarchy → Leveltext boxEnable Hierarchy to configure this property. Enter a numeric value that represents the level of data you want to include in the insight. Leave it blank or enter -1 to include all levels.
Data → Sort Bydrag and dropDrag and drop a column or formula to sort the x-axis labels by
Format → Date Formatdrop down listSelect the format of the formula or date column. This option is available only when you edit the pill properties for a date column or a formula.
Format → Date Masktext boxEnter a customized date format or use a predefined one that appears in this text box
Drill Down → Dashboards Drill DownlinkSelect + Add Dashboard to select a dashboard tab to drill down to when the user selects a grouping dimension value in the insight
Add Dashboard → Include Runtime FilterstoggleEnable this property to pass the applied filter, if any, from one dashboard to another
Add Dashboard → Search Dashboardtext boxEnter a search string to filter the dashboard tree. From the results, select a dashboard tab to drill down to.

Measure pill properties

The parent tray determines the available properties of a pill. Select the arrow to the right of the pill name to open the Properties panel and configure the related properties.

Here are the properties for a pill in the measure tray in a scatter insight:

PropertyControlDescription
Column fully qualified namelabelThe fully qualified name of the selected column. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a column in the tray. Select the information icon (the letter i in a circle) to preview the column function (dimension, key, or measure) and sample data. You can also use the Copy Column Name option (two paper sheets icon) to copy the column’s fully qualified name.
Formulatext boxSelect this property to invoke the Formula Builder and create the formula expression. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a formula added to the tray.
Data → Column Labeltext boxEnter the label for the measure pill
Data → Date Partdrop down listWhen the selected column is a date or timestamp, select the part of the date used. The options are:

  ●   Full (default)
  ●   Year
  ●   Quarter
  ●   Month
  ●   Day
Data → Aggregationdrop down listSelect the aggregation option for the measure values. The available options vary based on column type. The options are:

  ●   Average
  ●   Count
  ●   Distinct
  ●   Median
  ●   Min
  ●   Max
  ●   Sum
  ●   Formula
  ●   None
Data → Scaledrop down listSelect the chart scale. The options are:

  ●   None
  ●   Percent (%)
  ●   Thousands (K)
  ●   Millions (M)
The default is None.
Data → Running TotaltoggleEnable this property to display the measure values as a running total
Data → Filterdrag and dropDrag and drop a column or formula to filter the measure
Format → Number Formatdrop down listSelect the format of the measure (e.g. Dollar Rounded)
Format → Decimal Placestext boxThis property appears when you select Decimal, Dollar, Euro, Yen, or Percent as the Format. Enter the number of decimal places to display for the measure value.
Format → Thousands SeparatortoggleEnable this property to include a comma separator for values of 1000 or greater.
Format → PercentagetoggleEnable this property to format the value as a percentage
Format → Prefixtext boxAdd a prefix to the y-axis labels. The prefix cannot contain single quotes.
Format → Suffixtext boxAdd a suffix to the y-axis labels. The suffix cannot contain single quotes.
Format → Abbreviate on HovertoggleEnable this property to abbreviate the measure value upon hover
Advanced → Base Fielddrag and dropDrag and drop a column to join two physical schema objects that are not directly joined. To learn more, review Concepts → Base Table.
Advanced → Query PlanbuttonSelect to access the Query Plan Viewer to check the Direct Data Map path that Incorta Analytics Service uses to retrieve or calculate the measure

Individual filter properties for a filter expression

To filter individual rows for the scatter insight, define an individual filter for the insight. You can add a column or a formula to the Individual Filter tray from the Data panel.

Individual filter properties for a filter expression with a column as a pill

Here are the properties of a filter expression for a column as a pill in the Individual Filter tray for a scatter insight:

PropertyControlDescription
Column fully qualified namelabelThe fully qualified name of the selected column. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a column in the tray. Select the information icon (the letter i in a circle) to preview the column function (dimension, key, or measure) and sample data. You can also use the Copy Column Name option (two paper sheets icon) to copy the column’s fully qualified name.
Data → Column Labeltext boxEnter the label for the individual filter pill
Date Partdrop down listWhen the filter column is a date or timestamp, select the part of the date used. The options are:

  ●   Full (default)
  ●   Year
  ●   Quarter
  ●   Month
  ●   Day
Operatordrop down listSelect the operator to use in the filter expression
Valuesmulti-selectSelect the value(s) to evaluate the column value against. Some operators do not require a value to evaluate against, such as Null and True, and some require more than one value, such as Between. If applicable, enter a string in the search bar to filter the list of values. To add a value to the list, enter it in the text box below the list and select +.
Advanced → Disable FiltertoggleEnable this property to disable the filter. Disabled filters are deleted when you save the insight.
Individual filter properties for a filter expression with a formula as a pill

Here are the properties for a filter expression for a formula as a pill in the Individual Filter tray for a scatter insight:

PropertyControlDescription
Formula labellabelThe formula pill label
Data → Column Labeltext boxEnter the label for the individual filter formula pill
Formula → DynamictoggleEnable this property to select a filter expression session variable as a value
Formulatext boxDisable Dynamic to configure this property. Enter the formula in the Formula Builder to create the filter expression.
Operatordrop down listSelect the operator to use for the filter expression
Valuesmulti-selectSelect the value(s) to evaluate the column value against, if required. Some operators do not require a value to evaluate against, such as Null and True, and some require more than one value, such as Between. In the case that you enable Dynamic, select a filter expression session variable. If applicable, enter a string in the search bar to filter the list of values. To add a value to the list, enter it in the text box below the list and select +.
Advanced → Disable FiltertoggleEnable this property to disable the filter. Disabled filters are deleted when you save the insight.

Aggregate filter pill properties for a filter expression

You can define a filter expression that contains an aggregation or calculation using the Aggregate Filter tray.

Aggregate filter pill properties for a filter expression with a column as a pill

Here are the properties of a filter expression for a column as a pill in the Aggregate Filter tray for a scatter insight:

PropertyControlDescription
Column fully qualified namelabelThe fully qualified name of the selected column. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a column in the tray. Select the information icon (the letter i in a circle) to preview the column function (dimension, key, or measure) and sample data. You can also use the Copy Column Name option (two paper sheets icon) to copy the column’s fully qualified name.
Column Labeltext boxEnter the name of the aggregate filter pill
Date Partdrop down listWhen the filter column is a date or timestamp, select the part of the date used. The options are:

  ●   Full (default)
  ●   Year
  ●   Quarter
  ●   Month
  ●   Day
Aggregationdrop down listSelect the aggregation type to use in the filter. The available aggregation types are:

  ●   Average
  ●   Count
  ●   Distinct
  ●   Median
  ●   Min
  ●   Max
  ●   Sum
  ●   None
Available aggregations vary according to the column data type.
Operatordrop down listSelect the operator to use for the filter expression
Valuestext boxEnter one or more values to use for the filter expression
Disable FiltertoggleEnable this property to disable the filter. Disabled filters are deleted when you save the insight.
Aggregate filter properties for a filter expression with a formula as a pill

Here are the properties of a filter expression for a formula as a pill in the Aggregate Filter tray for a scatter insight:

PropertyControlDescription
Column Labeltext boxEnter the label of the aggregate filter formula pill
Formulatext boxEnter the formula in the Formula Builder to create the filter expression
Disable FiltertoggleEnable this property to disable the filter. Disabled filters are deleted when you save the insight.

Settings panel

With the Settings panel, you can configure additional properties for the scatter insight. To open the Setting panel, in the Analyzer, in the Action bar, select Settings (gear icon).

PropertyControlDescription
General → Max Rowstext boxEnter the maximum number of categories to show on the x-axis. A value lower than the number of the insight query rows returned will restrict results. A value of 0 will include all rows.
General → LogarithmictoggleEnable this property to display the x-axis on a logarithmic scale
General → Auto RefreshtoggleEnable this property to automatically refresh the insight preview while editing it in the Analyzer. There is a tenant configuration in the CMC Clusters Manager that can globally enable or disable this feature at the tenant level.
General → Data SamplingtoggleEnable this property to use and analyze a representative subset of data in the insight
Layout → Rotationdrop down listSelect an angle to rotate the x-axis labels at. The options are:

  ●   Default
  ●   -45
  ●   -90
  ●   45
  ●   90
Layout → LegendtoggleEnable this property to display the chart legend. The chart legend displays the labels of the measure tray pills.
Layout → X-Axis LabelstoggleEnable this property to display the x-axis labels (i.e. values of the first grouping dimension pill)
Layout → X-Axis TitletoggleEnable this property to display the x-axis title (i.e. the label of the first grouping dimension pill)
Layout → Y-Axis LabelstoggleEnable this property to display the y-axis labels (values in the y-axis)
Layout → Y-Axis TitletoggleEnable this property to display the y-axis title.
Layout → Y-Axis Mintext boxEnter a minimum numerical value for the y-axis
Layout → Y-Axis Maxtext boxEnter a maximum numerical value for the y-axis
Advanced → Max Groupstext boxSet the maximum number of groups that cannot be exceeded in the insight
Advanced → Join Measuresdrop down listSelect Yes to calculate the group-by function across joined tables

User interactions for a scatter insight

As a dashboard consumer, you can interact with a scatter insight on a dashboard tab. Some interactions will affect only the scatter chart. Other interactions will affect both the scatter chart and the dashboard. The creation of one or more dashboard runtime filters is an example of a user interaction that affects all applicable insights on all tabs of a dashboard.

[[note | Note]] | Some user interactions require specific configurations by a dashboard developer and therefore may not be available.

Here are the possible types of user interactions for a scatter insight:

  • Select a legend label to hide (and then select again to show) the related area
  • Select a point on a scatter border to drill down into a grouping dimension and in doing so, create a dashboard runtime filter
  • Select a point on a scatter border to open the Filter by menu and select an option to drill down into a grouping dimension and in doing so, create a dashboard runtime filter
  • Select a point on a scatter border to open the Go to menu and select a dashboard tab to navigate to (requires a dashboard drill down configuration for a grouping dimension pill)
Note

A dashboard runtime filter affects all applicable insights on all tabs of a dashboard. A dashboard runtime filter appears as a filter bar pill and displays the filter expression.

More Options menu for a scatter insight

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) enforces access to certain features and functionality. With Discretionary Access Control (DAC), a user who owns the dashboard can control the access to the dashboard. Access rights include the ability to view, share, and edit the dashboard. Together, RBAC and DAC affect the available selections in both the Action bar and the More Options menu for an insight.

For more information about RBAC and DAC, review Tools → Security Manager.

In addition, certain tenant configurations by a Cluster Management Console (CMC) Administrator affect the available selections in the More Options menu for an insight.

Download

  • For the scatter insight, select Download, or select More Options (⋮ vertical ellipsis), and then select Download as....
  • Select the download file format:
    • PNG
    • JPEG
    • SVG
    • PDF

View as Table

The View as Table is an Incorta Labs feature and a tenant configuration. A CMC Administrator must enable the feature.

To view a scatter insight as a Listing Table or Aggregated Table, follow these steps:

  • For the scatter insight, select More Options (⋮ vertical ellipsis).
  • Select the table type:
    • View as Regular Table
    • View as Aggregated Table

For a Listing Table or Aggregated Table, you can:

Set Alert

You can set an alert that identifies specific changes to a scatter insight by defining a filter expression for a measure filter, individual filter, and/or aggregate filter.

  • For the scatter insight, select More Options (⋮ vertical ellipsis).
  • Select Set Alert. Refer to the Scheduler document for additional information on Data Alerts.

Steps to create a scatter insight

For an existing dashboard, to create a scatter insight for a given dashboard tab, follow these steps:

  • If not already open, open a dashboard.
  • To add a new insight to the dashboard, in the Action bar, select +.
  • If needed, in the Analyzer, in the Data panel, select Manage Dataset.
  • In the Manage Data Sets panel, select one or more business schema views and/or one or more physical schema tables.
  • To close the Manage Data Sets panel, select X or any other area of the Analyzer.
  • In the Insight panel, select V.
  • In Charts, select the Scatter visualization.
  • From the Data panel, drag and drop various columns to various trays in the Insight panel:
    • Grouping Dimension
    • Measure
    • Individual Filter
    • Aggregate Filter
  • Configure the pill properties using the Property panel or Filter panel.
  • Configure various insight properties using the Settings panel.

Example of a scatter insight

In this example, you will create a scatter insight that shows the revenue and cost per product subcategory. The example uses the SALES schema that comes with the Sample Data.

Note

In the CMC, create a tenant that includes Sample Data. The Sample Data includes the SALES schema.

Add an insight

  • In the Action bar, select +.
  • In the Data panel, select Manage Dataset.
  • In the Manage Data Sets panel, in Tables, select the SALES schema.
  • Close the Manage Data Sets panel.
  • In the Insight panel, under Charts, select Scatter.
  • From the Data panel, drag and drop the following columns to the respective tray:
    • From the Products table, drag and drop Product to the Grouping Dimension tray.
    • From the Sales table, drag and drop Revenue and Cost to the Measure tray.
  • For Revenue and Cost, select the arrow to the right of the pill to open the Properties panel
    • For Number Format, select Dollar Rounded from the drop down list.
  • Name the insight Product Revenue Versus Cost
  • Select Save.