User Control Over Graphs
chofack
uploaded a data set, and a whole series of graphs seemed to "emerge"
without me asking. OK, so far so good, but I can't seem to kill any
of them, nor can I modify them except in trivial ways (the label for
the graph can be edited).
How do I create a graph where I decide what variable will be on the X
axis and what variable will be on the Y axis? I don't know whether I
have missed something obvious, or whether automatic graph generation
without user control is just the way it works.
Charles Hofacker
New Swivel User chofack
Seema Sharma
For now, the things you are able to edit on a graph are type of visualization, the type of graph, sorting of the data, as well as data aggregation. You are also able to edit all the description surrounding the graph such as the title. Swivel does not currently allow the user to edit the data content of a graph when you are editing it: we are working on providing more (if not full) control over being able to manipulate the data you want to see on a graph (including things like switching axes).
Definitely let us know if you have any ideas or suggestions as to what other ways we can improve the graph editing functionality on Swivel.
-Seema
Charles Hofacker
Thanks for your thoughtful answer.
The Swivel site is very interesting and could be a YouTube for
science; if that is not a contradiction in terms! I am sort of a
data geek myself, and also someone who is concerned with the visual
display of data and its impact on science. For example, I have read
Edward Tufte's work, and others.
My only specific suggestion would be to allow users to connect data
from different datasets as easily as possible.
While I am sure I could come up with other specific suggestions
other than allowing more user control for creating graphs, I would
prefer to offer a very general suggestion that the system be
designed with the utmost openness. In other words, the architecture
and functionality of the system should be as transparent as
possible, with users and firms able to modify or add capabilities.
Here I am thinking of Facebook's ability to add services, or Google
Map's capability to do mashups.
Keep up the good work,
____
Charles Hofacker
cho...@nsns.com
Seema Sharma wrote:
> Hi Charles,
>
> For now, the things you are able to edit on a graph are type of
> visualization, the type of graph, sorting of the data, as well as data
> aggregation. You are also able to edit all the description surrounding
> the graph such as the title. Swivel does not currently allow the user to
> edit the data content of a graph when you are editing it: we are working
> on providing more (if not full) control over being able to manipulate
> the data you want to see on a graph (including things like switching axes).
>
> Definitely let us know if you have any ideas or suggestions as to what
> other ways we can improve the graph editing functionality on Swivel.
>
> -Seema
>
Seema Sharma
Great feedback. We're definitely working on giving users more control over their data and creating graphs. Once we release our api, we're hoping that as you're saying people can add their own capabilities to how Swivel currently works.
-Seema