Table of contents: Access Data for Analysis Data file types Format assumptions Data from Excel Information links Add multiple data tables Create & Interpret Visualizations Table Pie Chart Cross Table Treemap Bar Chart Scatter Plot Line Chart Combination Chart Parallel Coordinate Plot Marking & Details Visualizations How to mark data Why to mark data Create details visualization Configure serial drill-down Visualization Properties Properties dialog Color Data Trellis Filtering & Comparing Subsets Filter types Mark to filter Status of filtering Subsets defined by filtering (Subsets) variable for comparison Aggregations Why aggregate? Types of aggregations Custom expression Polish Analysis for Sharing Naming Show / hide Arrange visualizations Legend options Bookmarks, Save & Export Aspects captured with bookmark Apply or Apply special Making a bookmark public TIBCO Spotfire Business Author Essentials Partnering with an Analyst How an Analyst can help you with data access Additional visualizations which cannot be created in the Business Author: o Box Plot o Graphical Table o Map Chart o Heat Map o Summary Table Partnering with an Analyst (cont d) Data & Visualization enhancements Marking & Filtering enhancements Sharing & Collaboration enhancements Learn more at the Spotfire Demo Gallery
Spotfire server TIBCO Spotfire Business Author Essentials Access Data for Analysis Use the Create new analysis option in order to open a raw data table to start a new analysis. From any of the supported file types, the expected format of the data source is to have column names as the first row, and all remaining rows are equivalent data rows (aggregation rows should not be included). Supported file types: Excel spreadsheets, text files, comma-separated value files, Spotfire Data formats Each column should be one data type, such as numeric, date, string. Your maximum file size is displayed here. You will need the assistance of an Analyst or Administrator to access larger data files. Special Excel workbook considerations: The data will be read from Sheet 1 only. If you have data on a different sheet, move it to the first position, save the Excel file, then Create new analysis in Spotfire Business Author. If you want to add additional data tables to an existing analysis, the Add data table icon (if available in your instance) will allow you to select the data source. Add from library... browse to select Spotfire data files (*.stdf, *.sbdf) or Information links stored in the Spotfire Library Add from file... browse to any of the supported file types listed above (the same format considerations apply) Add data table If your organization manages the Spotfire server which supports your instance of the TIBCO Spotfire Business Author, you may have access to Information links as a data source. Information links are database queries, which may include prompts. When using an information link as a data source, your analysis file will query the database each time the analysis is opened; therefore, ensuring that you are analyzing the most recent data when you reopen the analysis file. Information link Page 2
Create & Interpret Visualizations New page Use the New page icon to insert a new page or tab in the analysis. Use the New Visualization menu in order insert one of the listed visualization types. Consider the following as you decide which visualization type is right for your analysis needs: Table Displays raw data rows from the underlying data table Can select specific columns to display or sort rows Cannot display aggregate data Cross Table Bar Chart Displays aggregate data for horizontal and vertical categories Functions like a pivot table Can add color to cells Can include subtotals and grand totals Compare aggregate measures Examine data distribution Side-by-side bars Auto-bin column Line Chart Parallel Coordinate Plot Trends over time Line represents a pattern Define separate lines with: o Color by o Line by o Trellis by Patterns from columns with different data ranges Normalize data from each column to range between 0-100% Line chart pattern Parallel coordinate plot Combination Chart Evaluate values as bars or lines on same visualization Define with: o Series by Scatter Plot Examine correlations Discover clustering Identify outliers Group data with: o Marker by Treemap Examine nested categories Properties: o Color o Size o Hierarchy Pie Chart Compare parts of the whole Change the overall pie size across trellis panels Page 3
Rows TIBCO Spotfire Business Author Essentials Visualization Properties Properties Use the Properties gear icon which is located on the visualization title bar or on the main menu to launch the properties dialog for a specific visualization. Click on a section to expand that section and examine the settings options available for that visualization. Each visualization may present different sections; however, most visualizations offer sections for: Data - Color - Select the main data table to support the visualization. Columns from other data tables may be added if a suitable Column Match is available. Select a column of data to color by and select specific colors, or color using a predefined Color scheme Continuous columns may color with a gradient or in segments with thresholds defined by calculations. Categorical columns will color each unique value a different color. Trellis - Select categorical column(s) to split the visualization into separate panels. Define the trellis matrix by: Columns Pages Panels Page 4
Aggregations Properties selectors often include the ability to select an aggregation. Aggregation is required because a visualization represents many values as a single visual element (bar length, marker position, sector size, error bar length, etc.). See the example at the top right comparing sales of Product A vs. Product B. Bars represent the average of five values, Error Bars represent the Standard Deviation of 5 values. Consider these categories to help organize your thoughts about aggregations: Aggregate value Central measure Single representative value Distribution endpoints Variability measure How many Expression shortcuts Use the Custom expression dialog to edit the expression which is associated with a visualization property. This edited expression example uses two standard aggregations to calculate a coefficient of variation Page 5
Marking Use the following actions to mark data: Click on item Ctrl + click on item Drag rectangle Ctrl + drag rectangle Alt + draw lasso Ctrl + Alt + draw lasso Marked rows > Invert Marking will accomplish the following fades unmarked data, or colors marked cells loads raw data into Details-on-Demand panel populates Details Visualizations shows number of rows marked in the status bar indicates data to Delete rows indicates data to Filter out indicates data to Filter to Status Bar Details Visualizations From the visualization title bar drop down menu, Create details visualization The scatter plot below was created from the main menu and serves as the master visualization. A details visualization is empty until data is marked in the master visualization. A new Marking is created such that you can mark in the details visualization. The bar chart below was created from scatter plot s title bar menu > Create details visualization and represents only the data which is marked in the scatter plot. You may create a details visualization from a details visualization. Another new Marking is created such that you can mark data in the details within the details resulting in a serial drill-down configuration. The cross table to the right was created from bar chart s title bar menu > Create details visualization, and represents only the data which is marked in the bar chart. Page 6
Filters Each column in the data table is assigned a filter. Filters may be one of these filter types: List Box Filter Range Filter shows number of unique values select value(s) to filter to select multiple adjacent values by dragging through add, subtract values by holding Ctrl key use search field to find specific substrings position slider ends to adjust filter to values range double-click and enter specific min or max values use calendar icons to select min or max date values Check Box Filter From the visualization title bar menu, use marked rows to select data for filtering: Text Filter enter search substring to filter to Status bar will show filtered to rows for active data table check to filter to uncheck to filter out Marked rows > Filter to Marked rows > Filter out Comparing Subsets The visualization Properties dialog presents a section which allows you to establish which subsets of data are displayed on the visualization. Current filtering by default, each visualization shows only the subset of data which meets criteria established by current filter settings Not in current filtering this is the subset of data which does not meet criteria established by current filter settings All data this subset represents all data in the underlying data table and is not impacted by any changes in filter settings Selecting more than one of these options will result in a new variable being applied to a property of the visualization in order to separate the data by color, trellis, or other properties. The variable is titled (Subsets) and, while it is assigned to a visualization property by default, you may remove it from one property and assign it to a different property in order to identify and compare subsets. Page 7
Polish Analysis for Sharing The first step you should consider in the process of preparing an analysis to share with others is to polish the analysis in an effort to make it easier for others to view, interpret, and interact with the visualizations you have created. Consider the following: Name pages name each page in a meaningful way Name visualizations visualizations may use properties for naming, and will change dynamically as property values are changed; however, you can type text into the Title section of the properties dialog to customize the name of each visualization Name data tables use the drop-down menu, Edit data tables... Legend (show or hide) the legend may be docked beside the visualization or hidden to be presented in popover mode Legend (display items) you can use the Legend section of the properties dialog in order to select which items are displayed Arrange visualizations use the menu options, or drag & drop visualizations (using the title bar as a grab handle) Show / hide Filters and Details-on-Demand these panels can be closed to make more space for visualizations Show / Hide Legend Rename page Dock legend or filters Hide title bar you may choose to hide the title bar to make more horizontal space; however, note the loss of quick menu options Menu Show/hide Filters and Details-on-Demand panels Drag & drop visualizations Arrange visualizations Page 8
Bookmarks The Bookmarks tool may be useful when you wish to share an analysis for collaborative interpretation. Bookmarks capture the current state of your analysis, including the following aspects: Page Layout and Visualizations Active Page Active Visualization Filter Settings Markings You can Apply the entire bookmark, or Apply special in order to apply only a select aspect which was captured by the bookmark. Private bookmark Public bookmark The default setting for a bookmark is Private bookmark. Be certain to change it to Public bookmark if you want other users to see and apply that bookmark. Save & Export You can save an analysis to a folder on the Spotfire Library. You can also use the main menu to download the analysis as a DXP file, to be shared outside of the Spotfire Library. Use individual visualization menus to Export visualization image or Export table Page 9
Partnering with an Analyst An Analyst may help you with data access in four ways: TIBCO Spotfire Business Author Essentials 1. If a data file is too large to Create a new analysis, have the Analyst open the file and File > Export > Data to Library... You can open the resulting SBDF data file from the library. 2. An Analyst may add Relations, Insert > Columns, Insert > Rows, or manipulate data through Transformations, then share the Analysis file with you via the Library or as a DXP file. 3. An Analyst may configure a connection to an in-database data source and then provide the analysis to you via the Library or as a DXP file. 4. An Analyst may assist you in the process of creating an information link. Alternatively, your Spotfire Administrator can assist you in the configuration of these database queries. There are five visualizations which cannot be created in the Business Author environment: Box Plots Configured like a bar chart; however, the box plot relates much more information about the distribution of all of the values grouped by the X-axis and trellis properties. This allows you to make more informed comparisons. Comparison Circles Map Charts Map charts may be configured with multiple layers that include a base map, geographic features defined in shape files, and markers or pies. Positions of features, markers, or pies can be determined by association with geocoding data tables or latitude and longitude coordinates. Map charts may be configured to present data on these geographic maps or on custom images. Graphical Tables Represent data for items grouped into rows of the table in four different ways. Sparklines Calculated values Icons Bullet graphs Heat Maps Multiple measures can be represented in a colorimetric matrix. Zoom sliders may add value and an Analyst may organize rows or columns using dendrograms. Summary Tables A simple visualization which displays aggregate data for selected columns. Data within each column can be grouped by categorical data columns. However, consider what you can achieve with a Cross Table. Page 10
Partnering with an Analyst Consider the following ways in which an Analyst may help you to enhance data and visualizations: Calculated Column / Custom Expression Forecasting - Predictive modeling Data Functions FiscalYearOffset Binned Column Hierarchy Lines & Curves Data Relationships Line Similarity K-means Clustering Hierarchical Clustering Consider the following ways in which an Analyst may help you to enhance marking and filtering interactions: Marking change the name / color of marking shift between methods for identifying the marked items create and assign different markings to different visualizations remove the capability to mark in a visualization configure details visualizations to use a different marking or more than one marking to limit data define subsets which compare data grouped by markings Filtering change the filter type assigned to a column o may include: Radio Button Filter or Item Filter Organize Filters o change order o hide filters o assign to groups create Filtering Schemes o assign to a page o assign to a visualization o assign multiple filtering schemes Consider the following ways in which an Analyst may enhance analyses destined for sharing and collaboration: Text Areas Formatted text Images Web links HTML & JavaScript Filters Action Controls o Buttons o Links o Images Dynamic Items o Sparklines o Calculated values o Icons o Bullet graphs Property Controls o Label o Input field o Slider o Drop-down list o List box Collaboration panel - configured by an Analyst to connect to a website or social network Page 11