| Graph Pattern Set |
| Multiquantity Graphs | Version 2.0.0.0 |
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| Description |  |
| Multiquantity graphs show the relationship between two or more quantitative dimensions. Data dimensions are plotted by positioning marks along the horizontal and vertical axis. Data values may be positive or negative. The shape, size, and color of the marks may indicate additional categorical or quantitative data dimensions. The marks may be connected to emphasize trends. If multiple graphs are being considered, see the Guidelines for Using Multiple Graphs. |
| Pattern Set Decision Table |
Try this interactive tool to help you choose the right Information Display pattern:
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 Single-Quantity Graphs |
 Category Graphs |
 Percentage Graphs |
 Total Graphs |
 Multiquantity Graphs |
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| Task: What data do you need to show or compare? | Single quantities with optional thresholds | Categories associated with simple quantities | Categories associated with percentages | Categories associated with totals | Relationships between quantitative dimensions |
| Graph Type Decision Table (Within This Pattern) |
| What is the user type? | casual |
experienced |
| Do you need to emphasize trends, is at least one quantitative data dimension sequential, and do nonsequential dimensions share the same scale? | yes |
no |
| Line Graph | |
| Note that key concepts such as "categorical data dimension" and "aggregate data dimension" are defined on the main Graph Type Pattern Set page. Use a line graph for casual users that have to make fast and accurate judgments about trends in quantities that vary sequentially. The quantities may have values that are far from zero and that are both positive and negative. The quantities may be evenly or irregularly spaced; however, a sequential data dimension (without duplicates), such as a temporal or aggregate dimension, should be on the horizontal axis. |
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| Figure 1. Line graph |
| Required Screen Elements | ||
| Component Type | Required Components | Customizable or Extendable Components |
| Graph | Graph type for this pattern is line. | NA |
| Scatter and Bubble Graphs | |
| Scatter | Color/Shape Scatter | Grey Scatter | Bubble | Color Bubble | Grey Bubble | |
| Do you need to show two quantitative data dimensions? | yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
| Do you need to show two quantitative data dimensions and one categorical or aggregate data dimension? | no |
yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
| Do you need to show three quantitative data dimensions, one of which has at most four different values? | no |
no |
yes |
no |
no |
no |
| Do you need to show three quantitative data dimensions, each of which have more than four different values? | no |
no |
no |
yes |
no |
no |
| Do you need to show three quantitative data dimensions and one categorical or aggregate data dimension? | no |
no |
no |
no |
yes |
no |
| Do you need to show four quantitative data dimensions? | no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
yes |
| Scatter |
| Scatter graphs plot two quantitative dimensions against each other. Scatter graphs are useful for determining if the plotted dimensions are correlated (for example, for answering questions such as, "When marketing costs increase, do sales also increase?"). |
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| Figure 2. Scatter graph |
| Required Screen Elements | ||
| Component Type | Required Components | Customizable or Extendable Components |
| Graph | Graph type for this pattern is scatter/bubble. | NA |
| Color/Shape Scatter |
| Color scatter graphs plot two quantitative dimensions against each other, just like regular scatter graphs. In addition, color scatter graphs show a categorical or aggregate dimension using marks of different colors or shapes. Color scatter graphs are useful for comparing how particular categories correlate across the plotted dimensions (for example, for answering questions such as, "When marketing costs increase, do sales increase more for some products than for others?"). |
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| Figure 3. Color scatter graph |
| Required Screen Elements | ||
| Component Type | Required Components | Customizable or Extendable Components |
| Graph | Graph type for this pattern is scatter/bubble. | NA |
| Grey Scatter |
| Grey scatter graphs plot three quantitative dimensions against each other, although the dimension plotted with grey value can realistically have a range of only three or four different quantities. Grey scatter graphs are useful for determining if any of the plotted dimensions are correlated (for example, for answering questions such as, "When marketing costs increase, do sales increase?" and "Do high-priced marketing campaigns result in more products sold at full price?" ). |
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| Figure 4. Grey scatter graph |
| Bubble |
| Bubble graphs plot three quantitative dimensions against each other, just like grey scatter graphs. The dimension plotted with bubble size may have a range of up to about seven different quantities, especially on large bubble graphs. It may be difficult to compare bubble sizes accurately; however, and overlap may be a problem on small bubble graphs. |
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| Figure 5. Bubble graph (bubble size shows quantity manufactured) |
| Color Bubble |
| Color bubble graphs plot three quantitative dimensions and one additional categorical dimension. |
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| Figure 6. Color bubble graph (bubble size shows quantity manufactured) |
| Grey Bubble |
| Grey bubble graphs plot four quantitative dimensions. The dimension plotted with grey value can realistically have a range of only three or four different quantities. The dimension plotted with bubble size may have a range of up to about seven different quantities, especially on large bubble graphs. It may be difficult to compare bubble sizes accurately; however, and overlap may be a problem on small bubble graphs. |
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| Figure 7. Grey bubble graph (bubble size shows quantity manufactured) |
| Required Screen Elements | ||
| Component Type | Required Components | Customizable or Extendable Components |
| Graph | Graph type for this pattern is scatter/bubble. | NA |
| Related Guidelines | |
| Graph | This guideline describing the features of ADF Graph component. |
| The guideline talks about different types of analytics, analytic technologies available, and their usage in applications. | |
| Analytic Display Guidelines | Designers and developers placing analytics on the page must make a number of decisions including graph size, titles, styles, and so on. This document provides tips and specific recommendations to help you make the right choices. |