Abstract: An electronic device displays a chart, which includes visual marks that represent calculated values derived from a set of data, and panes formed by intersection of rows and columns. A current focus is on a first visual mark at a first position. The device concurrently displays a chart-calculations-options area, which includes display options for the type of calculation and the type of data partitioning. Visual marks in a first set of visual marks are visually distinguished from other visual marks. The first set of visual marks includes the first visual mark, and corresponds to a first selected option for the type of calculation and a first selected option for the type of data partitioning. The device detects an input that selects a second option for the type of data partitioning. In response, the device visually distinguishes visual marks in a second set of visual marks in accordance with the selection.

Abstract: The implementations described herein include methods and systems for ranking data visualizations. A method is performed at a computing device having one or more processors and memory storing programs for execution by the processors. The method receives user selection of a set of data fields and identifies data visualizations that use each data field in the user-selected set. The method automatically forms modified sets of data fields that each differ from the user-selected set by at most two atomic operations, each selected from: removing or adding a data field; replacing a user-selected data field with a hierarchically narrower or broader data field; or adding, removing, or modifying a filter for a data field. The method identifies alternative data visualizations using each respective modified set, computes a score for each data visualization and alternative data visualization, and presents high scoring data visualizations and high scoring alternative data visualizations to the user.

Abstract: A method generates a graphical representation of a data source using a graphical user interface. The user interface includes a schema information region and a data visualization region. The schema information region includes field names associated with data fields. The data visualization region includes shelf regions that determine characteristics of a visual graphic. Each shelf region is configured to receive user placement of field names. The user selects field names and places each field name in a respective shelf region. The user edits a first shelf region, creating a first calculated element in the first shelf region. The first calculated element does not match any of the field names in the schema information region. The method generates a visual graphic based on the content of the shelf regions, including the user-selected field names and the first calculated element, and displays the visual graphic in the data visualization region.

Abstract: An electronic device displays a chart, which includes visual marks that represent calculated values derived from a set of data, and panes formed by intersection of rows and columns. A current focus is on a first visual mark at a first position. The device concurrently displays a chart-calculations-options area, which includes display options for a type of calculation and a type of data partitioning. Visual marks in a first set of visual marks are visually distinguished from other visual marks. The first set of visual marks includes the first visual mark, and corresponds to a first selected option for a type of calculation and a first selected option for a type of data partitioning. The device detects an input that selects a second option for a type of data partitioning, and, in response, visually distinguishes visual marks in a second set of visual marks in accordance with the selection.

Abstract: A method is performed at an electronic device with a display. On the display, the method displays a chart, which includes visual marks that represent a set of data. The chart also includes a first line and/or first band based on data in the set of data that corresponds to the displayed visual marks. The method detects one or more inputs that select a plurality (but less than all) of the displayed visual marks in the chart. In response to detecting the one or more inputs, the method displays a second line and/or second band based on data in the set of data that corresponds to the selected plurality of the displayed visual marks and maintains display of the chart and the first line and/or first band in the chart.

Abstract: A user interacts with a graphical user interface on a client device. The device displays a data visualization that includes configuration parameters. The device also displays one or more read-only static controls, each static control corresponding to a respective parameter. Each static control indicates the value assigned to the corresponding parameter. A first user action activates a first static control. The first static control corresponds to a first parameter with a first value. The device displays an editable indirect control in the graphical user interface, which displays the first value. The editable indirect control is larger than the first static control, and is superimposed over the corresponding static control. The user changes the first value to a second value, and the device updates the displayed data visualization based on the second value for the first parameter. The editable indirect control is subsequently removed from display in the graphical user interface.

Abstract: A method displays a user interface for a graphical view application. The user interface includes shelves for specifying graphical views of a dataset. A user associates first and second fields of the dataset with first and second shelves. In response, the method displays graphical views in the user interface according to the first and second fields. Each of the graphical views corresponds to a respective distinct value of the second field and each of the graphical views includes a set of graphical marks. When the first shelf defines color encoding, each graphical mark has a respective color that corresponds to a respective data value associated with the first field. When the first shelf defines size encoding, each graphical mark has a respective size that corresponds to a respective data value associated with the first field.

Abstract: A chart has visual marks representing a dataset and displays icons, each icon specifying a line or band calculation based on the visual marks. The method detects input on a first icon while concurrently displaying the chart and the icons. Upon selection of the first icon, the method displays option icons according to the first icon. Each option icon specifies a different way of applying the first line or band calculation to the displayed visual marks. The method detects movement of the first icon to a first option icon. The first option icon specifies a first way of the applying the first line or band calculation to the displayed visual marks. Accordingly, the method performs the first line or band calculation on the displayed visual marks in the first way to form a line or band, and superimposes the line or band on the chart.

Abstract: A method displays a user interface for a graphical view application. The user interface includes a plurality of shelves for specifying characteristics of a dataset. The method includes receiving user actions to associate first, second, and third fields of the dataset with first, second, and third shelves of the plurality of shelves, respectively. The method further includes, in response to receiving the user actions, displaying graphical views in the user interface in accordance with the first, second, and third fields, wherein (i) each of the graphical views corresponds to a respective distinct value of the third field; and (ii) each of the graphical views includes a set of graphical marks, each graphical mark (a) having a respective color that corresponds to a respective data value associated with the first field and (b) having a respective size that corresponds to a respective data value associated with the second field.

Abstract: The implementations described herein include methods and systems for displaying graphical representations of datasets. A method is performed at a computer having one or more processors and memory storing programs for execution by the processors. The method receives a request from a user to display a graphical representation of a dataset. In response to the request, the method identifies a plurality of alternative graphical representations of the dataset. Each alternative graphical representation has a respective associated view type. The method ranks the plurality of alternative graphical representations in accordance with a rating system. The rating system is based on a set of criteria, which includes at least one user-specific criterion. The method selects for display a resulting graphical representation from among the plurality of alternative graphical representations based on the ranking.

Abstract: A method displays a chart including visual marks representing a dataset. The chart is displayed according to contents of multiple shelf regions. The shelf regions determine characteristics of the chart. The method generates a visual analytic object by applying an analytic operation to the set of data represented by the visual marks, and displays the visual analytic object superimposed over the chart. The method detects user input to select the displayed visual analytic object and place an icon representing the visual analytic object onto a first shelf region. In response, the method updates the content of the first shelf region to associate it with the analytic operation corresponding to the visual analytic object and updates the chart according to the updated content of the first shelf region. This includes updating the chart based on values of the dataset represented by the visual marks relative to the analytic operation.

Abstract: A method executes at an electronic device with a display, concurrently displaying a chart that displays visual marks representing a set of data and a plurality of analytic icons. The method detects a first portion of an input on a first analytic icon, and in response displays one or more option icons that correspond to options for performing a first analytical operation that corresponds to the first analytic icon. The method also detects a second portion of the input on the first analytic icon and in response moves the first analytic icon over a respective option icon such that the first analytic icon is over the respective option icon immediately prior to ceasing to detect the input. In addition, the method adds one or more graphics to the chart that correspond to the first analytical operation and a respective option that corresponds to the respective option icon.

Abstract: A method is performed at an electronic device with a display. On the display, the method displays a chart, which includes visual marks that represent a set of data. The chart also includes a first line and/or first band based on data in the set of data that corresponds to the displayed visual marks. The method detects one or more inputs that select a plurality (but less than all) of the displayed visual marks in the chart. In response to detecting the one or more inputs, the method displays a second line and/or second band based on data in the set of data that corresponds to the selected plurality of the displayed visual marks and maintains display of the chart and the first line and/or first band in the chart.

Abstract: A process builds a view of a dataset. The process displays a graphical user interface, including: a fields region; a visualization region; and a shelf region that includes multiple shelves. The process detects user input that moves a data field icon from the fields region into the visualization region. Upon ceasing to detect the user input, the process associates the data field icon with a first shelf according to its characteristics and characteristics corresponding to other data field icons, if any, previously associated with the shelves. The method further includes: (i) determining one or more chart types for visualizing a portion of the dataset based, at least in part, on the data field icon and its characteristics, and (ii) generating a graphical representation of the portion of the dataset in the visualization region using a first chart type selected from the one or more determined chart types.

Abstract: A method is performed at an electronic device with a display. On the display, the method displays a chart, which includes visual marks that represent a set of data. The chart also includes a first line and/or first band based on data in the set of data that corresponds to the displayed visual marks. The method detects one or more inputs that select a plurality (but less than all) of the displayed visual marks in the chart. In response to detecting the one or more inputs, the method displays a second line and/or second band based on data in the set of data that corresponds to the selected plurality of the displayed visual marks and maintains display of the chart and the first line and/or first band in the chart.

Abstract: A method displays a chart and a visual analytic object superimposed on the chart. The chart displays visual marks representing a data set, displayed according to contents of displayed shelf regions, which determine characteristics of the chart. The analytic object corresponds to an analytic operation applied to the data set. The method detects a first input on the analytic object, and displays a moveable icon corresponding to the analytic object while maintaining display of the analytic object. The method also detects a second input on the moveable icon, and moves the moveable icon over a first shelf region. Upon ceasing to detect the input, the method updates the content of the first shelf region based on the analytic operation, and updates the chart according to updated content of the first shelf region.

Abstract: An electronic device displays a chart, which includes visual marks that represent calculated values derived from a set of data, and panes formed by intersection of rows and columns. A current focus is on a first visual mark at a first position. The device concurrently displays a chart-calculations-options area, which includes display options for a type of calculation and a type of data partitioning. Visual marks in a first set of visual marks are visually distinguished from other visual marks. The first set of visual marks includes the first visual mark, and corresponds to a first selected option for a type of calculation and a first selected option for a type of data partitioning. The device detects an input that selects a second option for a type of data partitioning, and, in response, visually distinguishes visual marks in a second set of visual marks in accordance with the selection.

Abstract: A method generates a graphical representation of a data source using a graphical user interface. The user interface includes a schema information region and a data visualization region. The schema information region includes field names associated with data fields. The data visualization region includes shelf regions that determine characteristics of a visual graphic. Each shelf region is configured to receive user placement of field names. The user selects field names and places each field name in a respective shelf region. The user edits a first shelf region, creating a first calculated element in the first shelf region. The first calculated element does not match any of the field names in the schema information region. The method generates a visual graphic based on the content of the shelf regions, including the user-selected field names and the first calculated element, and displays the visual graphic in the data visualization region.

Abstract: A method constructs data visualization options. A user selects data fields from a data set. The process identifies a first plurality of data visualizations that use all of the user-selected data fields. For each data visualization, the process computes a score, based in part on visual patterns corresponding to statistical properties of data values of a user-selected data field. The process also identifies a second plurality of data visualizations, each using a majority of the user-selected data fields and also using a respective additional data field that is not one of the user-selected data fields. For each of the second plurality of data visualizations, the process computes a respective score, which uses data values of the respective additional data field. The process forms a recommended set of data visualizations including high-scoring data visualizations from both the first and second pluralities. The process presents the recommended data visualizations to the user.

Abstract: A user interacts with a graphical user interface on a client device. The device displays a data visualization that includes configuration parameters. The device also displays one or more read-only static controls, each static control corresponding to a respective parameter. Each static control indicates the value assigned to the corresponding parameter. A first user action activates a first static control. The first static control corresponds to a first parameter with a first value. The device displays an editable indirect control in the graphical user interface, which displays the first value. The editable indirect control is larger than the first static control, and is superimposed over the corresponding static control. The user changes the first value to a second value, and the device updates the displayed data visualization based on the second value for the first parameter. The editable indirect control is subsequently removed from display in the graphical user interface.