Abstract: A method of visualizing data is performed at a computing device. A user selects a field in a data structure. The field has a set of field values and an associated field name. Each field value corresponds to a record in the data structure. The field values are words in a natural language. For each field value, the process builds a term set of base terms including the field value and the field name. The process retrieves a set of images from an image corpus according to the term sets. The process then selects an image from each retrieved set of images and displays data from the data structure in a data visualization. Each record in the data structure is displayed using the corresponding selected image. Each selected image is displayed, instead of the field value, at a location in the data visualization according to data in the respective record.

Abstract: A method displays a graphical user interface for a data visualization application. The user interface includes shelves for specifying data visualization characteristics for a dataset. The method selects a map view based on geographic location field name(s) placed onto the shelves, and displays a geographic map. A user selects a visual encoding by placing a first field name onto a first shelf, which specifies a visual property of displayed marks. The property for each mark is determined by values of the first field in records of the result set. A mark displays for each record in the result set. When the first shelf specifies color of marks, each displayed mark fills the respective geographic region with a color based on the value of the first field. When the first shelf specifies size of marks, point marks are displayed with a respective size corresponding to the value of the first field.

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 of semantic icon encoding for a data visualization includes identifying a set of field values for a field in a data structure. The field has an associated field name and each field value corresponds to a record in the data structure. The field values are words in a natural language. The method queries a database of images using a plurality of queries. Each respective query comprises a respective set of base terms that include a respective field value and the field name. The method receives images from the database for each of the queries and selects an image from the received images for each of the field values. The method displays data from the data structure in a data visualization. Each respective record is displayed using the corresponding respective selected image, which is displayed at a location in the data visualization according to data in the respective record.

Abstract: A process builds a view of a dataset. The process displays a graphical user interface window, including: a schema display region; a visualization region; and a shelf region that includes multiple shelves. The process detects user input to place a data field icon from the schema display 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 data type and data types corresponding to other data field icons, if any, previously associated with the shelves, and then places the first data field icon within the first shelf. The method further includes determining a view type based on the data field icon and the association of the data field icon with the first shelf, and generating a graphical representation in the visualization region in accordance with the determined view type.

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 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: A method of ranking data visualizations is performed at a computing device having one or more processors and memory. The memory stores one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors. A user selects a set of data fields from a set of data. The computing device identifies a plurality of data visualizations based on the data fields selected by the user. For each of the plurality of data visualizations, a score is computed based on a set of ranking criteria. A first ranking criterion of the set of ranking criteria is based on values of one or more of the user-selected data fields in the set of data. A ranked list of the data visualizations is created, which is ordered according to the computed scores of the data visualizations. The ranked list is presented to the user.

Abstract: A method for automatically forming the clearest and most useful visual plot for a given dataset of tuples. A best view type is selected for a view that includes a subsequently added new field. The visual plot is populated with the data in the view and then automatically rendered for the user. A dataset that is retrieved from a storage is analyzed to identify all the data types found in the dataset, and to determine the best view type to assign to the dataset's views. The visual plot is then populated with the data according to this best view type, and is automatically rendered for the user.

Abstract: A method of ranking data visualizations is performed at a computing device having one or more processors and memory. The memory stores one or more programs for execution by the processors. A user selects a plurality of data fields from a set of data, and the computing device generates a plurality of data visualization options. Each data visualization option associates each of the user-selected data fields with a respective predefined visual specification feature. For each of the generated data visualization options, the device calculates a score based on a set of ranking criteria. A first ranking criterion of the set of ranking criteria is based on values of one or more of the user-selected data fields in the set of data. A ranked list of the data visualization options is then created, where the ranked list is ordered according to the computed scores of the data visualization options.

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 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 of ranking data visualizations is performed at a computing device having one or more processors and memory. The memory stores one or more programs for execution by the processors. A user selects a plurality of data fields from a set of data, and the computing device generates a plurality of data visualization options. Each data visualization option associates each of the user-selected data fields with a respective predefined visual specification feature. For each of the generated data visualization options, the device calculates a score based on a set of ranking criteria. A first ranking criterion of the set of ranking criteria is based on values of one or more of the user-selected data fields in the set of data. A ranked list of the data visualization options is then created, where the ranked list is ordered according to the computed scores of the data visualization options.

Abstract: A method ranks data visualizations. A user selects a set of data fields from a set of data. A device identifies a plurality of data visualizations that use each data field in the user-selected set of data fields and identifies a plurality of respective alternative data visualizations. Each respective alternative data visualization uses each data field in a respective modified set of data fields. Each respective modified set differs from the user-selected set by a limited sequence of atomic operations. For each of the data visualizations and each of the alternative data visualizations, the device computes a score based on a set of ranking criteria. At least one criterion used to compute each score uses values of one or more of the data fields in the set of data. The list of high scoring data visualizations and alternative data visualizations is presented to the user.

Abstract: A method of ranking data visualizations is performed at a computing device having one or more processors and memory. The memory stores one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors. A user selects a set of data fields from a set of data. The computing device identifies a plurality of data visualizations based on the data fields selected by the user. For each of the plurality of data visualizations, a score is computed based on a set of ranking criteria. A first ranking criterion of the set of ranking criteria is based on values of one or more of the user-selected data fields in the set of data. A ranked list of the data visualizations is created, which is ordered according to the computed scores of the data visualizations. The ranked list is presented to the user.

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 graphical user interface for a data visualization application. The user interface includes shelves for specifying data visualization characteristics for a dataset. The method selects a map view based on geographic location field name(s) placed onto the shelves, and displays a geographic map. A user selects a visual encoding by placing a first field name onto a first shelf, which specifies a visual property of displayed marks. The property for each mark is determined by values of the first field in records of the result set. A mark displays for each record in the result set. When the first shelf specifies color of marks, each displayed mark fills the respective geographic region with a color based on the value of the first field. When the first shelf specifies size of marks, point marks are displayed with a respective size corresponding to the value of the first field.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of generating marks in a graphical view includes receiving a first user request to associate a first set of data samples with a first visual mark property. In response to the first user request, area marks are displayed in a graphical view. Respective area marks correspond to respective data samples in the first set. A second user request is received to associate the first set of data samples with a second visual mark property. In response to the second user request, point marks are displayed in the graphical view. Respective point marks correspond to respective data samples in the first set.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of visualizing a dataset is implemented on a computer having memory, one or more processors, and a display. The method includes: rendering a plurality of marks on the display, each mark corresponding to a respective data sample in the dataset; in response to detecting a first user instruction, visually highlighting a subset of the plurality of marks in accordance with the first user instruction and generating a first data structure including the data samples associated with the highlighted marks; and in response to detecting a second user instruction, replacing the plurality of marks with two marks on the display, wherein a first mark corresponds to an aggregation result of the data samples associated with the highlighted marks and a second mark corresponds to an aggregation result of data samples associated with the non-highlighted marks.

Abstract: A method for visualizing data is disclosed. The method is performed on a client system. The client system displays a visual representation of a set of data having a plurality of fields; wherein the visual representation is an area-based visual representation. The client system displays the plurality of fields associated with the set of data. The client system then receives an indication from a user associating a first field in the plurality of fields with a column or row attribute of the visual representation and in response to receiving the indication associating a first field in the plurality of fields with a column or row attribute of the visual representation alters the displayed representation to display the set of data as a plurality of smaller area-based visual representations which are sorted in columns or rows according to the values of the selected first field.