Abstract: An alert may provide a user with notification when a trigger condition regarding the operation of an enterprise is satisfied. Prior to setting the alert, a proposed alert with the trigger condition may be received. The trigger condition may be compared with a database of operational data related to operation of the enterprise over a period of time to obtain historical trigger data. The historical trigger data may indicate how the proposed alert would have functioned if applied to the operational data for the period of time, for example, by indicating how many times the alert would have been triggered during the period of time. The historical trigger data may be provided to a user, and may facilitate user determination of whether the proposed alert will perform as desired. Once the desired proposed alert has been entered, the user may set the proposed alert as an actual alert.

Abstract: A visualization combination engine may be used to combine a first data visualization based on a first data set with a second data visualization based on a second data set. The combination process may be initiated by, for example, clicking and dragging the first data visualization onto the second data visualization. The visualization combination engine may create the combined data visualization without requiring the user to manually combine the first and second data sets. The combination may be carried out by identifying a key that is common between the two data sets and combining the first and second data sets into a combined data set based on the key, and then creating the combined data visualization based on the combined data set. One or more cues may be used during the process to provide helpful information and/or allow user selection of the properties of the combined data visualization.

Abstract: A user interface is provided for allowing a user to interact with a graphical display. Quantitative data is initially displayed in a graphical format representing absolute values. A comparative graph is also made available, either automatically or in response to user input; the comparative graph presents each data entry according to its relative value as compared with one specific baseline entry.

Abstract: A data analysis system may automatically suggest data visualizations to a user. A primary data visualization may be displayed to graphically illustrate a primary data set of a database. Criteria may be automatically applied to the database to identify a secondary data set that meets the criteria. A secondary data visualization that graphically illustrates the secondary data visualization and/or a corresponding indicator may be displayed. Multiple visualizations and/or indicators may be displayed, and the user may select one for viewing. The criteria may again be applied to the database to identify a tertiary data set. An analysis path may be recorded to enable the user to easily view the decisions made and/or the data visualizations viewed. The criteria may include determination that the secondary data set has the desired amount of data, has unique data types or descriptors, includes data previously selected by the user, or the like.

Abstract: A transition may be made between first, second, and third visual representations. A first visual representation may be displayed, with a plurality of visual elements arranged in a first arrangement. A processor may generate a first animation in which the visual elements move from the first arrangement toward an intermediate arrangement, and then to a second arrangement corresponding to a second visual representation. The first animation and the second visual representation may be displayed. The processor may generate a second animation in which the visual elements move from the second arrangement toward the intermediate arrangement, and then to a third arrangement corresponding to a third visual representation. The second animation and the third visual representation may be displayed. Thus, smooth transitions may be provided between multiple visual representations via animation toward a common intermediate arrangement.

Abstract: An alert suggestion generator may automatically suggest alerts for a user based on user input. The user input may include natural language text and/or user actions that the suggestion generator can use to generate alerts that have a high likelihood of relevance, and therefore desirability, to the user. Each alert may have a trigger condition such as passage of time, measurement of a numeric metric, or other factors. Each alert may also have a notification setting defining how the user is to be notified. The alert suggestion generator may retrieve a user profile of the user to further determine what alerts would be most relevant to the user. The user may be queried to confirm the alerts, and the alerts may them be set. Partial alerts may be generated and then the user may be queried for the trigger condition and/or notification setting needed to complete the alerts.