Abstract: A computer system concurrently displays a plurality of panes in a user interface. The panes include a first pane that displays a flow diagram having one or more nodes. Each node contains one or more icons. Each icon represents a respective data transformation operation. The panes include a second pane that displays a plurality of data rows and/or data columns for an intermediate dataset corresponding to a user-selected node. The computer system receives a user input, in the first pane, to perform a first data transformation operation at a selected node. In response to receiving the user input, the computer system performs the first data transformation operation. The computer system displays, in the first pane, an additional icon corresponding to the first data transformation operation at the selected node. The computer system updates the second pane in accordance with the first data transformation operation.

Abstract: A user interface displays: a first column comprising non-editable input strings retrieved from a data field; a second column comprising editable output strings initialized from the data field; and an expression window displaying a transformation function ƒ. The computer iteratively processes user inputs, each user input i providing a sample row transformation to edit an ith output string ti. Some user inputs i designate a contiguous substring ssi of the corresponding input string si. The contiguous substring expresses a causal basis for transforming the input string si. into the output string ti. The computer updates the transformation function ƒ according to the provided sample row transformations so that: ƒ(s1)=t1, . . . , ƒ(si)=ti; the transformation function ƒ specifies text or string position of at least one contiguous substring; and ƒ has minimal branching among possible transformation functions that satisfy the samples.

Abstract: A computer device receives user selection of a plurality of data fields from a data set. The computer device generates a plurality of data visualization options that use a majority of the plurality of data fields. The computer device computes, for each data visualization option of the plurality of data visualization options, a respective score for the respective data visualization option according to a set of ranking criteria. The set of ranking criteria includes a first ranking criterion that is based on values of one or more of the user-selected data fields in the data set. The computer device creates a ranked list of the data visualization options. The ranked list is ordered according to a plurality of computed scores corresponding to the plurality of data visualization options. The computer device presents the ranked list to the user.

Abstract: A computer system concurrently displays a plurality of panes in a user interface. The panes include a first pane that displays a flow diagram having one or more nodes. Each node contains one or more icons. Each icon represents a respective data transformation operation. The panes include a second pane that displays a plurality of data rows and/or data columns for an intermediate dataset corresponding to a user-selected node. The computer system receives a user input, in the first pane, to perform a first data transformation operation at a selected node. In response to receiving the user input, the computer system performs the first data transformation operation. The computer system displays, in the first pane, an additional icon corresponding to the first data transformation operation at the selected node. The computer system updates the second pane in accordance with the first data transformation operation.

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 method that prepares data for analysis includes displaying a user interface that includes a data a data flow pane that displays a flow diagram having a plurality of nodes, each node specifying a respective primary operation, a change list pane corresponding to a user-selected node in the data flow pane, and a data pane that displays a plurality of rows for an intermediate dataset of the user-selected node. The method also includes, in response to receiving a user input to perform a secondary operation at the user-selected node: (i) displaying, in the change list pane, an ordered list of secondary operations performed at the user-selected node, including displaying the secondary operation, and (ii) updating the data pane in accordance with the secondary operation, including updating the plurality of rows for the intermediate dataset.

Abstract: A method that prepares data for analysis includes displaying a user interface that includes a data a data flow pane that displays a flow diagram having a plurality of nodes, each node specifying a respective primary operation, a change list pane corresponding to a user-selected node in the data flow pane, and a data pane that displays a plurality of rows for an intermediate dataset of the user-selected node. The method also includes, in response to receiving a user input to perform a secondary operation at the user-selected node: (i) displaying, in the change list pane, an ordered list of secondary operations performed at the user-selected node, including displaying the secondary operation, and (ii) updating the data pane in accordance with the secondary operation, including updating the plurality of rows for the intermediate dataset.

Abstract: A computer user interface displays a two-dimensional grid of data values. A user selects a first set of two or more columns of data values from the grid, and the computer performs a first pivot on the first set of two or more columns to form a modified grid having a plurality of new rows and a first set of two or more new columns. The user selects a second set of two or more columns of data values from the grid. The second set is distinct from the first set. The computer performs a second pivot on the second set of two or more columns to form a second new column added to the modified grid. Each data value from the second set of two or more columns is added to the second new column in a respective row of the new rows. The computer redisplays the modified grid.

Abstract: A method prepares data for analysis. The method displays a user interface including a data flow pane. The data flow pane includes a flow diagram having a plurality of nodes, each node having an intermediate set and specifying a primary operation. When a user selects a node, the user interface displays a change list pane with an ordered list of secondary operations performed at the node and a data pane with rows from an intermediate dataset of the node. When the user provides input to perform an additional secondary operation at the node, the user interface (i) performs the additional secondary operation, (ii) determines a logical ordering for the additional secondary operation based on the primary operation of the node, (iii) adds the additional secondary operation to the change list pane according to the logical ordering, and (iv) updates the data pane in accordance with the additional secondary operation.

Abstract: A method prepares data for subsequent analysis. The method displays a user interface having a data flow pane, including a flow diagram having a plurality of nodes. Each node specifies one or more operations. The method receives user input to select an existing node in the flow diagram, receives user input to insert a new node into the flow diagram, and receives user input to select a first set of two or more columns of data values from a data set corresponding to the existing node. The method pivots the selected columns to form a modified data set having new rows and new columns. The user selects two or more additional columns, and the method pivots on the additional columns, resulting in a second new column added to the modified data set. Each data value from the additional columns is added to the second new column in a respective row.

Abstract: A method prepares data for analysis. The method displays a user interface including a data flow pane. The data flow pane includes a flow diagram having a plurality of nodes, each node having an intermediate set and specifying a primary operation. When a user selects a node, the user interface displays a change list pane with an ordered list of secondary operations performed at the node and a data pane with rows from an intermediate dataset of the node. When the user provides input to perform an additional secondary operation at the node, the user interface (i) performs the additional secondary operation, (ii) determines a logical ordering for the additional secondary operation based on the primary operation of the node, (iii) adds the additional secondary operation to the change list pane according to the logical ordering, and (iv) updates the data pane in accordance with the additional secondary operation.

Abstract: A method prepares data for analysis. The method displays a user interface, which includes multiple panes, including a data flow pane. The data flow pane includes a flow diagram having multiple nodes, each specifying a primary operation and/or multiple secondary operations. Each primary operation retrieves data from a data source, transforms data, or builds an output data set. When a user selects a node, the user interface displays a change list pane, which is an ordered list of secondary operations performed at the node. When the user provides input to perform a secondary operation at the selected node, the user interface (i) performs the secondary operation, (ii) updates the selected node with an indicator that the node includes secondary operations, (iii) determines a logical ordering for the secondary operation based on the primary operation, and (iv) adds the secondary operation to the change list pane according to the logical ordering.

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 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 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 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.