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.

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 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.