topic Re: How to insert X axis break in graph builder? in Discussions

How to insert X axis break in graph builder?

PaulMasuch — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 11:26:12 GMT

Hi everyone,

I am trying to insert a simple X axis break in JMP, but can't find the option for it in the Graph Builder.

In Origin Lab for example this was easily achievable using x axis breaks. I am quite new to JMP, so any help would be much appreciated!

My X axis data are timestamps, spread over multiple days, but on a single day they are only in the range of up to one hours. If I put all timestamps as X, the trend of the data during a single day gets lost, because the distance to the next day is so much larger.

I want to only display the X data on each day during the time where measurements were taken. I have added a small graphic to hopefully better explain the problem.

Thank you!

Re: How to insert X axis break in graph builder?

Jemster — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 08:38:43 GMT

Group X could be what you want. Based on your description you may want to use a Local Data Filter, found using the red triangle next to "Graph Builder" in the graph builder window, to exclude timestamps where data doesn't exist

Re: How to insert X axis break in graph builder?

jthi — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 09:45:34 GMT

One option you could try setting your timestamp to Ordinal (or Nominal) and use your grouping variable as Overlay. You could possibly also add Date as additional grouping column

I have also attached data table with table script

Re: How to insert X axis break in graph builder?

ih — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 14:49:17 GMT

On several occasions I resorted to making three separate tall and skinny graphs and then copy-pasted them together, for times when group x or ordinal axes didn't do quite what I was looking for. This would be a good wish list item if nobody else comes up with a solution for a continuous variable.

Re: How to insert X axis break in graph builder?

jthi — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 18:14:52 GMT

I think it could be a good wish list item that JMP would have an option to scale X-axis automatically where you are using X-grouping and have continuous X-axis. Currently JMP will just show "empty space". You cannot even scale them separately

This image might be easier to understand for some users to understand what is going on

After some paint and copy-paste of combining couple of graphs, something like this (should maybe work for nominal and ordinal x-axis too):

Re: How to insert X axis break in graph builder?

PaulMasuch — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 07:23:38 GMT

Thanks for all the suggestions so far Jemster, jthi and ih.

If I understand it correctly, this is not done quickly and easily, and especially not if I want to make changes to the display or data. I will still try to make one of the solutions work.

I also think this should be implemented in JMP - I will see if I can add it to the Wish List.

Greetings Paul

Edit

wish list - https://community.jmp.com/t5/JMP-Wish-List/Add-easily-configurable-axis-breaks-to-the-Graph-Builder/idi-p/526241

Re: How to insert X axis break in graph builder?

XanGregg — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 15:12:03 GMT

You might be interested in https://community.jmp.com/t5/JMP-Blog/How-to-create-an-axis-break-in-JMP/ba-p/30611, which shows another way to add an axis break: by adding a duplicate of the variable and adjusting each part to only show a fraction. Here's what it looks like on jthi's data, but changing the x variable (column 2) back to continuous:

I did some clean-up, changing the colors to all be the same, but would also want to edit the Legend Settings to hide the extra legend entries.

Graph Builder(
	Size( 973, 455 ),
	Show Control Panel( 0 ),
	Graph Spacing( 15 ),
	Variables( X( :Column 2 ), X( :Column 2 ), X( :Column 2 ), Y( :Column 1 ) ),
	Elements( Position( 1, 1 ), Bar( X, Y, Legend( 7 ) ) ),
	Elements( Position( 2, 1 ), Bar( X, Y, Legend( 8 ) ) ),
	Elements( Position( 3, 1 ), Bar( X, Y, Legend( 9 ) ) ),
	SendToReport(
		Dispatch( {}, "Column 2", ScaleBox,
			{Min( 20oct2022 + 00:01:00 ), Max(20oct2022 + 03:59:00 ), Interval( "Hour" ),
			Inc( 1 ), Minor Ticks( 0 )}
		),
		Dispatch( {}, "Column 2", ScaleBox( 2 ),
			{Min( 21oct2022 + 00:01:00 ), Max(21oct2022 + 03:59:00 ), Interval( "Hour" ),
			Inc( 1 ), Minor Ticks( 0 )}
		),
		Dispatch( {}, "Column 2", ScaleBox( 3 ),
			{Min( 22oct2022 + 00:01:00 ), Max(22oct2022 + 03:59:00 ), Interval( "Hour" ),
			Inc( 1 ), Minor Ticks( 0 )}
		),
		Dispatch( {}, "400", ScaleBox,
			{Legend Model( 7,
				Properties( 0, {Fill Color( 5 )}, Item ID( "Column 1", 1 ) )
			), Legend Model( 8,
				Properties( 0, {Fill Color( 5 )}, Item ID( "Column 1", 1 ) )
			), Legend Model( 9,
				Properties( 0, {Fill Color( 5 )}, Item ID( "Column 1", 1 ) )
			)}
		)
	)
);

Re: How to insert X axis break in graph builder?

hogi — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 17:55:12 GMT

This wish could fix the issue:

with the new option :restrict x axis to the respective group everything will get very comfortable

... and robust:

There are some workarounds, but all of them are quite fragile. Just imagine what happens if some rows are added ...

For continuous values, some trick will be necessary to store the range and scale information for every subplot.
Is it worth it?

For nominal value, it's much easier: get a much better plot, just by removing empty space.
The only question here:
equal widths of 1 ... Nmax (with some alignment rule: left, center,right, stretch?)
or individual widths for each subplot: 1 ... Ni

Re: How to insert X axis break in graph builder?

dpoburko — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 18:42:32 GMT

This is a super useful feature and has long been a reason that I move to GraphPad Prism for Time series data.

Re: How to insert X axis break in graph builder?

deveshv — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 12:50:18 GMT

The link in the first line of your answer was very helpful. Thank you.

Re: How to insert X axis break in graph builder?

hogi — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 14:36:16 GMT

for professional breaks like in Origin or Graphana, please vote:
wish handed in after this discussion:
similar wish:

Re: How to insert X axis break in graph builder?

hogi — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 17:41:15 GMT

Data Builder by @Ben_BarrIngh is great to create a dummy dataset for discussions:
https://marketplace.jmp.com/appdetails/Data+Builder

(view in My Videos)

Re: How to insert X axis break in graph builder?

hogi — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 17:52:35 GMT

For the special case of "trend within the day", one can use the Wrap option in GraphBuilder

... or a transform column with "Time of Day":

For ranges > 1 day, one can calculate a zoomed timestamp [:day:hour] by subtracting the date of the first entry per group:

New Column( "timestamp_zoom",
	Format( ":day:hr:m", 16 ),
	Formula(
		(:date - Col Minimum( :date, :Group ))
		+Col Minimum( Time Of Day( :date ), :Group )
	)
)