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Graph Builder: Line - possibility to add breaks

☑ cool new feature
☑ could help many users!

☑ removes a „bug“

☐ nice to have

☐ nobody needs it

 

@myTop10 2024

What inspired this wish list request? 

For Line Graphs in Graph Builder, there is a cool feature row order.
If it's selected, the line doesn't connect data points from left to right in the graph - but along the order in which they appear in the data table.

hogi_0-1689353265557.png

 

Instead of this graph:

hogi_1-1689353577247.png

the user gets this graph:

hogi_2-1689353594784.png

Much better ...

 

But unfortunately, there are those nasty jumps "back" to the next curve.

Of course, for simple graphs, you can use a column as an overlay to produce 3 separate curves, without the zigzag.


But already with slightly more complicated graphs like this one: Graph Builder. Combine Smoother and Line - how? the user reaches the limits of current Graph Builder (v17).

 

I have the hope that at some point in the future, Graph Builder will allow the user to useOverlay by multiple column   - which will solve the problem in a very elegant way ...

 

 

What is the improvement you would like to see? 

Alternative options to fix the issue with less effort:

  1. (1)  With sorted data in the data table, a step from right to left will indicate a new curve.
    So, with row order enabled, there could be an additional option to draw lines  "only left -> right".
    If this option is enabled, the should be no line for steps to lower values on the x axis.
    hogi_4-1689354483794.png
  2. (2) Rows with missing y value could be used to add a break in line graphs (even somewhere in the center of the graph - cool, right?)
    ... if there was an option: *)
    hogi_5-1689355375351.png

     

Why is this idea important? 

Under the line: tiny change of the program - tremendous improvement for the users.

maybe there are some users who don't need it - or: some users who don't know yet that they need it

 

dt =Open( "$SAMPLE_DATA/Functional Data/Weekly Weather Data.jmp" );
Graph Builder(
	Size( 523, 407 ),
	Summary Statistic( "Median" ),
	Graph Spacing( 4 ),
	Variables( X( :DATE ), Y( :TAVG ), Overlay( :group ), Color( :group ) ),
	Elements( Line( X, Y, Legend( 31 ), Row order( 1 ) ) ),
	Local Data Filter(
		Add Filter(
			columns( :STATION ),
			Where( :STATION == {"USW00003195", "USW00003868", "USW00003949"} ),
			Display( :STATION, N Items( 15 ) )
		)
	)
)

 

more wishes by  hogi_2-1702196401638.png

3 Comments
hogi
Level XI

Option (2) is already available in Jmp:

hogi_0-1689434871660.png

 

Nevertheless, option (1) is still an interesting new feature, because it can solve the issues of the backward jumps without the need to add auxiliary rows to the data table:

hogi_1-1689434936358.png

Craige_Hales
Super User

Interesting idea - if the X (or Y) order decreases, start a new line

hogi
Level XI

Thanks @Craige_Hales 

With some luck, a developer will find the wish and like it too ...