The Scatter Plot Matrix (SPLOM) is a relatively uncommon graphical tool that uses multiple scatterplots to determine the correlation (if any) between a series of variables. These scatterplots are then organized into a matrix, making it easy to look at all the potential correlations in one place.
Data Requirement
Every mod handles missing, corrupted and/or inconsistent data in different ways. It is advised to always review how the data is visualized.
To make this chart work properly, the underlying data must have one column per continuous measure and an optional categorical column to color the markers. To create a minimum matrix, at least two columns of continuous measure are required.
Setup
In this example dataset (IRIS flower dataset), we have 5 columns: sepal length, sepal width, petal length, petal width and class.
| sepal length | sepal width | petal length | petal width | class |
| 5.10 | 3.50 | 1.40 | 0.20 | Iris-setosa |
| 4.90 | 3.00 | 1.40 | 0.20 | Iris-setosa |
| 4.70 | 3.20 | 1.30 | 0.20 | Iris-setosa |
| 4.60 | 3.10 | 1.50 | 0.20 | Iris-setosa |
| 4.80 | 3.00 | 1.40 | 0.30 | Iris-setosa |
| 5.10 | 3.80 | 1.60 | 0.20 | Iris-setosa |
| 4.60 | 3.20 | 1.40 | 0.20 | Iris-setosa |
| 5.30 | 3.70 | 1.50 | 0.20 | Iris-setosa |
| 5.00 | 3.30 | 1.40 | 0.20 | Iris-setosa |
| 7.00 | 3.20 | 4.70 | 1.40 | Iris-versicolor |
| 6.40 | 3.20 | 4.50 | 1.50 | Iris-versicolor |
This visualization is made to show unaggregated data. That is why we are prompted to use '(Row Number)' as the first measure. Not selecting '(Row Number)' or a row identifier as 'Measures' axis may display aggregated data.
Once the 'Measures' axis is set to '(Row Number)', we can add the dimensions we want to correlate. Right click the 'Measures' axis, go to select columns, add columns and click OK.
Optionally you could also use colors to show another measure. E.g:
- Color By = class
The end result will look something like this:
Configuration
After setting the data, multiple options are available to alter the chart appearance live. To open the appearance options, clock the settings button on the top right of the visualization (available in Edit mode).
Plot
- Upper half: Show/hide the remaining upper right plot of the matrix.
- Diagonal plots: Show/hide the diagonal plots that correlate with the same category.
- Gridlines: Show/hide gridlines.
Markers
- Marker size: Configure the size of each marker in one unit increment.
Labels
- Labels: Show/hide axis and labels
- Parallel: Display labels parallel to axis
- Horizontal: Display labels horizontally
Tooltips
- Choose what information to display on tooltip
- Format: Display value names and values or display visualization properties and values
Usage
Marking
Marking can be done by clicking on a marker. To mark multiple markers or add to the marking set, you must click a marker whilst holding the CTRL key. The matrix also allows for rectangular marking; whilst holding down a mouse click and dragging the cursor across a chart, you can mark one or multiple markers corresponding to the markers that the rectangle overlaps with. To unmark all marked markers, just click outside markers.
Tooltips
Hover a marker to show a tooltip.
Help & Support
This Mod for Spotfire® is not supported by Spotfire Support.
In the event of issues or to suggest features and enhancements, submit an issue in the Mod's GitHub repository.
For general questions about Mods, please post a question in the Forum for Extensions & Mods to make it visible and routed to the appropriate team(s) to respond.
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