Plot node

Plot nodes show the relationship between numeric fields. You can create a plot using points (also known as a scatterplot), or you can use lines. You can create three types of line plots by specifying an X Mode in the node properties.

X Mode = Sort

Setting X Mode to Sort causes data to be sorted by values for the field plotted on the x axis. This produces a single line running from left to right on the graph. Using a nominal field as an overlay produces multiple lines of different hues running from left to right on the graph.

Figure 1. Line plot with X Mode set to Sort
Line plot with X Mode set to Sort

X Mode = Overlay

Setting X Mode to Overlay creates multiple line plots on the same graph. Data are not sorted for an overlay plot; as long as the values on the x axis increase, data will be plotted on a single line. If the values decrease, a new line begins. For example, as x moves from 0 to 100, the y values will be plotted on a single line. When x falls below 100, a new line will be plotted in addition to the first one. The finished plot might have numerous plots useful for comparing several series of y values. This type of plot is useful for data with a periodic time component, such as electricity demand over successive 24-hour periods.

Figure 2. Line plot with X Mode set to Overlay
Line plot with X Mode set to Overlay

X Mode = As Read

Setting X Mode to As Read plots x and y values as they are read from the data source. This option is useful for data with a time series component where you are interested in trends or patterns that depend on the order of the data. You may need to sort the data before creating this type of plot. It may also be useful to compare two similar plots with X Mode set to Sort and As Read in order to determine how much of a pattern depends on the sorting.

Figure 3. Line plot shown earlier as Sort, executed again with X Mode set to As Read
Line plot shown earlier as Sort, executed again with X Mode set to As Read