Entity graph

The Entity graph produced by the graphing tool helps you to visualize the relationships between the specified entity and all entities related to that entity, based on shared attributes.

The Entity graph depicts the relationships between entities using alternating layers of entities and attributes.

Example of an Entity graph

First layer - Main entity
When you initially look at the graph, the first layer contains the main entity. The main entity is always the entity that you specified or selected to render the Entity graph. Visually, the line around the main entity node is always thicker, so you can spot the main entity no matter where it might actually display on the graph.
The top entity is the entity displayed in the first layer of the graph, at the top. Initially, the main entity is also the top entity. But any entity can become the top entity, simply by using the Move to top right-click option.
Second layer (and additional even-numbered layers) - Shared attributes
The second layer consists of the shared attributes that link the top entity to the entities in the third-layer of the graph. Attributes displayed on the graph show both the type and value of the attribute.
If there are additional layers of the graph, the even-numbered layers always contain the shared attributes that link the entities displayed above and below that attribute layer.
Third layer (and additional odd-numbered layers) - Related entities
The third layer of the graph shows entities that are related to the top entity at 1-degree of separation.
If there are additional layers of the graph, the odd-numbered layers always contain entities related to the previous entity layer, based on the shared attributes layer between the two entity layers. Entities displayed in these subsequent entity layers are related to the top entity in corresponding degrees of separation: Entities in the third layer are related to the top entity at 2-degrees of separation. Entities in the fifth layer are related to the top entity at 3-degrees of separation, and so on.

Tips for using the Entity graph

Entity graphs can contain many layers. Here are some tips to help you sort through all the attribute and entity information displayed on an Entity graph.
  • To see more details about an entity:
    • Use the Show remaining related entities right-click menu option to explore the relationships for a specific entity that are not currently displayed on the graph.
    • Use the Show path to top Quick Filter to show how an entity or attribute is related to the top entity. This filter temporarily hides the unrelated entities and attributes from the graph.
    • Switch to the Social Network graph to create a graph that helps you to view and focus on the relationships between entities. The Social Network graph does not display shared attributes on the graph, but the shared attributes are listed in the Attribute Explorer. Right-click on the entity you want to create the Social Network graph from, and select Create new graph - Social Network.
    • Use the Show related Entities only Quick Filter to create a "mini" Social Network graph. This quick filter hides all attributes on the graph and shows only entities related to the chosen entity at 1-degree of separation. (The chosen entity is the entity that you right-clicked to apply the quick filter.)
    • Use the Show related Attributes and Entities only Quick Filter to highlight the entity and show only those attributes and entities that are related to the chosen entity.
    • Use the Show entity resume right-click menu option to see the entity resume of any entity on the graph. The entity resume provides additional details and context about that entity, such as the identities associated with the entity, other alerts that the entity is involved in, and so on. (If the link to the entity resume is not configured, such as to the entity resume in the Analyst toolkit, then this option does not display on the right-click menu.)
  • To see the path between two entities on the graph:
    • Use the Show path to top Quick Filter to visualize how a particular entity on the graph is related to the top entity. This quick filter is especially useful when the graph contains multiple layers.
    • Use the Move to top right-click menu option to move an entity to the top of the graph and redisplay the existing attributes and entities based on how they relate to the new top entity. No new information is added to the graph
  • To see more details about an attribute:
    • Use the Show Attributes only Quick Filter to focus the information on the graph to one entity. The filter helps you to see only those attributes for the selected entity.
    • Use the Show remaining Attributes right-click menu option to visualize all the attributes for a particular entity, even those attributes are not shared by any other entity on the current graph.
    • Use the Attribute Explorer to highlight the entities on the graph that share a particular attribute. The value in the Entities column can guide you. The higher the number in the column, the more entities displayed on the graph share that attribute.
  • To rearrange the entities and attributes into other patterns and shapes, use the right-click menu to change the graph layout from Layered to Radial.
Parent topic: Analyzing data using the graphing tool
Related concepts:
Navigating and exploring the graphing tool graphs
Related reference:
Common elements in the graphing tool graphs