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Graph display

Display data in an XY line graph, showing one or more measurements versus time or another measurement.

Overview

  1. Axis Lock

    Click to lock or unlock axis scaling.

  2. Measurement Selector

    Click to change the displayed measurement or units.

  3. Axis

    Click and drag to scale each axis individually.

  4. Plot Area

    Click and drag to move the plot area.

  5. Legend

    Select a run to analyze by clicking the run in the legend. Right-click the run symbol to change the run color and other data set properties.

  6. Tools Drawer

    Click to show or hide the Graph tools.

  7. Scale to Fit

    Automatically scale the axes to fit all data from the selected run within the plot area.

  8. Cursor Mode

    Click to toggle the function of the cursor.

    • Switch to Move Mode to use the cursor to move the plot area.
    • Switch to Select Mode to highlight an area on the plot for data analysis.

  9. SPARKvue provides two types of coordinates tools:

    • Coordinates Tool

      Use to determine the coordinates of a single data point. Use the delta tool to determine the difference between two points of data.

    • Multi-Coordinates Tool

      Use to compare coordinates across multiple runs or measurements.

  10. Slope Tool

    The slope tool provides the slope of a line tangent to a curve at a single point.

  11. Statistics

    Use the statistics tool to find the minimum, maximum, mean, and standard deviation of a range of data.

  12. SPARKvue provides two curve fit tools:

    • Linear Fit

      Use the linear fit tool to fit a line to data and determine the slope and y-intercept of the trend line.

    • Curve Fit Tool

      Use the curve fit tool to fit a curve to data and obtain values about the trend line parameters.

  13. Annotation Tool

    Use the annotation tool to label a data point with a brief note.

  14. Use these tools to display multiple y-axes:

    • Add y-axis

      Display multiple measurements on the same plot area by adding additional y-axes to a line graph.

    • Align Origins

      When displaying more than one y-axis, select to align the origins and scales of each axis.

    • Add Plot Area

      Display an additional measurement in a line graph on separate plot area located below the current plot area.

  15. Prediction Tool

    Before collecting data, draw a prediction of the results directly on the graph.

  16. Properties

    Change the visibility of data points, symbols, and lines connecting data points in a line graph.

Add a y-axis

Display multiple measurements on the same plot area by adding additional y-axes to a line graph.

  1. Add a y-axis using one of the following methods:

    • Go to Graph Tools Drawer and click Add y-axis.
    • Click the y-axis of the current graph, then click Add at the top.

  2. On the new axis, click Select Measurement, then select a measurement from the list.

  3. To align the origins and scales of each axis, click Align Origins.

  4. If you want to have different scales for each axis, click Lock Axis on one axis to lock that axis's scale, then drag the other axis.

To remove an axis, click the axis you want to remove, then click Remove at the top.

Note

It is not possible to remove the original graph axis, Y1.

Add a plot area

Display an additional measurement in a line graph on separate plot area located below the current plot area.

  1. Add a plot area using one of the following methods:
    • Go to Graph Tools Drawer and click Add Plot Area.
    • Click the graph, then click Add at the top right corner.
  2. In the new plot area, click Select Measurement then select a measurement from the list.

To remove a plot area, click the plot area you want to remove, then click Remove at the top right corner.

Change the scale and range

Change the scale of a line graph to zoom in on a range of data or to view an entire run of data.

Click Scale to Fit Tool to automatically scale each axis. If multiple runs are visible on the graph, the graph scales to show all data runs. If you want to scale to a single run, hide the other data runs, then click Scale to Fit Tool.

To scale each axis individually, drag the axis away from the origin to zoom in, or toward the origin to zoom out.

To zoom in on a range of data:

  1. Toggle the cursor tool to Select Mode.
  2. Drag over the area you want to zoom in.
  3. Click Scale to Fit Tool.
  4. Remove the selection highlighter by clicking it and then clicking Remove.

You can also change the range of data displayed in a graph without changing the scale by moving the graph. To move the graph:

  1. Toggle the cursor tool to Move Mode.
  2. Drag the graph to move it to the desired range.

Show or hide runs

Change the visibility of individual data runs without deleting the data. Use the graph legend to select which runs are visible.

Click to select runs you want to make visible.

Click to deselect runs you want to hide.

Hide data points and connecting lines

Change the visibility of data points, symbols, and lines connecting data points in a line graph.

  1. Go to Graph Tools Drawer and click Properties to open the Line Graph Properties menu.

  2. Toggle the Show Connected Lines switch to turn connected lines on or off.

  3. Click the Data Point Marker menu, then select one of the following:

    • Hidden: Don't show data points.

    • Dot: Display data points as dots for all runs.

    • Symbols: Display data points as symbols. Each run has a unique symbol.

Find the coordinates of a single point

Use the coordinates tool to determine the coordinates of a single data point.

  1. Select the run you want to analyze in the graph legend. A red border indicates the selected run.

  2. Click the point you want to analyze, then click Coordinates Tool.

  3. Place the tool on a different data point by click and dragging the tool or clicking Previous Data Point and Next Data Point.

To remove the tool from the screen, click the coordinates tool, then click Remove.

Tip

Click Delta Tool to determine the difference between two data points.

Compare the coordinates of multiple points

Use the multi-coordinates tool to compare coordinates across multiple runs or measurements.

  1. Go to Graph Tools Drawer, then click Multi-coordinates Tool.
  2. Place the tool on a different data point by dragging the tool or clicking Previous Data Point and Next Data Point.

Find the difference between two points

The coordinates tool in a graph display includes a delta tool to determine the difference between two data points in a run of data. Activate the delta tool to display the difference between the vertical, Δy, and horizontal, Δx, coordinates.

  1. Select the run you want to analyze in the graph legend. A red border indicates the selected run.

  2. Click the point you want to analyze, then click Coordinates Tool.

  3. Click Delta Tool to make the delta tool visible.
  4. Place the tool on a different data point by dragging the tool or clicking Previous Data Point and Next Data Point.

To remove the tool, click on the tool and click Remove.

Fit a line to data

Use the linear fit tool to fit a line to data and determine the slope and y-intercept of the trend line.

  1. Select the run you want to analyze in the graph legend. A red border indicates the selected run.

  2. Go to Graph Tools Drawer and toggle the cursor tool to Select Mode.

  3. Click and drag over the data you want to analyze.

    Tip

    You can adjust your selection by clicking and dragging the handles on the top-left and bottom-right corner of the highlighter box. Click and drag the highlighter box to move it.

  4. Click Linear Fit.

A line appears over the data with an information box. The information box includes the value of the slope, m, and y-intercept, b, of the best fit line. Also included are the coefficient of determination, r, and the root mean square error, RMSE, to show how well the line fits the data.

If you wish to try a different fit to your data, click the information box, then click Curve Fit.

Fit a curve to data

Use the curve fit tool to fit a curve to data and obtain values about the trend line parameters.

  1. Select the run you want to analyze in the graph legend. A red border indicates the selected run.

  2. Go to Graph Tools Drawer and toggle the cursor tool to Select Mode.

  3. Click and drag over the data you want to analyze.

    Tip

    You can adjust your selection by clicking and dragging the handles on the top-left and bottom-right corner of the highlighter box. Click and drag the highlighter box to move it.

  4. Click Curve Fit.

  5. Select the desired fit from the list then click OK.

A curve appears over the data with an information box. The information box includes values about the trend line parameters. Also included are the mean square error, MSE, and the root mean square error, RMSE, which provide information on how well the curve fits the data.

If you wish to try a different fit to your data, click the information box then click Curve Fit.

Find the statistics of a range of data

Use the statistics tool to find the minimum, maximum, mean, and standard deviation of a range of data.

  1. Select the run you want to analyze in the graph legend. A red border indicates the selected run.

  2. Go to Graph Tools Drawer and toggle the cursor tool to Select Mode.

  3. Click and drag over the data you want to analyze.

    Tip

    You can adjust your selection by clicking and dragging the handles on the top-left and bottom-right corner of the highlighter box. Click and drag the highlighter box to move it.

  4. Click Statistics.

  5. Select one or more statistics that you want to display, then click OK.

An information box appears containing the statistics you selected. If you wish to display other statistics, click the information box then click Statistics.

Find the area under a curve

Use the area tool to find the area under a curve.

  1. Select the run you want to analyze in the graph legend. A red border indicates the selected run.

  2. Go to Graph Tools Drawer and toggle the cursor tool to Select Mode.

  3. Click and drag over the data you want to analyze.

    Tip

    You can adjust your selection by clicking and dragging the handles on the top-left and bottom-right corner of the highlighter box. Click and drag the highlighter box to move it.

  4. Click Statistics.

  5. Select Area, then click OK.

An information box appears containing the area under the curve. If you wish to display other statistics, click the information box, then click the statistics button Statistics.

Find the slope of a tangent

The slope tool provides the slope of a line tangent to a curve at a single point.

Tip

Use a linear fit to find the slope of a range of data.

  1. Select the run you want to analyze in the graph legend. A red border indicates the selected run.

  2. Click the point you want to analyze, then click Slope Tool.

  3. Place the tool on a different data point by clicking and dragging the tool or clicking Previous Data Point or Next Data Point.

To remove the tool, click on the tool and click Remove.

Label a data point

Use the annotation tool to label a data point in a graph with a brief note.

  1. Select the run you want to analyze in the graph legend. A red border indicates the selected run.

  2. Click the point you want to add a note to. You can move the tool by dragging the tool or clicking Previous Data Point or Next Data Point.

  3. Click Annotation to add a note.

  4. Click the Enter Note field and type your note.

    Tip

    Click Symbols or Greek Letters to enter special characters, including subscripts and superscripts.

  5. Click OK.

If needed, click to edit the note. To remove the note, click Remove.

Draw a prediction

Before collecting data, draw a prediction of the results directly on the graph.

  1. Go to Graph Tools Drawer and select Draw Prediction Tool.
  2. Click and drag on the plot area to draw your prediction.
  3. Click done when finished.

To remove the prediction from the graph, click Draw Prediction Tool to deselect the tool.