Vector Plot :: SAS(R) BI Dashboard 4.31: User's Guide, Second Edition

Definition

A vector plot is a plot consisting of directed line segments.

Example of a Vector Plot Indicator

For a sample of the indicator data that was used to create this indicator, see “Sample Data Structure” for this indicator.

Usage Information

Data best suited for	Vector plots can only be used when direction and magnitude are both present in the data and must be displayed. Unlike a line plot, a vector plot can display how two variables interact with each other over a third variable that identifies each individual vector. Note that vector plots are less commonly used in business and more commonly used when dealing with physics and earth sciences. However, vector plots can be used to represent certain aspects of business. For example, a vector plot can be used to determine the direction of sales, given the resources and effort that went into making a sale.
Target audience	Most users will be unfamiliar with this indicator type. Do not use this indicator type unless you are sure your audience understands how to interpret it, or you provide instructions about how to interpret it.
Data aggregation support	This indicator type does not aggregate the indicator data.
Range support	A range is required.
Alert support	Alerts are supported. For information, see Customizing Alerts.
Link support	This indicator type can be used to define a link or as the destination of a link.For more information about defining an indicator with a hyperlink, see Adding Links to Indicators or Other Content.
Interaction support	Data filter support: This indicator type can be used as either a source or target indicator. Interactive highlighting support: This indicator type can be used as either a source or target indicator. For more information, see Adding Interactions between Indicators.
Filter multiple items support	Filtering multiple items is supported.For more information, see Supporting Multiple Selections in a Filtered Data Interaction.

General Settings

The General Settings section provides controls that support the following tasks:

Display Settings

The following display settings are used in the preceding figure. For more information, see “Sample Data Structure” for this indicator.

Display Setting	Selection Used for Figure
Range value	SALES_PER_CHANG
Point label	PROD_CAT
X-axis start value	SALES_NOV
Y-axis start value	PROFIT_PER_NOV
X-axis end value	SALES_DEC
Y-axis end value	PROFIT_PER_DEC
X-axis title	Set to Sales Note: The Scale X axis setting adds the label (thousands) to the title.
Y-axis title	Set to Profit %
Scale X axis	This setting is selected.
Scale Y axis	This setting is selected.

You can customize the following display settings for this indicator:

(Required) From the Range value list, select the value to which you want to apply the defined range intervals.
(Required) From the Point label list, select the value that you want to use to label the data points.
(Required) From the X-axis start value list, select the first value to use on the X axis.
(Required) From the Y-axis start value list, select the first value to use on the Y axis.
(Required) From the X-axis end value list, select the last value to use on the X axis.
(Required) From the Y-axis end value list, select the last value to use on the Y axis.
In the X-axis title field, type the title to use for the X axis in the indicator. If you do not specify a title, the value that you selected from the X-axis value list is used by default. If you do not want a title, type a space in the field. If you select Scale X axis, a measurement label is added to the title.
In the Y-axis title field, type the title to use for the Y axis in the indicator. If you do not specify a title, the value that you selected from the Y-axis value list is used by default. If you do not want a title, type a space in the field. If you select Scale Y axis, a measurement label is added to the title.
Select Scale X axis if you want to scale that axis. When you make this selection, a measurement label is added to the X-axis title if the data is numeric. For example, if the X-axis title is set to Revenue and you select Scale X axis, the X-axis title is displayed as Revenue (millions).
Select Scale Y axis if you want to scale that axis. When you make this selection, a measurement label is added to the Y-axis title if the data is numeric. For example, if the Y-axis title is set to Revenue and you select Scale Y axis, the Y-axis title is displayed as Revenue (millions).
Select Hide axes when zoomed out if you want to hide the axes when a user zooms out the view of an indicator. When the user zooms in, the axes reappear. Select this setting to avoid visual clutter when the view is zoomed out.
Select Hide axis tick labels if you want to hide the axis tick labels when a user zooms out the view of an indicator. When the user zooms in, the axis tick labels reappear. Select this setting to avoid visual clutter when the view is zoomed out.
Click Hide vector arrows if you want to hide the arrow heads in the indicator.
From the Row group by list, select the value that you want to use to group rows of data. If you do not want to group the rows, select (none).
From the Column group by list, select the value that you want to use to group columns of data. If you do not want to group the columns, select (none).
From the X-axis format list, select the format that you want to apply to the data on that axis. If you do not want to specify a format, select (none). When set to (none), the indicator uses the format that is used in the data source.
From the Y-axis format list, select the format that you want to apply to the data on that axis. If you do not want to specify a format, select (none). When set to (none), the indicator uses the format that is used in the data source.

Sample Data Structure

To create a vector plot, you must provide one variable (point label) and five measures (range value, X-axis start value, X-axis end value, Y-axis start value, and Y-axis end value).

The following data sample is associated with the figure previously shown. Underneath each column heading is its associated display setting.

Product Category (Point label)	Sales (November) (X-axis start value)	Sales (December) (X-axis end value)	Profit (November) (Y-axis start value)	Profit (December) (Y-axis end value)	Sales per Change (Range value)
Running — Jogging	$49,444	$42,698	56.32%	54.27%	-13.64%
Swim Sports	$19,901	$50,056	58.70%	60.56%	151.53%
Winter Sports	$127,347	$397,544	56.73%	59.59%	212.17%