Configuring Heatmap Parameters 

Use

Use this screen to configure the parameters specific to the Heatmap template. See Heatmap (Relational) for important prerequisites and information about using this template.

 

Procedure

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       1.      In the Display Heatmap for section, use the drop-down lists to select the fields that should designate Primary grouping (larger boxes) and Secondary grouping (smaller sub-boxes).

¡        You may select any data type.

¡        All the fields you selected on the Select Fields screen are listed.

       2.      In the Where section, use the drop-down lists to select the fields that should designate Size is determined by and Color is determined by.

¡        You must select numeric data types for these values, and only the numeric fields you selected on the Select Fields screen are listed.

       3.      Click Next.

 

Result

You proceed to the Preview Result screen.

 

Example

You want to view the relative distribution of sales (both in quantity and revenue) among certain divisions and companies. To do this, configure the values on this screen in the following manner:

This example assumes you have similar types of metadata available in your data service.

 

Display Heatmap for section:

Primary grouping = Sales.Division (the Division field from the Sales table)

Secondary grouping = Sales.Company (the Company field from the Sales table)

 

Where section:

Size is determined by = Sales.Quantity (the Quantity field from the Sales table)

Color is determined by = Sales.Revenue (the Revenue field from the Sales table)

 

For these values to be available in the drop-down lists on this screen, you must first have selected them on the Select Fields screen.

 

The result of this query would generate a heatmap similar to the following:

Heatmaps do not display in the Visual Composer Preview; you will see the default chart from the Internet Graphics Service instead. To see your heatmap, you must deploy it to your portal.

 

 

In this heatmap:

·        Instances of Division are represented by the large, primary boxes.

·        Instances of Company are represented by the smaller, colored boxes secondary to 1.

·        Instances of Sales in quantity are represented by the size of 2. The larger the box, the higher the quantity.

·        Instances of Sales in revenue are represented by the color of 2, in a gradient. The darker the color (towards the right side of the gradient legend – which might denote millions of dollars), the higher the sales in revenue.

Although the display looks simple at first glance, note that sizes of both the primary and secondary boxes are shown relative to each other, as well as the colors of the boxes (in a relative gradient). You can compare how divisions are doing relative to each other, as well as how companies are doing relative to each other.

It is easy in a heatmap to note standouts within a large pool of data. For example, in this result:

·        The company represented by the largest sub-box (in the Financials division in the upper-left corner) has the highest sales in quantity.

·        The company represented by the darkest sub-box (in the Industrials division) has the highest sales in revenue.