Basic Analysis and Graphing - SAS

Chapter 10 Interactive Data Visualization 257
Overview of Graph Builder
Overview of Graph Builder
You can interact with Graph Builder to create visualizations of your data. You start with a blank slate and
drag and drop variables to place them where you want them. Instant feedback encourages exploration and
discovery. Change your mind and move variables to new positions, or right-click to change your settings.
Graph Builder helps you see multi-dimensional relationships in your data with independent grouping
variables for side-by-side or overlaid views. With many combinations to compare, you can create a trellis
display of small graphs. Graph elements supported by Graph Builder include points, lines, bars, histograms,
box plots, and contours.
The underlying philosophy of Graph Builder is to see your data. To that end, the default visualization
elements impose no assumptions, such as normality. If there are not too many observations, you see all of
them as marks on the graph. A smooth trend curve follows the data instead of an equation.
Once you see the data, you can draw conclusions directly, or decide where further analysis is needed to
quantify relationships.
Example Using Graph Builder
You have data about nutrition information for candy bars. You want to find out which factors can best
predict calorie levels. Working from a basic knowledge of food science, you believe that the fat content is a
good place to start.
1. Open the Candy Bars.jmp sample data table.
2. Select Graph > Graph Builder.
3. Drag and drop Total fat g into the X zone.
4. Drag and drop Calories into the Y zone.