Variables are the key to your project. Without them, there is nothing to analyse. Managing your variables keeps your project organised and enables you to demonstrate your insights clearly.

Depending on the type of analysis you choose to do, Graphext will add variables to your dataset. These can be managed in the same way as your existing variables and might include keywords extracted from text, cluster groups and predictions among others.

Manage variables from the Details panel in your project or from the sidebars available in the Graph and Trends panels.

‍

"For every minute spent organising, an hour is earned."
‍
‍- Benjamin Franklin

‍

Variable Filters

Variables can be filtered using the lists and histograms that appear in the variable cards within your projects sidebars. Use the sidebar representation of a variable to filter your analysis.

Variable Details

The Details panel shows you every point in your data. Use the table in the Details panel to sort and inspect every data point behind each variable.

‍

Rename Variables

Good variable names are crucial to making sure you and others can understand your analysis. You can rename a variable in the 'Details' panel or from your project's sidebars.

‍

‍

How to Rename a Variable - The Sidebar Way?

1. Start from your project's Graph or Trends panel.
2. Locate the variable in either the right or left sidebar.
3. Select the 3 dots representing 'More Options' next to your variable name.
4. From the dropdown, select 'Manage Variable'.
5. In the Project Settings window that opens, select the text field belonging to your existing variable name.
6. Remove the existing variable name.
7. Enter a new variable name.
8. Select 'Save'.
9. Done ... Your team will thank you later.

‍

‍

How to Rename a Variable - The Details Way?

1. Start from your project's Details.
2. Locate the variable column.
3. Select the 3 dots representing 'More Options' next to your variable name.
4. From the dropdown, select 'Manage Variable'.
5. In the Project Settings window that opens, select the text field belonging to your existing variable name.
6. Remove the existing variable name.
7. Enter a new variable name.
8. Select 'Save'.
9. Done ... Your team will thank you later

‍

Describe Variables

Variable descriptions show up next to every occurrence of a variable in your project. A good description means that you can keep variable names short and sweet whilst tidying up the exact definition of a variable in the text below it.

You can give a variable a description in the 'Details' panel or from your project's sidebars.

‍

‍

How to Describe a Variable - The Sidebar Way?

1. Start from your project's Graph or Trends panel.
2. Locate the variable in either the right or left sidebar.
3. Select the 3 dots representing 'More Options' next to your variable name.
4. From the dropdown, select 'Manage Variable'.
5. In the Project Settings window that opens, select the text field underneath the variable name.
6. If you already have a description - remove it.
7. Enter a new variable description.
8. Select 'Save'.
9. Done ... Now sit back and admire your organised project.

‍

‍

How to Describe a Variable - The Details Way?

1. Start from your project's Details panel.
2. Locate the variable column.
3. Select the 3 dots representing 'More Options' next to your variable name.
4. From the dropdown, select 'Manage Variable'.
5. In the Project Settings window that opens, select the text field underneath the variable name.
6. If you already have a description - remove it.
7. Type a new variable description.
8. Select 'Save'.
9. Done ... Now sit back and admire your organised project.

‍

Hide Variables

Not all variables are equally important. Hiding the insignificant ones leads to a tidier project that better emphasises your important insights.

You can hide variable filters as well as hiding the details behind a variable.

‍

‍

How to Hide a Variable - The Sidebar Way?

1. Start from your project's Graph or Trends panel.
2. Locate the variable in either the right or left sidebar.
3. Select the 3 dots representing 'More Options' next to your variable name.
4. From the dropdown, select 'Manage Variable'.
5. Locate the variable within the variable list.
6. To hide a variable's filters, click the icon under the filters column until it represents hidden (This hides the variable's filters in the sidebars).
7. To hide a variable's details, click the icon under the details column until it represents hidden. (This hides the variable's column in the Details panel).
8. Select 'Save'.
9. Done ... Your project already look tidier.

‍

‍

How to Hide a Variable - The Details Way?

1. Start from your project's Details panel.
2. Locate the variable's column.
3. Select the 3 dots representing 'More Options' next to your variable name.
4. From the dropdown, select 'Manage Variable'.
5. Locate the variable within the variable list.
6. To hide a variable's filters, click the icon under the filters column until it represents hidden (This hides the variable's filters in the sidebars).
7. To hide a variable's details, click the icon under the details column until it represents hidden. (This hides the variable's column in the Details panel).
8. Select 'Save'.
9. Done ... Your project already look tidier.

‍

‍

How to Unhide Variables?

1. Start from your project's Graph panel.
2. In the top left of the Graph, select the icon representing 'Project Settings'.
3. In the side menu of the 'Project Settings' window, select 'Variables Manager'.
4. Locate the variable within the variables list.
5. To unhide a variable's filters, click the icon under the filters column until it represents visible (This reveals the variable's filters in the sidebars).
6. To unhide a variable's details, click the icon under the details column until it represents visible (This reveals the variable's column in the Details panel).
7. Select 'Save'.
8. Done ... Your variables and filters are all back in their original places.

‍

Reorder Variables

It's easy to get lost in big datasets with lots of columns. Set the order in which your variables appear so that you can easily find important ones.

Reordering variables changes the order in which they are shown in your sidebars and in your Details panel. Variables at the top of the list will appear at the top of your sidebars as well as at the far left of your Details table.

‍

‍

How to Reorder Variables

1. Start from your project's Graph panel.
2. In the top left of the Graph, select the icon representing 'Project Settings'.
3. In the side menu of the 'Project Settings' window, select 'Variables Manager'.
4. Now you can reorder your variables individually.
5. To reorder variables individually, hold down your cursor on the six dots at the far left of each variable card to drag the variable up and down the variables list.
6. To send a variable to the top or bottom of the list, click the 3 dots at the far right of each variable card then select the option to send it to the top or bottom of the variables list.
7. To order your variables by a set sequence, select the dropdown under the 'Dataset variables' title then choose a sequence to order your variables by. Finally, select whether you want the order to be ascending or descending
8. Select 'Save'.
9. Done ... The order of variables in your sidebar and Details panel will have changed.

‍

Pin Variables

Pinning a variable moves it to the sidebar on the left-hand side of your screen. This is a space to keep the important variables that will be the focus of your analysis.

Variables on your left sidebar are already pinned. The rest of your variables will appear within the right sidebar.

‍

‍

How to Pin Variables

1. Start from your project's Graph or Trends panel.
2. Locate the variable within the left sidebar.
3. Select the 3 dots representing 'More Options' next to your variable name.
4. Select 'Pin Column'.
5. Done ... Now the variable is in your left sidebar.

‍

‍

How to Unpin Variables

1. Start from your project's Graph or Trends panel.
2. Locate the variable within the right sidebar.
3. Click the pin icon from the top right corner of the variable card.
4. Done ... Now the variable is back in your right sidebar.

‍

Customising Colors

Values within variables are assigned colors to make it possible to distinguish between them in their visual representations. You can use these colors to apply color mapping in your project's Graph.

It's possible to change the color assigned to clusters and segmentations that you have created. Note that you can't change the color assigned to the values within your dataset's original variables. If you would like to change the color of these values, create a new segmentation featuring the appropriate data points and change the colors assigned to groups within it.

Customizing the color of a segmentation or cluster will affect its representation in the Graph, Compare, Trends and Insights panels of your project.

‍

‍

How to Customize Colors?

1. Start from your project's Graph, Trends or Details panel.
2. From the right or left sidebar, locate the cluster or segmentation you wish to change the color of.
3. Click the 'Edit Segmentation' icon from the top right of the variable card - a pencil inside a square.
4. Select the bar representing the value you wish to change the color of.
5. Select the 'Change color' icon - a pipet.
6. Either enter a hex code into the text box or choose a color from the color pallette. Use the color slider to change the range of colors available in the pallette.
7. Click 'OK'.
8. The visual representations of this value will immediately update to reflect the color change you've made.
9. Repeat steps 4 -8 for any other value you wish to change the color of.
10. Click the save icon from the top right of the variable card to confirm your changes.
11. Done ... Color is a very important aspect of visualising data!

‍