Create and Manage Scatter / Bubble Charts in Visualizations

Permissions: Any Data Central user can create, save, and edit a visualization, but the user must have the Data Central Designer privilege to save a visualization as public or edit public visualizations.

A Scatter / Bubble chart is a visualization tool that analyzes numerical relationships between variables such as lab test results. These charts help identify patterns by plotting data points based on two or three measures, revealing trends, correlations, and clusters among subjects. A Scatter chart plots data along two numerical axes, while a Bubble chart adds a third measure by varying the bubble size. These charts are widely used in research to compare multiple variables simultaneously, revealing patterns and outliers.

Create a Scatter / Bubble Chart

Start from the left navigation, locate the Visualizations section, and click the '+' New Visualization icon.
Click Scatter/Bubble to open the chart designer window.
In the Fields section, click the arrows, Data Store names, or Domain names to expand the data. Scroll down to view all available domains and fields.

In the example below, the Search feature was used to locate the AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase) field in the Clinical data store and the Laboratory Chemistry Results (LB_CHEM) domain by typing the field name.

Tip: Search also supports dot notation, e.g. DataStore.Domain.Field.

Define Measures

The Scatter chart requires at least two measures to plot data on the x-axis and y-axis. Adding a third measure transforms it into a Bubble chart. The fields used for measures can be selected from multiple domains within the same data store.

Drag the AST field into the Measures (Axes: x, y, size) area within the designer, and a pop-up will appear with configuration options for the measure. Clicking the 3-dots next to the measure will also open the pop-up.
Select an Aggregate from the drop-down:
- Count Distinct
- Count
- Sum
- Average
- Minimum
- Maximum
- Standard Deviation
- Variance
In this example, the Average was selected for the AST measure.
The Label is automatically generated by default but can be updated if needed.
Click OK. By default, it will also create a dimension for the Subject field. For more details see the Define Dimensions section.

Tip: To collapse or expand each area (Measures, Dimension, Legend, Filters), click the down or up arrows. Click the box icon to view only one area and collapse all other areas.
Locate and drag the ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) field to the Measures (Axes: x, y, size) area for the second measure.
Select Average for the aggregate.
Update the Label if needed.
Click OK. The chart will now update as a Scatter plot.

When hovering over data points, a tooltip displays the Subject ID along with the labels and values of the defined measures.
Locate and drag the BILITOT (Total Bilirubin) field to the Measures (Axes: x, y, size) area for the third measure.
Select the Average aggregate and enter a Label if needed or accept the system generated label.
Click OK. The visualization will now update as a Bubble chart.
Notice the tooltip now has the third measure added in the details.

Add a Filter to a Measure

A filter can be applied to any of the measures using fields that belong to the same domain as the measure. Keep in mind that only one filter condition can be applied to each measure.

Click the Filter icon next to the AST measure to open the pop-up.
The default setting is Include Selections, which can be changed to Exclude Selections if preferred.
Click in the Filter Field textbox to open the drop-down which contains all the fields in the selected measure's domain and select the field to filter by. In this example, SITE (Site Name) was selected.
Open the Operator drop-down menu and choose from the available options: =, <, >, Null or Empty, or Between. In this example, '=' has been selected.
Select the values to filter to in the Filter Value drop-down menu. This example includes Mansfield Hospital, Mayo Clinic, Oncology Center of PA, Sacred Heart Medical Center, and St Mark's Hospital.

Note: After defining any filter for the chart, the filter icon will become shaded.

Dynamic Filters

Dynamic Filters allow users to select predefined values from a drop-down menu located at the top of the published chart. When viewing the chart, users can pick one or multiple values from the drop-down menu, which immediately updates the chart to display the selected filter values.

Turn on Dynamic Filters by clicking the toggle switch.
Click the Optional Default Filter Value(s) textbox to select the default values that the published chart filters to when opened. In this example, all five values are set as defaults, which means the chart will open filtered by all five selected values.

If no default value(s) are configured, the chart will filter by the first value in the list, opening with all records filtered by Mansfield Hospital.

Click OK.

Tip: Click in the whitespace to close the drop-down if the OK button is not visible.
When viewing the published chart, a drop-down menu with the filter values appears at the top. To apply the filter, click the drop-down arrow. Then, click the blue box labeled 5 selected to view the list of the five values available for filtering.
Select the values to filter, then click Apply, and the chart will immediately reflect the applied filter.

Note that now the blue box shows the number of values selected, which is 3 in this case.

Tip: In the Measures area, each field is accompanied by a green badge that indicates the axis, as well as a filter icon. The filter icon will appear solid blue if a filter has been applied. Additionally, you can see the data store, domain name, and label for each field. When hovering over the field, a tooltip will display additional details regarding any filters or aggregates associated with the measure.

Define Dimensions

A Dimension in a Scatter / Bubble chart categorizes data points. It helps organize data, such as grouping averages of lab test results by subject. Take note that only one dimension can be added to a Scatter / Bubble chart

When the first measure is added to the designer, the Dimension is automatically populated with the configured subject identifier for the measure field's domain, which in this case, is the LB_CHEM domain. This ensures that each bubble on the chart represents a unique subject.
In this example, the Subject (Subject name or identifier) field from the Clinical data store and the LB_CHEM domain has been added. The dimension determines how the data is grouped, with each bubble on the chart representing the average values of AST, ALT, and BILITOT for each subject.
With only one dimension allowed, you can remove this dimension and add a different one, such as the field for the SITE, or configure dynamic dimensions to switch between dimensions. For more details, refer to the Dynamic Dimensions section.

Note: If the measures are from the same domain, they do not require aggregate selections or a dimension. If no dimension is selected, all records where data exists are plotted as data points and are not grouped by subject.

Add Dynamic Filter to a Dimension

Click the Filter icon next to the SUBJECT field in the Dimensional (optional) area. The filter pop-up opens.
Include Selections is the default.
Click the Filter Field textbox and select the field BILITOT (Total Bilirubin) from the drop-down.
Click the Operator field and select Between.
Click the Filter Value 1 textbox and select a lower bound value from the drop-down or enter your own value.
Click the Filter Value 2 textbox and select an upper bound value from the drop-down or enter your own value.
Click the Dynamic Filter toggle on.
Click OK. The pop-up closes. There will be a drop-down at the top of the chart where the chart can be filtered by the values entered.

Note: For more details see the Dynamic Filters section.

Dynamic Dimensions

Dynamic Dimensions enable users to switch between dimensions, prompting the chart to update automatically. The dynamic dimensions are presented at the top of the chart along the x-axis in two different formats, appearing as toggle buttons or a dropdown menu. Fields used for dynamic dimensions must belong to the same domain.

To add an additional Dimension that can be toggled between dynamically, click on the 3-dots to the right of the Subject field in the Dimension (optional) section, and the Dynamic Dimensions pop-up will open.
Click on the Additional Dimensions textbox and select from the drop-down list which contains all the fields in the selected dimension's domain. The SITE field in the LB_CHEM domain has been selected as a dynamic dimension.

Note: Up to 10 Dynamic Dimensions can be selected within the same domain.
Display As Pills is checked by default. This option determines how dynamic dimensions are displayed on the chart along the x-axis.
Labels are automatically generated for dynamic dimensions. The label can be changed if there is only one dimension or for the first dimension, by updating the Label textbox.
To remove a dynamic dimension, click the 'X' to the right of the field name.
After configuring the dimensions, click OK.

The published Scatter / Bubble chart will display the Dynamic Dimensions as either pills or a drop-down along the x-axis from which to select. The chart will update based on the selection for the dimension.

When Display as Pills is checked, click on a pill to toggle between dimensions:

When Display as Pills is unchecked, there will be a drop-down to select the dimension to view:

Define the Legend

In a Scatter / Bubble chart, the Legend groups data points by color according to the selected Legend field. While the Dimension field determines how the data points are grouped and arranged, the legend only alters the color of the bubbles without changing their grouping or position. For instance, if the ETHNIC field is used, the subjects will be color-coded by their ethnicity, but the bubbles will remain in the same location. It's important to note that the legend field is optional and may not always be practical to use.

Locate and drag the ETHNIC field from the Demographics domain into the Legend area and a pop-up will open. Accept the default of Scatter / Bubble for the Legend Type.
Click OK and the chart will update.

Notice the tooltip now has the legend added in the details.

Add a Filter to a Legend

A filter can be applied to the legend using fields that belong to the same domain as the legend field. Keep in mind that only one filter condition can be applied to the legend.

Click the Filter icon next to the legend field and the filter pop-up opens.
Include Selections is the default. To change the default, click the Exclude Selections radio button.
Click in the Filter Field textbox and select the field from the drop-down.
Click in the Operator field and select from =, <, >, Null or Empty, or Between.
Click in the Filter Value(s) field and select the value(s) from the drop-down.
Click OK. The pop-up closes.

Chart Filter Section

The filters applied in this area affect the entire visualization and are not limited to a single domain like the filters for measures, dimension, and legend. This flexibility makes filter creation more versatile.

From the Fields section, locate the field SUYN (Has tobacco ever been used?) in Clinical > Smoking History and drag it to the Filters section.

Keep the default Include Selections. Accept the '=' operator, then click on the Filter Value(s) and select the desired value(s) from the drop-down. Click OK, and the selected filter value will be reflected in the chart.
In this example, to use Dynamic Filters, turn the toggle switch on. Click on the Filter Values(s) and Select All. Click on the Optional Default Filter Value(s) and Select All. Click OK to proceed.
A drop-down menu will appear at the top of the published chart, allowing you to select the filter value(s). When hovering over any filter drop-down, a tooltip will appear displaying the selected value(s).

Up to 25 filters may be added to the chart.

Reorder / Remove Fields

Click and hold the 6-dots next to a field and drag it above or below another field.
Click the 'X' at the right of a field to remove it

Add a Chart Description

Enter a Chart Description in the text field above the preview in the chart designer. When the published visualization is viewed, this description will appear at the top of the chart.

Export / Import Chart Configuration

After creating or editing a chart, the chart configuration can be exported directly from the designer. This allows users to easily replicate their charts across different environments, eliminating the need to recreate them manually. To export, click the Export icon in the upper right corner of the chart's designer window and it will download the configuration file.

When importing a chart configuration, the created chart must match the exported chart type to ensure compatibility and consistency. To import a chart configuration, click the '+' New Visualization icon and select Scatter / Bubble. After the designer window opens, click the Import icon in the upper right corner. This will open a pop-up to upload the configuration file.

Note: Users with the Data Central Designer privilege can also export and import charts created by other users.

Toolbar Actions

Each chart includes a toolbar in the top right corner (in both the chart designer and the published chart), with icons that vary based on the chart type. Below are the icons available for a Scatter / Bubble chart.

ICON	ICON NAME	DESCRIPTION
	Edit	Click to open Chart Designer window.
	Add Filter	Click to open a pop-up window to enter filter parameters. Click OK. This filter applies to the panel only and does not appear in the Filter Panel in the left navigation.
	Tooltips	Click to activate / deactivate the tooltips that display when hovering over a chart.
	Rotate Chart	Click to rotate the chart (switch the x-axis and y-axis).
	Series Label	Click to show / hide series labels within the chart.
	Crosshairs	Deactivated by default; click the icon to activate it. Crosshairs will display when the user hovers over the chart.
	Zoom Out	Click to zoom out and view the entire chart (without the scrollbars on top). By default, a chart opens, displaying a readable amount of data, and the user can use the scrollbar at the top to move right and left.
	Drag to Zoom	Click to activate. Once it is activated, click and drag over the section of the chart you wish to zoom in on.
	Chart Notes	Click to see Chart Notes (added during advanced chart configuration).
	Exporting	Click to access a drop-down menu to print or export to PDF, PNG, or JPG.
	Advanced	Only in the chart designer; click to open the Advanced Chart Settings, which opens on the left side of the window.
	Dock	Click to dock the visualization to your sheet.
	Maximize	Click to maximize visualization.
	Restore	Click to restore the visualization to previous size.
	Close	Click to close.

Advanced Chart Settings

The advanced chart settings allow users to configure axis positions, labels, legends, and more, customizing the chart's display for its intended purpose.

The To open the Advanced Chart Settings window:
- Click the Advanced button at the bottom right of the chart designer window.
- Click on the Advanced icon to the right in the chart designer toolbar.
- The Advanced Chart Settings window opens at the left displaying the current settings.
Y-Axis Position (Measure): In the designer, this setting will be labeled with the name of the measure. In the example used in this article, the label is,
Average of ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) Axis Position:
- Left
- Right
X-Axis Position (Measure): In the designer, this setting will be labeled with the name of the measure. In the example used in this article, the label is,
Average of AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase) Axis Position:
- Top
- Bottom
Horizontal Axis Label Display:
- Standard
- Stagger
- Rotate
Axis Label Visibility:
- Show
- Hide
Zoom Type:
- Box
- X-Axis
- Y-Axis
  - This setting determines how users interact with the Drag to Zoom feature.
  - Charts created prior to 24.1.0 will retain their X-Axis zoom configuration until modified.
  - Beginning with the 24.1.0 release, the default setting for new charts will be Box zoom.
Legend Position:
- Outside
- Inside
Legend Horizontal Alignment:
- Center
- Right
- Left
Legend Vertical Alignment:
- Bottom
- Top
Palette:
- Many color schemes to choose from (Material is default).
Horizontal and Vertical Reference Line:
- Upper Limit
- Lower Limit
  - Click the '+' sign to add additional reference lines.
  - Click the 'X' to remove lines.
  - To reset, click the back arrow.
  - Click on the 3-dots, and a configuration pop-up will provide options to enter a label, choose the line color, adjust the line width, select the line style, and highlight outlying data.
Horizontal and Vertical Highlight Strip:
- Start Value
- End Value
  - You can add additional strips by clicking the '+' icon.
  - Remove them by clicking the 'X' on the right.
  - To reset, click the back arrow.
  - Click the 3-dots on the right to open a configuration pop-up for the highlight color, font color, and label.
Chart Notes:
- Add text to describe the chart. Once a note has been added, the icon in the toolbar will be displayed.
To close the Advanced Chart Settings window:
- Click the 'X' in the top right corner.
- Click the Advanced button on the bottom right of the page.
- Click the Advanced icon in the toolbar.
Click Save to save your changes or click Cancel and any changes are canceled.

Save / Save As

When first creating a visualization, only the Save button displays in the bottom right corner. Once a visualization is saved, both the Save and Save As buttons will display.

Upon opening a previously saved visualization in the chart designer, the title is displayed on the toolbar, followed by the word Preview.

The Save Chart window will open when you click Save for the first time or by clicking Save As.

Tip: Clicking Save As on an existing visualization allows you to duplicate the chart with another name or save the visualization as a new one with different settings from the original visualization, whereas clicking Save updates the existing visualization.

When the Save Chart window opens, you can enter or edit Save options.

Enter the Name of the Chart (maximum 100 characters allowed).
Select the folder where the chart will be saved.
Note: If you have the Data Central Designer privilege, you may also add a new folder by hovering over a current folder and clicking the add folder icon. Remember, managing folders after they are created (editing and deleting) is done through the Manage icon in the top right on the master header of the Data Central Landing page.
Select the Public or Private radio button. Only selectable with Data Central Designer privileges.
Select the Roles (visible when saving public only, grayed out if the visualization is private). Users with the selected role(s) will see and have access to the visualization.
Update the Scope: By default, the study you are currently in is selected. Click the drop-down next to Therapeutic Areas, Compounds, Programs, or Studies, and update as needed.
Click Save to confirm save settings or Cancel to cancel changes.

Edit a Scatter / Bubble Chart

Visualizations can be edited for their content, which includes the data they represent, the description, and advanced settings. Visualization settings (found in the Save window) can also be updated and saved under a new name, to a different folder location, changed from private to public (Data Central Designer privileges required), assigned different roles (if public), and adjusted with a new scope.

Edit Content

Hover over the visualization name you wish to edit.
Click on the Edit icon (the pencil).

Note: You many also click the pencil (edit) icon in the published chart's toolbar to open the designer.
The Scatter / Bubble Designer window opens.
Edits can be performed on all fields in the Measures (Axes: x, y, size), Dimension, Legend, or Filters areas in the same way as when creating the chart.
Edit the Description.
Access Advanced Settings and make any changes.
Click Save to save edits to the chart you are viewing OR click Save As to save as a new chart.

Edit Visualization Settings

Hover over the visualization name you wish to update.
Click the Configure (gear) icon to open the Save Chart window.
Make updates in the Save window.
Click Save to confirm changes or Cancel to cancel.

Delete a Visualization

Saved Visualizations, Workspaces, Filter Sets, and Advanced Filters are deleted from the Manage icon in the master header. Users must have the Data Central Designer privilege to delete items saved as public; however, all Data Central users can delete items they have saved as private.

Click the Manage icon located on the right in the master header. The Manage window opens.
Hover over the name of the item you want to delete.
Tip: Hover over the icon at the left of the item name to see a tooltip that identifies the type of item, for example, Saved Workspace, Advanced Filter, or type of Visualization.
Click the Delete icon.
In the Delete Item confirmation window, click Delete (or click Cancel to cancel your action).