ExploreTheData

ExploreTheData enables you to visualize and explore your data with interactive, cross-linked charts and tables. To create a chart with automatic settings, simply select a data file and the variables to be plotted. The add-in provides you different views and helps you gain useful insights about the data and create high-quality plots. It is powered by a library of Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) components which smoothly displays large datasets.

The charts can display line plots, scatter plots, and area plots with linear or logarithmic scales. Zoom-dependent rendering provides fast access to single data points of the data set. The tables provide conventional functionality such as row selection, sorting, data searching, and filtering. In addition, ExploreTheData presents a zoomable graphical view of numerical data. Table column data operations (e.g., sum, mean, minimum, and maximum) are selectable from a menu, and the list of operations is extensible. ExploreTheData can handle large tables because all views are pre-calculated before rendering. The charts and tables are cross-linked, meaning that the data corresponding to the selected table rows are highlighted on the chart and vice versa. In addition, filtering the data in the table updates the chart accordingly.

Data import and export is performed using text files (comma-separated values), JavaScript data files, or a range of cells selected in a worksheet open in Excel. ExploreTheData makes its own copy of the data without data binding between the source worksheet and the add-in. The chart can be exported as an SVG file.

ExploreTheData is customizable by users in two ways: style files and JavaScript configuration files. The latter enables listing multiple data and style files which are then easily accessible from the drop-down menus.