Using Heat Maps

Heat maps present data in table form using colors. A simple example of this is unemployment data over the years by month. Each row represents one of the twelve months, and each column represents a year in the time frame. Colors could range from very pale red (lower unemployment rates) to dark red (higher unemployment rates). You could use more than one spectrum of color, especially if you wanted your heat map to be more specific. Using the unemployment example above, you could select the range of reds for 1%-5% unemployment, and then add a range of blues for 6%-10% unemployment.

Note: Only properties with numeric formats are eligible for use with heat maps.
  1. Select whether you want the heat map to use values By property or By relationship.
  2. Select whether you want to use entity or relationship data in the heat map.
  3. Select the field you want to use in the rows of the heat map.
  4. Select the field you want to use in the columns of the heat map.
  5. Select from the Value field whether you want the heat map to include incoming counts, outgoing counts, or both.
  6. Click the check mark icon or continue with advanced settings.
Advanced settings are not required; they allow you to fine-tune the heat map configuration.
  1. Select how you want the rows to be sorted. You can sort them ascending or descending, by field name or by value. Using the unemployment example above, you could sort the rows ascending (or descending) by month, or you could sort them ascending (or descending) by value.
  2. Select how you want the columns to be sorted. You can sort them ascending or descending, by field name or by value. Using the unemployment example above, you could sort the columns ascending (or descending) by year, or you could sort them ascending (or descending) by value.
  3. Specify the range of colors you want to use in your heat map in the Low Value and High Value fields.
  4. Specify the maximum number of rows that can be on a single page. The minimum you can enter is 15 and the maximum you can enter is 50.
  5. Specify the maximum number of columns that can be on a single page. The minimum you can enter is 5 and the maximum you can enter is 50.
  6. Click the check mark icon.

You can create an additional heat map by selecting Charts > Heat map and following steps 1-6 again. However, if you select new criteria from the existing heat map and click the check mark icon, a new heat map will appear in place of the existing heat map.