Network Analysis Visualization

[JoeM]

Interactive Features

The Network Link visualization is highly interactive, offering several ways to explore your data:

1. Drill-Down Capability:

   • Click on any node to drill down into its related subcategories
   • The visualization dynamically updates to show the selected node's connections
   • This helps users explore hierarchical data relationships intuitively

2. Hover Information:

   • Hover over any node to see detailed information about that data point
   • Values are displayed with the formatting options you've configured

3. Dynamic Resizing:

   • Nodes are sized proportionally to their measure values
   • Central nodes typically represent aggregate values of their connected nodes
   • This provides immediate visual understanding of relative importance

Example Use Case: Investment Analysis

In the example shown, "Investments by Product Type" uses the Network Link visualization to show:

1. Major investment categories as central nodes
2. Subcategories branching from these central nodes
3. The size of each node represents the quantity (or investment amount)
4. The network shows relationships between different product categories and their investment allocation

This visualization makes it easy to see the total investments by major category and how those investments are distributed across subcategories, all within a single, interactive visualization.

Best Practices

1. Limit Hierarchy Depth: While you can add multiple dimensions, limit to 2-3 levels for optimal readability.
2. Consider Color Coding: Use consistent colors for similar categories to improve visual understanding.
3. Provide Context: Give your visualization a clear title explaining the relationship.
4. Enable Drill-Down: Design your dimensions to support meaningful drill-down exploration.

With these configurations and best practices, the Network Link visualization can transform complex hierarchical data into an intuitive, interactive experience for your dashboard users.