TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Scope

3. Execution Procedure

5. Notes

LIST OF FIGURES
 
 

Figure 1 : The symbolic objects editor window

1. Scope

 

 

1. Identification

• WP5 : User Friendly Interface
• CSCI number : 29 490 491 (SOE)
• Version 01
• Document Type Code (DTC) : 306

1. Workpackage overview


Purpose of the WP 5: User Friendly Interface

Before demonstrating the interest of symbolic data analysis for statistics, it is important for potential users to have the opportunity to test these methods on their own data. This can only be achieved through a high-quality and well adapted interface .

In the case of symbolic data analysis, people that manage official data cannot be regarded as experts in the field of symbolic data analysis. Hence this interface must display data as perceived by non specialists.

A problem arises when it comes to representing symbolic objects and the results of the analyses graphically. The objects are complex, made up with long assertion lists. It is important to give representation that can be easily grasped.
 
 

2. Document overview

1. Referenced documents

• The report on the graphical representation (M. Noirhomme-Fraiture, M. Rouard, FUNDPII) - 29490 491 /Rep2/V1/Zoom Star Specification, distributed at Namur meeting, October 1997.
• The Style Guide (M. Noirhomme-Fraiture, M. Rouard, FUNDPII) - 29490 491 / Rep4 / V1 / Style Guide, distributed at Namur meeting, October 1997)

1. Execution Procedure


The symbolic objects editor (see Figure 1) allows users to view in a table all symbolic objects present in a SODAS file and to perform some basic modifications on data inside this table. The editor also provides functionalities for viewing the graphical representations (2D and 3D), and the SOL representation of each symbolic object present in the table. We will present all functionalities menu by menu an item by item.



Figure 1 : The symbolic objects editor window

Figure 2 : Content of all available menus

1. The " File " menu


The " File " menu corresponds to a classical Windows ^TM File menu. It allows SODAS files to be opened (), closed and saved ().

The " Save " and " Save as ... " items save the content of the table in a sodas file. It implies that the symbolic objects and the variables present in the table will be the only one to be written in the file (in this case, a warning message will be given to the user), and the order defined in the table will be respected (rules and taxonomies are also updated according to the selected variables). If a new order has been defined for categories, this order will also be taken into account. The " Save " item is available only if the editor is called outside of a chain.

It also allows the content of any window (Zoom Star, table, Los) to be printed (). The program checks if the selected printer is a colour printer. If not, colours providing distinct greys will be automatically selected by the program. These colours correspond to the colours recommended in the style guide [29490 491 / Rep4 / V1 / Style Guide]. When printing a star , it is necessary to reduce the size of label characters.

For example, choose 5 for variable and categories labels.

The " File " menu also contains the list of the last opened files.

2. The " Edit " menu


The " Edit " menu contains the " Undo " () and " Redo " () functions. These functions only apply to modifications done inside the table.

The " Copy " item allows the content of any window to be copied to the clipboard. So, the image can be paste inside any other application (word processor, image processor, ...).

The " Remove " item removes all symbolic objects and all variables selected (see 3.8.1) in the table. These elements are of course not removed from the original SODAS file, but only from the table.

3. The " View " menu


In the SO Editor application, three distinct types of window are available. The table containing the Symbolic Objects and the variables located in the SODAS file, the graphical representation of a Symbolic Object (2D or 3D) and the SOL (Symbolic Object Language) description of a Symbolic Object. The first items of the " View " menu correspond to these different windows.

1. The " Table " item


The " Table " item sends the table window to the front, i.e. it displays the table when the window is hidden by other windows.

2. The " 2D Graphic... " item

The " 2D Graphic " item () is context sensitive :

• if the active window corresponds to the table, and if Symbolic Objects are selected inside the table (see 3.8.1), then the selection of this item will lead to the display of the 2D Zoom Stars of all selected objects. If variables are selected in the table, these variables will be represented on the graphical representation. If none of the variables is selected, all variables present in the table will be represented on the graphical representation.
• If the active window is a 3D Zoom Star representation, the 2D Zoom Star representation replaces the 3D graphic. If graphics are locked (see 3.5.3), all graphics are replaced by the 2D representation.

1. The " 3D Graphic... " item


See 3.3.2, but for the 3D Zoom Star representation ()

2. The " SOL " item


The " SOL " item displays the SOL description of all Symbolic objects selected in the table. The active window must be the table and objects has to be selected (see 3.8.1) to enable this item.

3. The " Hierarchies " item


The " Hierarchies " item displays the hierarchy corresponding to the active Zoom Star according to the Windows ^TM hierarchy representation (see Figure 3) . The active window must be a graphic to enable this item.



Figure 3 : Representation of a hierarchy

In the " Hierarchy " dialogue box, the " Expand all " button displays the complete hierarchy.

4. The " Tool bar " and " Status bar " items


The " Tool bar " and " Status bar " items allows to display/hide respectively the status bar located in the bottom of the screen and the tool bar containing all shortcut icons.

5. The " Labels ... " item

A button located in the tool bar () can be used to switch from the identifiers to the labels. This button acts on symbolic objects, variables and categories in the same time.
 
 

1. The " Selection " menu


The " Selection " menu allows the user to select the Symbolic Objects, the variables and the categories that he wants to see in the table and on the Zoom Stars. It also allows a configuration to be saved/loaded. The selection is made by way of a dialogue box containing three " tags ". The first one corresponds to Symbolic Objects (see Figure 5), the second one corresponds to variables (see Figure 6), and the third one corresponds to Categories (Figure 7).
 

Figure 5 : Symbolic objects selection

Figure 6 : Variables selection

In the case of symbolic objects and variables, each " tag " contains two lists. The list located on the bottom of the " tag " contains the selected elements. Elements can be added and/or removed by using the four buttons. The order defined in the list will be respected in the table. On the bottom of the dialogue box, there are two buttons which can be used to open and to save a configuration. The configuration corresponds to choices made for symbolic objects, variables and categories (i.e., it is not possible to save the symbolic objects selection and the variables selection in two distinct files).

The " Tag " corresponding to the variables selection has an additional element which gives the opportunity to use the order defined in the list, or to use the order defined in a file generated by a statistical method (this possibility is not yet implemented).



Figure 7 : Categories selection

In the " tag " corresponding to categories selection, all categorical variables which are currently selected are placed in the list located on the top, and the selected categories are located in the lower right list. Categories, of the selected variable, can be added and/or removed by using the four buttons. The order defined in lists will be respected on the Zoom Star. If a taxonomy is defined for a variable, the user can select the level he wants to work with. The complete taxonomy is displayed when the " View ... " button is pushed.

The number of variables and categories for any configuration must be such as:

3 £ number of variables £ 500

1 £ number of categories £ 500

Nevertheless it is recommended , for visual quality, to use not more than 24 variables and 15 categories.

1. The " Select So... " item


The " Select So... " item () displays the selection dialogue box and activates the " tag " corresponding to Symbolic Objects selection (see Figure 5).

2. The " Select Variables... " item


The " Select Variables... " item () displays the selection dialogue box and activates the " tag " corresponding to variables selection (see Figure 6).

3. The " Select Categories... " item


The " Select Categories... " item () displays the selection dialogue box and activates the " tag " corresponding to categories selection (see Figure 7).

4. The " Open Selection... " item


The " Open Selection... " item displays a dialogue box which allows a file containing a configuration to be opened. This file has a " .ovc " extension.

5. The " Save Selection... " item
The " Save Selection... " item displays a dialogue box which allows the current configuration to be saved in a file. This file has a " .ovc " extension.
 
 
2. The " Graphic " menu
1. The " Show/Hide Dependencies " item


The " Show/Hide Dependencies " item displays/hides dependencies, according to the graphical representation defined in " Zoom Star Specification " [29490 491/Rep2/V1/Zoom Star Specification], on the active Zoom Star. If graphics are locked (see 3.5.3), dependencies are displayed/hidden on all graphics.

2. The " Add/Remove Buttons " item


The " Add/Remove Buttons " item () displays/hides, on all graphics, buttons allowing Zoom Star to be moved up, down, right and left (see Figure 8).



Figure 8 : Example of Zoom Star with buttons

3. The " Lock/Unlock " item


The " Lock/Unlock " item () allows a function to be applied to a single Zoom Star (if unlocked) or to all Zoom Stars currently displayed (if locked). This locking system applies to the " 2D graphic... ", " 3D graphic... ", " Show/Hide dependencies ", " Add Text ... " items and all move functions. It also applies to visualisation of a distribution, i.e. if the user selects an axis corresponding to a variable with weighted values when graphics are locked, the variable distribution corresponding to all Zoom Stars will be displayed. The status bar continuously indicates if graphics are locked or not.

4. The " Horizontal/Vertical Histograms " item


This item () can be used to switch from the horizontal to the vertical representation of histograms.

5. The " All Log Scales " item


The " All Log Scales " item allows the user to ask for the use of logarithmic scales for all quantitative variables. Of course, the logarithmic scale will be applied only if the minimum value is greater than 0. Logarithmic scales can be selected to any axis individually (see 3.9.8).

6. The " Add Text ... " item


The " Add Text... " item provides the user with the possibility to add a text to a graphic. Once the user has entered the text and pushed on the " Ok " button of the dialogue box presented on Figure 9, the text is displayed on the upper-left side of the graphic. The user can then drag the text (by pushing on the left button of the mouse) and drop it at the desired location (by releasing the left button of the mouse). To modify or to remove a text, the user has to double click on the text and the dialogue box presented on Figure 9 will be displayed. The dialogue box also contain a " Font... " button which allows the user to select a particular font for each text.

If graphics are locked (see 3.5.3), the text is displayed/moved/removed on all graphics in the same time.



Figure 9 : The "Add Text" dialogue box

7. The " Move Up ", " Move Down ", " Move Left ", " Move Right " items


The move items () allow Zoom Stars to be moved around a vertical and a horizontal axis. However, the four arrow keys can also be used and it represents of course the easiest way to move graphics. If graphics are locked (see 3.5.3), each move is applied to all graphics.

8. The " Set Colours... " item


The " Set Colours... " item makes appear a dialogue box (see Figure 10) allowing Zoom Stars colours to be modified. The selected colours are saved when the application is closed.



Figure 10 : The "Set Colours" dialogue box

9. The " Set Fonts... " item
The " Set Fonts... " item makes appear a dialogue box (see Figure 11) allowing Zoom Stars fonts to be modified. The selected fonts are saved when the application is closed.
 
 




Figure 11 : The "Set Font..." dialogue box

NB: When printing a star , it is necessary to reduce the size of label characters.

For example, choose 5 for variable and categories labels.
 
 

3. The " Windows " menu


The " Window " menu is a standard Windowsä menu making the windows managing easier.
 
 

1. The " Cascade " item


The " Cascade " item displays windows the one behind to others (see Figure 12).



Figure 12 : Example of windows in cascade

2. The " Tile " item


The " Tile " item displays windows so that they are all completely visible (see Figure 13).



Figure 13 : Example of tiled windows

3. The " Arrange Icons " item


The " Arrange Icons " item displays side by side minimised windows in the bottom of the screen (see the " table " window on Figure 13).

4. The " Close All Stars " item


The " Close All Stars " item closes all windows containing Zoom Stars.

5. The " Close All Distributions " item
The " Close All Distributions " item closes all windows containing a distribution.
4. The " Help " menu


The " Help " menu contains the reference to the on-line help and an " about " dialogue box.
 
 

5. The table


The table is implemented according to guidelines defined in the Style Guide [29490 491 / Rep4 / V1 / Style Guide]



Figure 14 : Table representation

The user has the possibility to scroll vertically and horizontally thanks to scroll bars or arrow keys, and to modify column widths by " dragging and dropping " a column with the mouse (in this case, the mouse icon changes into « ).

1. Selection of lines and columns


It is possible to select lines and/or columns by selecting the header cell (grey cell) with the mouse. The entire line or column is coloured in grey as shown on Figure 15. The upper-left cell is separated in two parts, the upper-right part allows all variables to be selected, while the lower-left part allows all SOs to be selected.



Figure 15 : Selection of lines and columns

The user has the possibility to ask for removing the selected SOs or variables from the table (by hitting the " delete " key, or menu " Edit - Remove ").

2. Editing SOs
Some basic modifications can be performed on values. The user indicates its intention to modify a value either by double clicking on the corresponding cell, or directly by entering alphanumeric characters (in a way similar to the one used by Excel, as explained in the style guide). Metadata corresponding to the selected variable is displayed in a separate window.



Figure 16: Metadata display

As you can see on Figure 16, compared to Figure 14 and Figure 15, categories identifiers have been replaced by the automatically generated identifiers. This is necessary because labels may not be identifiers. But, complete labels are displayed in the metadata window.

The user has the possibility to choose a category by double clicking on the corresponding cell in the metadata table. This category will then be automatically inserted in the selected cell in the table. For example, if the user selects the second category in the metadata table, the " AB02 " string will be inserted into the selected cell of the table. When modifications are finished, the user will just have to select another cell of the table, or hit the " return " key. Some syntactic and semantic checks will then be performed.

Symbolic objects and variables labels can also be modified by double clicking on header cells (greyed cells).
 
 

6. Visualising the graphical representation
1. The Zoom Star representation


The following table describes the conventions used for axes representation :

Variable type	Axis description
Quantitative	Graduated axis
Categorical	Dots equally distributed on the axis
Not weighted	Axis drawn in black
Weighted	Axis drawn in claret
Not applicable	Axis drawn in grey

Remark : colours given here correspond to default colours.

2. The 2D Zoom Star


In the 2D Zoom Star, axes are linked according to each variable value. The following table describes the conventions used to link all axes according to the value, and gives an axis name which illustrates each case on Figure 17 :

Variable value	Link type	Example of variable
Single	the current value is linked	Sex
Multiple	each values are linked	Action
Interval	the limits are both linked and the whole surface is filled	Age
Weighted values	The value with the highest weight is the only one to be linked	Place



Figure 17 : Example of a 2D Zoom Star

3. The 3D Zoom Star


On the 3D Zoom Star representation, distributions corresponding to each variables with weighted values are added, as show on Figure 18 (this figure represents the same object as Figure 17). In this representation, axes are not linked. Therefore, the conventions are not the same to represent variables values. In this case, values are written in claret.

The height of histograms represented on the 3D Zoom Stars can be chosen by the user thanks to a the small arrows located in the tool bar (). The edit box located beside the small arrows indicates the current level. The level ranges from 1 to 10.



Figure 18 : Example of a 3D Zoom Star

4. Moving the object name and the variables names


The user has the possibility to move the object name (located in the upper-left corner by default) and any variable name by a " drag and drop " method.

5. Visualisation of distributions


When the mouse points on an axis corresponding to a variable with weighted values, the mouse icon changes (Figure 19a). This indicates to the user that he can select the axis (with the left button of the mouse) in order to view the distribution in another window. This possibility is available for both the 2D and the 3D representations.

If graphics are locked (see 3.5.3) , the distribution of the selected variable are displayed for all symbolic objects represented by Zoom Stars.

6. Visualisation of dependencies


When the Zoom Star is first displayed, dependencies are not completely displayed in order to avoid screen overloading. A small line is only displayed to indicate the existence of a dependency (see " Speed " category on " Cause " axis on Figure 18). When the mouse points on this small line, the mouse icon changes (Figure 19b). If the user push on the right button of the mouse, the entire axis is drawn. Once the entire axis is drawn, the user can push again on the right button of the mouse in order to replace the axis with the small line.

7. Visualisation of taxonomies


A small icon representing a taxonomy is placed beside any axis name corresponding to a variable with a taxonomy. When the mouse points on this icon, the mouse icon changes (Figure 19c). This indicates to the user that he can select the icon (with the left button of the mouse) in order to view the taxonomy in another window.

8. Scales modification

a)	b)	c)	d)
Figure 19 : Mouse icons

When the user selects a quantitative axis, a dialogue box is displayed (see Figure 20). This dialogue box allows the user to modify the minimum and the maximum values, but also to use a logarithmic scale (the minimum value must be greater than 0 to allow the use of the logarithmic scale). If the user extends the bounds of the interval, the new values will be taken into account when the sodas file will be saved. If the user restricts the interval, the original values will be taken into account when the sodas file will be saved (because this could lead to a loss of information).

1. Error Messages


Not any errors messages are coded. They are clearly expressed and tell the user how to fix the problem.
 
 

2. Notes