Instructions
Note: Your data file should only contain data for one outcome variable.
If you want to create more than one line graph, you'll need to create each graph separately. Upload data for the first variable (i.e. body mass index), customize your graph and save your work. When you are finished, click on "Dismiss work" to reset the tool and upload a data file containing data for your next outcome variable (i.e. C-reactive protein).
To prepare and upload data follow the next steps:
List subject identification numbers in this column (1 row/subject)
List the group names in this column.
Save your data file as a “Comma Separated Values (.csv)” file.
In the “Data” menu on the left side of the website , click “Upload”.
Use the “Browse” button to find and select your data file. Click “Upload”.
You should see something like this confirming that your data uploaded successfully:
Select “Build” from the graph menu on the left side of the screen. This will create your interactive line graph. Use the options below the graph to explore and format your interactive graphic.
To change the group names in the graph legend, update the textbox at the top of each group.
To focus on groups of interest, select which groups will be shown on graphs by clicking checkboxes at the top of each group.
To examine individual responders: checking the boxes inside the group will show lines for any individual(s) in the dataset.
To change the condition labels on the x-axis, update the textbox listing each condition.
To focus on conditions or time points of interest: uncheck the boxes to remove time points or conditions from the graph.
To show x-axis to be continuous: check the box Show conditions as continuous time points and define time points. List time points as numbers only and make sure that all numbers are in the same units (i.e. 1, 5, 10, 15, 30). X-axis will be re-scaled according to this.
Use these options to view different summary statistics.
Use the “Graph Design” options to adjust the y-axis scale and labels for the line graph.
Switch to the “Difference Plot” tab at the top of the screen.
This graph shows the absolute difference between two conditions (i.e. Condition 2 – Condition 1). Use the “Graph Design” options to adjust the axis labels, y-axis scale, add horizontal grid lines, fill the data points on the graph, or add a legend.
To focus on conditions or time points of interest: select the conditions for which you would like to view change scores.
To change the group names on the x-axis, update the textbox for each group.
To focus on groups of interest: uncheck the boxes to remove groups from the graph.
Use this option to change whether the lines for each group show the mean or median difference.
Leave all cells with missing data blank, whether you are entering data manually or uploading data as a .csv file.
When building the interactive graph, the following procedures are used to account for missing data:
- View/edit data page: Summary statistics include all cases in the groups with all available data for all conditions. For example, if a group has 5 subjects and one subject is missing data for the third time point, the summary statistics would include 4 subjects for the third time point and 5 subjects for all other time points.
- Build graph page: If there are missing data, a "missing data" warning will appear next to the checkbox for any subject that has missing data. The summary statistics and graph include only subjects that have all values for conditions that are shown in the graph. For example, if a group has 5 subjects and one subject is missing data for the third time point, the graph and summary statistics would include 4 subjects whenever the third time point is shown on the graph. However, if the viewer unchecks the third time point to remove this time period from the graph, then the graph and summary statistics would include all 5 subjects.
You can save specific graphs that you want to appear in your print publication.
Saving a graph allows you to download a .tif file containing the graph for your paper,
and also makes the saved graph a part of the .xml file that contains your interactive line graph.
When readers upload the .xml file into the web-based tool, all saved graphs will appear in the Graphs menu on the left side of the screen.
Readers can click on saved graphs to view and explore graphs that you saved or use the tools on the site to explore other aspects of the data.
To save graphs created in either the “Line Graph” or “Difference Plot” tabs:
Create the graph that you want to save by following the instructions for Customizing Line Graph or Customizing Difference Plot.
Scroll down to the options below the graph. Enter a name under “Save this graph as:”, then click “Save”.
The graph that you saved will be listed under “Graphs” in the menu on the left side of the screen.
You can click on the graph name at any time to view the graph, save an updated version of the graph or delete the graph.
Repeat steps 1 ‐ 4 to create and save all the graphs that you want to save.
When you are finished, select “Download workset” from the menu of the left side of the screen.
Select “Complete Zip” from the pop-up window.
Follow the prompts to save the zip file; then open the folder containing your files. The .tif files contain images of each graph that you saved. The .xml file contains your interactive line graph. You can upload this as a data supplement for your paper. Readers can upload the .xml file into this website to view your interactive line graph. The .csv file contains your data in a format that can be used by Excel and many statistics programs.
Color blind mode can be switched on and off for the entire site.
Click on “Color blind mode” in the menu on the left side of the screen to view the graph in a color-blind safe color scheme.
If your data did not upload successfully, there may have been a problem with the column labels (id, group) or the column order. Select “Define” from the Data menu on the left side of the screen.
Use the menu to enter the number of groups, group sizes, group names, number of conditions, and condition labels. Click on “Don’t save, just download template csv file”.
Enter the data for each subject and condition in the template file that you downloaded. Save the csv file; then upload it using the “Upload” option under the “Data” menu on the left side of the screen.