Network View

The Network view displays a data network diagram that provides an interactive (spring-loaded) visualisation of the (displayed) results set (a 'data' network diagram).

Records are shown as nodes, and the connections (pointer fields and relationships) as the lines between nodes (edges).

Viewing your Data

Run a search and select the Network tab. The results are shown as a network diagram.

Use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out of the map. Use the Network Diagram options to change the display settings, as follows:

• Lines: Lines can be straight or curved. You can also change the line length (between records), and the maximum width (width is indicative of the number of records in the connected record type, but the maximum width can be set here.
• Entity: You can set the maximum radius for a record type and its colour (radius width is indicative of the number of records in the record type, but the maximum width can be set here).
• Labels: Turn line labels on and off, as well as setting their size and colour.
• Transform: These settings control how the diagram elements are displayed (i.e. line and radius width). Linear and Logarithmic settings will vary the line width and radius width based on relative weightings, while Unweighed will show all widths as equal. Fisheye creates a fisheye effect where the closer the entity is to the selected entity, the larger it appears.
• Gravity: Select Gentle or Aggressive to determine to what degree entities are repositioned  around the selected entity based on their relative weightings. Tip. Use Aggressive initially, and then Gentle or turn Off.
• Mouse: Determines how you can use the mouse: The (default) mouse pointer icon lets you select and move a single node. Selected entities are shaded blue on the diagram and also on the Search Results pane. The rectangle icon lets you select and move a group of nodes. The information icon lets you view information about by clicking on a node.

Gephi Export

Gephi provides additional sophisticated ways of visualising the data shown in the Connections View.

Note. Gephi is a widely used free, open-source desktop tool that gives great flexibility in the visualisation of networks. To use Gephi you need to have installed it. Further information and download of Gephi is available here.

You can export the network data to a Gephi GEFX file via the Gephi Export button at top-right.

Once you have installed Gephi, clicking on the exported Gephi file will open the data in Gephi, where you have a wide range of options for tailoring and exporting similar diagrams.

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