Parallel Coordinates Plot
Source: Data Visualisation Catalogue - Parallel Coordinates Plot
Why This Belongs In The Compiler Gallery
Parallel coordinates test repeated axis layout and grouped paths. The compiler now derives per-axis positions, per-axis ticks, and one point row per observation per dimension so the existing path glyph can render each observation as a polyline.
Data Contract
Each raw row represents one observation with multiple quantitative dimensions.
| Field | Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
segment | categorical | Observation label and color key. |
reach, cost, quality, loyalty | quantitative | Raw dimensions. |
axis | categorical, derived | Dimension name for each emitted point. |
axisIndex | quantitative, derived | Sort order for path construction. |
x, y | quantitative, derived | Per-axis point coordinate. |
Expected Visual
Each dimension renders as a vertical axis. Every observation becomes one polyline crossing all axes, with color keyed by observation.
Compiler Mapping
| Compiler part | Mapping |
|---|---|
| Data source | observations and derived parallel-axes, parallel-ticks, and axis-points. |
| Transform | layout with parallelAxes, parallelAxisTicks, and parallelCoordinates layout kinds. |
| Scales | Ordinal color scale over observations. Per-axis quantitative normalization is owned by the layout transform. |
| Layers | Axis/tick line guides, axis/tick labels, grouped path polylines, and point handles. |
Faithfulness Notes
The first pass covers the core catalogue form. Remaining work is brushing, categorical dimensions, inverted-axis policy, and generated multi-axis guide presets.