8d: Summary : Mapping and visualisation

Summary automatically generated on 11/25/2025 using the gpt-oss:120b model from the servers of Onyxia (INSEE) based on the complete document of the chapter. 

1️⃣ Spatio‑temporal Map tab

Result: The interface splits into two synchronized panels – a map (top) and a timeline (bottom).

1.1 Prerequisites for a spatio‑temporal view

• At least one spatial field (coordinates, WKT, GeoJSON, etc.).
• At least one temporal field (date, date‑range, etc.).

If one of these is missing either the map or the timeline will not be populated.

1.2 Map panel

1.3 Publishing a map (iframe)

1.4 Timeline (chronological strip)

• Synchronized with the map: moving the timeline brush filters the points shown on the map.
• Tools (bottom bar)
  • Zoom / De‑zoom – change the temporal resolution.
  • Reset – return to the full time span.
  • Downloading – export the timeline data (CSV) – see Export section for details.
  • Left / Right navigation – step forward or backward in time.
  • Timeline options – label display (full, truncated, fixed width, hidden), label placement (inside / above bar), bar stacking, bar wrapping, and a “Filter map with current timeline range” checkbox.

2️⃣ Network tab

2.1 What you need

• Linked records (relationship fields) or record types that are already defined as linked.
• A query that returns all records you want to appear in the graph.

2.2 Main controls (header)

2.3 Tips for a readable network

• Turn Gravity on, let the layout settle, then turn it off.
• If the graph still looks tangled, click Refresh Data under Graph Control.
• Use the Select mode to isolate a subset of nodes and move them manually.

3️⃣ Cross‑tabular (Pivot) View

3.1 Building the table

1. Choose the record type you want to analyse (right‑hand panel).
2. Pick Variable 1 (dropdown Var 1) – the first field to cross.
3. Pick Variable 2 (dropdown Var 2) – the second field (optional).
4. Optionally add a Variable 3 (click the “+” icon).
5. Click “Update results”.

If only one variable is chosen, you obtain a simple frequency table; with two variables you get a cross‑tabulation.

3.2 Assign / edit intervals (value grouping)

• Click the pencil icon (✏️) to open the Assign intervals dialog.
• Add Interval – press [Add Interval], select the values to merge, click the right‑arrow, then give the new interval a name.
• Remove Interval – select an interval and click the left‑arrow (or the blue “←” button).
• Reset – press [🔄Reset] to revert to the original value list.

All changes are reflected instantly in the table.

3.3 Table options

3.4 Export & visualisation

• Export – click the Export button (top‑right) to download CSV or PDF.
• Chart (pie) – when only one variable is selected, a pie chart button becomes active; it displays the distribution of that variable.

At least one variable must be selected before any result (table or chart) appears.

📊 Quick‑reference of Heurist visualisation tabs

🔖 Key take‑aways

• Map + Timeline requires both a spatial and a temporal field; otherwise the view stays empty.
• Use the Publish button to generate an embeddable iframe; you can customise which controls appear and even export a KML for Google Earth.
• In the Network view, turning Gravity on, letting the layout settle, then turning it off yields the cleanest static graph.
• The Cross‑tabular view is ideal for quick quantitative overviews; remember to assign intervals when you need to group raw values.
• All export actions (CSV, PDF, GEXF, KML, iframe) are reachable from the respective tab’s header toolbar.