Survey

Powerful interactive ‘dot’ visualisation, good for exploring survey results

Updated 7 years ago by Template retirement home

How to use this template

A template for visualising survey responses and other data where each row represents a discrete entity such as a person.

The template allows you animate dots into different views, including groups, bars, and – for global data – a world map. It also allows you to compare different metrics in a grid view.

Ideal for datasets up to around 20,000 rows. Larger datasets will work but perform more slowly.

API information

This section documents API usage specific to this template, so for an introduction we suggest you refer to the generic API documentation instead.

template: _134

version: _9

Template `data`

There are three different formats in which you can supply data to this template. The most convenient for you to use likely depends on the source of your data, as described below.

1. Array of arrays, and a bindings object

You can supply arrays of arrays to opts.data, which might look like:

{
    data: {
        questions: [
            [ "QuestionsColumn1Value1", "QuestionsColumn2Value1",
            [ "QuestionsColumn1Value2", "QuestionsColumn2Value2",
            [ "QuestionsColumn1Value3", "QuestionsColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ],
        order: [
            [ "OrderColumn1Value1", "OrderColumn2Value1",
            [ "OrderColumn1Value2", "OrderColumn2Value2",
            [ "OrderColumn1Value3", "OrderColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ],
        labels: [
            [ "LabelsColumn1Value1", "LabelsColumn2Value1",
            [ "LabelsColumn1Value2", "LabelsColumn2Value2",
            [ "LabelsColumn1Value3", "LabelsColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ],
        colors: [
            [ "ColorsColumn1Value1", "ColorsColumn2Value1",
            [ "ColorsColumn1Value2", "ColorsColumn2Value2",
            [ "ColorsColumn1Value3", "ColorsColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ],
        places: [
            [ "PlacesColumn1Value1", "PlacesColumn2Value1",
            [ "PlacesColumn1Value2", "PlacesColumn2Value2",
            [ "PlacesColumn1Value3", "PlacesColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ],
        answer_groups: [
            [ "Answer_groupsColumn1Value1", "Answer_groupsColumn2Value1",
            [ "Answer_groupsColumn1Value2", "Answer_groupsColumn2Value2",
            [ "Answer_groupsColumn1Value3", "Answer_groupsColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ]
    }
}

where each array of arrays represents the rows in a data sheet.

To tell the API how the values from each column should be associated with the keys that the template is expecting, you must also supply an object attached to opts.bindings. (The meanings of the keys in the bindings object are documented below.) The minimal bindings you can supply for this template are as shown in this example:

{
    template: "_134",
    version: "_9",
    bindings: {
        questions: {
            
        },
        order: {
            
        },
        labels: {
            label: 0, // index of a column in your data
            replacement: 1, // index of a column in your data
        },
        colors: {
            question: 0, // index of a column in your data
            answer: 1, // index of a column in your data
            color: 2, // index of a column in your data
        },
        places: {
            latitude: 0, // index of a column in your data
            longitude: 1, // index of a column in your data
        },
        answer_groups: {
            group: 0, // index of a column in your data
            question: 1, // index of a column in your data
            display_as: 2, // index of a column in your data
        }
    },
    data: {
        questions: [
            [ "QuestionsColumn1Value1", "QuestionsColumn2Value1",
            [ "QuestionsColumn1Value2", "QuestionsColumn2Value2",
            [ "QuestionsColumn1Value3", "QuestionsColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ],
        order: [
            [ "OrderColumn1Value1", "OrderColumn2Value1",
            [ "OrderColumn1Value2", "OrderColumn2Value2",
            [ "OrderColumn1Value3", "OrderColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ],
        labels: [
            [ "LabelsColumn1Value1", "LabelsColumn2Value1",
            [ "LabelsColumn1Value2", "LabelsColumn2Value2",
            [ "LabelsColumn1Value3", "LabelsColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ],
        colors: [
            [ "ColorsColumn1Value1", "ColorsColumn2Value1",
            [ "ColorsColumn1Value2", "ColorsColumn2Value2",
            [ "ColorsColumn1Value3", "ColorsColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ],
        places: [
            [ "PlacesColumn1Value1", "PlacesColumn2Value1",
            [ "PlacesColumn1Value2", "PlacesColumn2Value2",
            [ "PlacesColumn1Value3", "PlacesColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ],
        answer_groups: [
            [ "Answer_groupsColumn1Value1", "Answer_groupsColumn2Value1",
            [ "Answer_groupsColumn1Value2", "Answer_groupsColumn2Value2",
            [ "Answer_groupsColumn1Value3", "Answer_groupsColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ]
    }
}

All possible bindings that you can supply are shown in this example:

{
    template: "_134",
    version: "_9",
    bindings: {
        questions: {
            metadata: [0, 1, ...], // index(es) of column(s) in your data
            categorical: [2, 3, ...], // index(es) of column(s) in your data
            continuous: [4, 5, ...], // index(es) of column(s) in your data
            geo: [6, 7, ...], // index(es) of column(s) in your data
        },
        order: {
            categories: [0, 1, ...], // index(es) of column(s) in your data
        },
        labels: {
            label: 0, // index of a column in your data
            replacement: 1, // index of a column in your data
        },
        colors: {
            question: 0, // index of a column in your data
            answer: 1, // index of a column in your data
            color: 2, // index of a column in your data
        },
        places: {
            latitude: 0, // index of a column in your data
            longitude: 1, // index of a column in your data
            names: [2, 3, ...], // index(es) of column(s) in your data
        },
        answer_groups: {
            group: 0, // index of a column in your data
            question: 1, // index of a column in your data
            display_as: 2, // index of a column in your data
            affirmative_answers: [3, 4, ...], // index(es) of column(s) in your data
        }
    },
    data: {
        questions: [
            [ "QuestionsColumn1Value1", "QuestionsColumn2Value1",
            [ "QuestionsColumn1Value2", "QuestionsColumn2Value2",
            [ "QuestionsColumn1Value3", "QuestionsColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ],
        order: [
            [ "OrderColumn1Value1", "OrderColumn2Value1",
            [ "OrderColumn1Value2", "OrderColumn2Value2",
            [ "OrderColumn1Value3", "OrderColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ],
        labels: [
            [ "LabelsColumn1Value1", "LabelsColumn2Value1",
            [ "LabelsColumn1Value2", "LabelsColumn2Value2",
            [ "LabelsColumn1Value3", "LabelsColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ],
        colors: [
            [ "ColorsColumn1Value1", "ColorsColumn2Value1",
            [ "ColorsColumn1Value2", "ColorsColumn2Value2",
            [ "ColorsColumn1Value3", "ColorsColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ],
        places: [
            [ "PlacesColumn1Value1", "PlacesColumn2Value1",
            [ "PlacesColumn1Value2", "PlacesColumn2Value2",
            [ "PlacesColumn1Value3", "PlacesColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ],
        answer_groups: [
            [ "Answer_groupsColumn1Value1", "Answer_groupsColumn2Value1",
            [ "Answer_groupsColumn1Value2", "Answer_groupsColumn2Value2",
            [ "Answer_groupsColumn1Value3", "Answer_groupsColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ]
    }
}

2. Array of objects with arbitrary keys, and a bindings object

This format is most likely useful when you have data from an external source, such as CSV data loaded from d3-dsv. You should supply this attached to the opts.data, which might look like:

{
        questions: [
            { "QuestionsHeader1": ..., "QuestionsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "QuestionsHeader1": ..., "QuestionsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "QuestionsHeader1": ..., "QuestionsHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ],
        order: [
            { "OrderHeader1": ..., "OrderHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "OrderHeader1": ..., "OrderHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "OrderHeader1": ..., "OrderHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ],
        labels: [
            { "LabelsHeader1": ..., "LabelsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "LabelsHeader1": ..., "LabelsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "LabelsHeader1": ..., "LabelsHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ],
        colors: [
            { "ColorsHeader1": ..., "ColorsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "ColorsHeader1": ..., "ColorsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "ColorsHeader1": ..., "ColorsHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ],
        places: [
            { "PlacesHeader1": ..., "PlacesHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "PlacesHeader1": ..., "PlacesHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "PlacesHeader1": ..., "PlacesHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ],
        answer_groups: [
            { "Answer_groupsHeader1": ..., "Answer_groupsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "Answer_groupsHeader1": ..., "Answer_groupsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "Answer_groupsHeader1": ..., "Answer_groupsHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ]
    }

... but with the keys being the column headers from your source data instead. You must also supply an object attached to opts.bindings. The minimal bindings you can supply for this template are as shown in this example:

{
    template: "_134",
    version: "_9",
    bindings: {
        questions: {
            
        },
        order: {
            
        },
        labels: {
            label: "LabelsHeader1",
            replacement: "LabelsHeader2",
        },
        colors: {
            question: "ColorsHeader1",
            answer: "ColorsHeader2",
            color: "ColorsHeader3",
        },
        places: {
            latitude: "PlacesHeader1",
            longitude: "PlacesHeader2",
        },
        answer_groups: {
            group: "Answer_groupsHeader1",
            question: "Answer_groupsHeader2",
            display_as: "Answer_groupsHeader3",
        }
    },
    data: {
        questions: [
            { "QuestionsHeader1": ..., "QuestionsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "QuestionsHeader1": ..., "QuestionsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "QuestionsHeader1": ..., "QuestionsHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ],
        order: [
            { "OrderHeader1": ..., "OrderHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "OrderHeader1": ..., "OrderHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "OrderHeader1": ..., "OrderHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ],
        labels: [
            { "LabelsHeader1": ..., "LabelsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "LabelsHeader1": ..., "LabelsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "LabelsHeader1": ..., "LabelsHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ],
        colors: [
            { "ColorsHeader1": ..., "ColorsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "ColorsHeader1": ..., "ColorsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "ColorsHeader1": ..., "ColorsHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ],
        places: [
            { "PlacesHeader1": ..., "PlacesHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "PlacesHeader1": ..., "PlacesHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "PlacesHeader1": ..., "PlacesHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ],
        answer_groups: [
            { "Answer_groupsHeader1": ..., "Answer_groupsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "Answer_groupsHeader1": ..., "Answer_groupsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "Answer_groupsHeader1": ..., "Answer_groupsHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ]
    }
}

All possible bindings that you can supply are shown in this example:

{
    template: "_134",
    version: "_9",
    bindings: {
        questions: {
            metadata: ["QuestionsHeader1", "QuestionsHeader2", ...],
            categorical: ["QuestionsHeader3", "QuestionsHeader4", ...],
            continuous: ["QuestionsHeader5", "QuestionsHeader6", ...],
            geo: ["QuestionsHeader7", "QuestionsHeader8", ...],
        },
        order: {
            categories: ["OrderHeader1", "OrderHeader2", ...],
        },
        labels: {
            label: "LabelsHeader1",
            replacement: "LabelsHeader2",
        },
        colors: {
            question: "ColorsHeader1",
            answer: "ColorsHeader2",
            color: "ColorsHeader3",
        },
        places: {
            latitude: "PlacesHeader1",
            longitude: "PlacesHeader2",
            names: ["PlacesHeader3", "PlacesHeader4", ...],
        },
        answer_groups: {
            group: "Answer_groupsHeader1",
            question: "Answer_groupsHeader2",
            display_as: "Answer_groupsHeader3",
            affirmative_answers: ["Answer_groupsHeader4", "Answer_groupsHeader5", ...],
        }
    },
    data: {
        questions: [
            { "QuestionsHeader1": ..., "QuestionsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "QuestionsHeader1": ..., "QuestionsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "QuestionsHeader1": ..., "QuestionsHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ],
        order: [
            { "OrderHeader1": ..., "OrderHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "OrderHeader1": ..., "OrderHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "OrderHeader1": ..., "OrderHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ],
        labels: [
            { "LabelsHeader1": ..., "LabelsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "LabelsHeader1": ..., "LabelsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "LabelsHeader1": ..., "LabelsHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ],
        colors: [
            { "ColorsHeader1": ..., "ColorsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "ColorsHeader1": ..., "ColorsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "ColorsHeader1": ..., "ColorsHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ],
        places: [
            { "PlacesHeader1": ..., "PlacesHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "PlacesHeader1": ..., "PlacesHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "PlacesHeader1": ..., "PlacesHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ],
        answer_groups: [
            { "Answer_groupsHeader1": ..., "Answer_groupsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "Answer_groupsHeader1": ..., "Answer_groupsHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "Answer_groupsHeader1": ..., "Answer_groupsHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ]
    }
}

(As before, the keys containing "Header" would be replaced by column names from your data source.)

3. Array of objects with template-defined keys

There is an alternative format you can use, which is likely to be easier to use if your data is not from a spreadsheet source. With this alternative format you supply your data to the template as an array of objects, attached to opts.data, where the keys must be those used by the template, as documented below. In this case there is no need to supply a bindings object, since the key names are already those expected by the template. The required properties in the data object are as follows (scroll down for a description of what each property is):

{
    template: "_134",
    version: "_9",
    data: {
    questions: [
        {
            metadata: [...],
            categorical: [...],
            continuous: [...],
            geo: [...]
        },
        ...
    ],
    order: [
        {
            categories: [...]
        },
        ...
    ],
    labels: [
        {
            label: ...,
            replacement: ...
        },
        ...
    ],
    colors: [
        {
            question: ...,
            answer: ...,
            color: ...
        },
        ...
    ],
    places: [
        {
            latitude: ...,
            longitude: ...,
            names: [...]
        },
        ...
    ],
    answer_groups: [
        {
            group: ...,
            question: ...,
            display_as: ...,
            affirmative_answers: [...]
        },
        ...
    ]
},
    ...
}

And the full list of all possible properties is as follows:

{
    template: "_134",
    version: "_9",
    data: {
    questions: [
        {
            metadata: [...],
            categorical: [...],
            continuous: [...],
            geo: [...]
        },
        ...
    ],
    order: [
        {
            categories: [...]
        },
        ...
    ],
    labels: [
        {
            label: ...,
            replacement: ...
        },
        ...
    ],
    colors: [
        {
            question: ...,
            answer: ...,
            color: ...
        },
        ...
    ],
    places: [
        {
            latitude: ...,
            longitude: ...,
            names: [...]
        },
        ...
    ],
    answer_groups: [
        {
            group: ...,
            question: ...,
            display_as: ...,
            affirmative_answers: [...]
        },
        ...
    ]
},
    ...
}

Meanings of the template data keys:

questions.metadata: Identifying information
questions.categorical: categorical
questions.continuous: continuous
questions.geo: geo
order.categories: categories
labels.label: label
labels.replacement: replacement
colors.question: question
colors.answer: answer
colors.color: color
places.latitude: latitude
places.longitude: longitude
places.names: names
answer_groups.group: group
answer_groups.question: question
answer_groups.display_as: display_as
answer_groups.affirmative_answers: The respondent is included in the group if their answer to the question is one of the answers listed in these columns

Template `settings`

Options for opts.state.

Dots

`dot_fill` color

Default colour. The colour of the dots if nothing is selected on the “Shade by” menu

`dot_opacity` number

Dot opacity. The opacity of the dots. A number between 0 and 1.

Max: 1

`colors` text

Shading colours. The colours to use when shading by the answer to a question

`include_grouped_questions_on_shade_menu` boolean

Include grouped questions on shading menu. Should grouped questions be included on the shading menu?

Animations

`transition_duration` number

Animation length. Time in milliseconds of each dot's animation

`transition_stagger` number

Animation stagger. The spread of time over which the dots start animating

Popups

`show_popups` boolean

Show popups. Whether or not to show info popups when hovering over the dots

Popup contents. Can include any HTML with column headers in double curly brackets, such as {{Gender}}

Layout

`fill_wide_screens` boolean

Fill wide screens vertically. Check for big screen use or fixed heigh embeds; leave unchecked for responsive embeds

`margin_left` number

Left margin (pixels).

`margin_top` number

Top margin (pixels).

`margin_right` number

Right margin (pixels).

`panel_width` number

Panel widths (pixels). Width of the legend and controls panels on wide screens, ignored on mobile

`order_groups_by_size` boolean

Order groups by size.

`order_grouped_groups_by_size` boolean

… even for grouped questions?. If “Order groups by size” is not ticked, this option is ignored

`overlay_image_visible` boolean

Show overlay image.

`overlay_image_url` string

Overlay image URL.

Page design

`gradient_opacity` number

Gradient opacity. The gradient shade over the map

Max: 1

`map_opacity_map_mode` number

Map opacity (in map mode).

Max: 1

`map_opacity_non_map_mode` number

Map opacity (in other modes).

Max: 1

`background_color` color

Background color.

`background_image` string

Background image URL.

Filter

`exclusions` string

Exclude groups with the following names. Case-sensitive comma-separated list

`exclude_blanks` boolean

Exclude groups with blank names.

Zoom

`zoom_on_double_click` boolean

Zoom on double click.

`zoom_on_mousewheel` boolean

Zoom on pinch/mousewheel.

Labels

`label_color` color

Label colour.

`label_shadow_color` color

Label shadow colour.

`label_shadow_size` number

Label shadow size. Measured in pixels

`always_show_x_label` boolean

Show X-axis groups label when not comparing. Show the groups label at the bottom when not comparing two metrics

`show_xy_axis_labels_when_comparing` boolean

Show X/Y-axis groups labels when comparing. Show groups labels on both axes when comparing two metrics

Survey

Updated 7 years ago by Template retirement home

How to use this template

API information

Template data

1. Array of arrays, and a bindings object

2. Array of objects with arbitrary keys, and a bindings object

3. Array of objects with template-defined keys

Meanings of the template data keys:

Template settings

Dots

dot_fill color

dot_opacity number

colors text

include_grouped_questions_on_shade_menu boolean

Animations

transition_duration number

transition_stagger number

Popups

show_popups boolean

popup text

Layout

fill_wide_screens boolean

margin_left number

margin_top number

margin_right number

panel_width number

order_groups_by_size boolean

order_grouped_groups_by_size boolean

overlay_image_visible boolean

overlay_image_url string

Page design

gradient_opacity number

map_opacity_map_mode number

map_opacity_non_map_mode number

background_color color

background_image string

Filter

exclusions string

exclude_blanks boolean

Zoom

zoom_on_double_click boolean

zoom_on_mousewheel boolean

Labels

label_color color

label_shadow_color color

label_shadow_size number

always_show_x_label boolean

show_xy_axis_labels_when_comparing boolean

Template `data`

Template `settings`

`dot_fill` color

`dot_opacity` number

`colors` text

`include_grouped_questions_on_shade_menu` boolean

`transition_duration` number

`transition_stagger` number

`show_popups` boolean

`popup` text

`fill_wide_screens` boolean

`margin_left` number

`margin_top` number

`margin_right` number

`panel_width` number

`order_groups_by_size` boolean

`order_grouped_groups_by_size` boolean

`overlay_image_visible` boolean

`overlay_image_url` string

`gradient_opacity` number

`map_opacity_map_mode` number

`map_opacity_non_map_mode` number

`background_color` color

`background_image` string

`exclusions` string

`exclude_blanks` boolean

`zoom_on_double_click` boolean

`zoom_on_mousewheel` boolean

`label_color` color

`label_shadow_color` color

`label_shadow_size` number

`always_show_x_label` boolean

`show_xy_axis_labels_when_comparing` boolean