book

Hands-On Data Visualization

by Jack Dougherty, Ilya Ilyankou

April 2021

Beginner to intermediate

474 pages

13h 14m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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Preface
Audience and OverviewAdvice for Hands-On LearningChapter OutlineConventions Used in This BookO’Reilly Online LearningHow to Contact UsAcknowledgments
Introduction
Why Data Visualization?What Can You Believe?Some Pictures Are More PersuasiveDifferent Shades of the TruthOrganization of the Book
I. Foundational Skills
1. Choose Tools to Tell Your Story
Start Sketching Your Data StoryTen Factors When Considering Tools1. Easy to Learn2. Free or Affordable3. Powerful4. Supported5. Portable6. Secure and Private7. Collaborative8. Cross-Platform9. Open Source10. Accessible for Visually Impaired ReadersOur Recommended ToolsUse a Password Manager
2. Strengthen Your Spreadsheet Skills
Select Your Spreadsheet ToolsDownload to CSV or ODS FormatMake a Copy of a Google SheetShare Your Google SheetsUpload and Convert to Google SheetsGeocode Addresses in Google SheetsCollect Data with Google FormsSort and Filter DataCalculate with FormulasSummarize Data with Pivot TablesMatch Columns with VLOOKUPSpreadsheet Versus Relational Database
3. Find and Question Your Data
Guiding Questions for Your SearchPublic and Private DataMask or Aggregate Sensitive DataOpen Data RepositoriesSource Your DataRecognize Bad DataQuestion Your Data
4. Clean Up Messy Data
Smart Cleanup with Google SheetsFind and Replace with BlankTranspose Rows and ColumnsSplit Data into Separate ColumnsExample 1: Simple SplittingExample 2: Complex SplittingCombine Data into One ColumnExtract Tables from PDFs with TabulaClean Data with OpenRefineSet Up OpenRefineLoad Data and Start a New ProjectConvert Dollar Amounts from Text to NumbersCluster Similar Spellings
5. Make Meaningful Comparisons
Precisely Describe ComparisonsNormalize Your DataBeware of Biased Comparisons
II. Building Visualizations
6. Chart Your Data
Chart Design PrinciplesDeconstruct a ChartSome Rules Are More Important Than OthersChart AestheticsGoogle Sheets ChartsBar and Column ChartsGrouped Bar and Column ChartsSplit Bar and Column ChartsStacked Bar and Column ChartsHistogramsQuick Histograms with Google Sheets Column StatsRegular Histograms with Google Sheets ChartsPie, Line, and Area ChartsPie ChartsLine ChartsStacked Area ChartsDatawrapper ChartsAnnotated ChartsRange ChartsScatter and Bubble ChartsScatter Charts with Google SheetsBubble ChartsTableau Public ChartsScatter Charts with Tableau PublicInstall Tableau Public and Connect DataCreate Scatter Chart in the WorksheetAdd Title and Caption, and PublishFiltered Line ChartConnect Data to Tableau PublicBuild and Publish a Filtered Line Chart

7. Map Your Data
Map Design PrinciplesDeconstructing a MapClarify Point-Versus-Polygon DataMap One Variable, Not TwoChoose Smaller Geographies for Choropleth MapsDesign Choropleth Colors and IntervalsChoose Choropleth Palettes to Match Your DataChoose Color Intervals to Group Choropleth Map DataNormalize Choropleth Map DataPoint Map with Google My MapsSymbol Point Map with DatawrapperChoropleth Map with DatawrapperChoropleth Map with Tableau PublicCurrent Map with Socrata Open Data
8. Table Your Data
Table Design PrinciplesDatawrapper Table with SparklinesOther Table-Making Tools
9. Embed on the Web
Static Image Versus Interactive iframeGet the Embed Code or iframe TagFrom Google SheetsFrom DatawrapperFrom Tableau PublicPaste Code or iframe to a WebsiteTo WordPress.com SitesTo Self-Hosted WordPress SitesFor Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, or Other Web-Building Sites
III. Code Templates and Advanced Tools
10. Edit and Host Code with GitHub
Copy, Edit, and Host a Simple Leaflet Map TemplateConvert GitHub Pages Link to iframeCreate a New Repo and Upload Files on GitHubGitHub Desktop and Atom Text Editor to Code Efficiently
11. Chart.js and Highcharts Templates
Bar or Column Chart with Chart.jsError Bars with Chart.jsLine Chart with Chart.jsAnnotated Line Chart with HighchartsScatter Chart with Chart.jsBubble Chart with Chart.js
12. Leaflet Map Templates
Leaflet Maps with Google SheetsTutorial Requirements and OverviewLeaflet Storymaps with Google SheetsTutorial Requirements and OverviewGet Your Google Sheets API KeyLeaflet Maps with CSV DataLeaflet Heatmap Points with CSV DataLeaflet Searchable Point MapStep 1: Prepare Your DataStep 2: Download and Edit This TemplateStep 3: Publish Your MapLeaflet Maps with Open Data APIs
13. Transform Your Map Data
Geospatial Data and GeoJSONGeoJSONShapefilesGPS Exchange FormatKeyhole Markup LanguageMapInfo TABFind GeoJSON Boundary FilesDraw and Edit with GeoJson.ioConvert KML, GPX, and Other Formats into GeoJSONCreate GeoJSON from a CSV FileCreate New GeoJSON Data with Drawing ToolsEdit and Join with MapshaperImport, Convert, and Export Map Boundary FilesEdit Data for Specific PolygonsRename Data FieldsRemove Unwanted Data FieldsSimplify Map Boundaries to Reduce File SizeDissolve Internal Polygons to Create an Outline MapClip a Map to Match an Outline LayerJoin Spreadsheet Data With Polygon MapCount Points in Polygons with MapshaperMore About JoinsMerge Selected Polygons with Join and Dissolve CommandsConvert Compressed KMZ to KMLGeoreference with Map WarperBulk Geocode with US CensusPivot Points into Polygon Data
IV. Telling True, Meaningful Stories
14. Detect Lies and Reduce Bias
How to Lie with ChartsExaggerate Change in ChartsDiminish Change in ChartsHow to Lie with MapsExamine Data and Upload to DatawrapperModify the Map Color RangesRecognize and Reduce Data BiasRecognize and Reduce Spatial Bias
15. Tell and Show Your Data Story
Build a Narrative on a StoryboardDraw Attention to MeaningAcknowledge Sources and UncertaintyDecide on Your Data Story Format
A. Fix Common Problems
Tool or Platform ProblemsTry a Different BrowserDiagnose with Developer ToolsMac or Chromebook ProblemsWatch Out for Bad DataCommon iframe ErrorsFix Your Code on GitHub
Index
About the Authors

Content preview from Hands-On Data Visualization

About the Authors

Jack Dougherty is a professor of educational studies at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. He teaches a data visualization course where students partner with community organizations to help them tell their stories online with interactive charts and maps. Trained as a historian, Jack learned data visualization to share evidence more widely about cities, suburbs, and schools over time for his On The Line book. Visit his website or follow him on Twitter.

Ilya Ilyankou is a civic technologist at the Connecticut Data Collaborative, where he creates web-based tools to explain and explore public data. At Trinity College he completed his bachelor’s degree with a double major in computer science and studio arts, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in geographical information science (GIS) at the University of Leeds (UK). Ilya also heads Picturedigits, a design and technology lab that assists clients in analyzing and visualizing data. Follow him on Twitter or on GitHub.

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Hands-On Data Visualization

by Jack Dougherty, Ilya Ilyankou

About the Authors

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.