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Dueling Y-Axes

by Robin on January 25, 2010

One of the most common requests we get for OmniGraphSketcher is to support multiple y-scales overlaid on the same graph, to make it possible to plot several different types of related data on the same chart.  Some people call this approach “dual y-axes” because graphs of this type tend to put vertical axes on both sides of the graph area. For a while now we've been debating whether or not this is a good idea.

We've now posted an article with our thoughts on the matter.

Our main conclusion was that overlaying data with disparate scales saves space, but it makes the data significantly harder to interpret. The dual axes “duel” for your attention. So instead of overlaying scales, we recommend using a set of multiple graphs, aligned along their common axis. Graph Sketcher does not have a built-in option for this, but you can easily Copy As Image with each graph and paste into OmniGraffle or another program with layout capabilities.

Graphs for running pace and distance were copied from OmniGraphSketcher and pasted into OmniGraffle.

Read the article for more details, and if you have a graph with overlaid scales that you think is more effective than its separated-and-aligned counterpart, please let us know—we still have an open mind about it.

 

Comments

I'd like to add that there's a thread in our forums on this topic as well, for those that are so inclined.

dave

01.25.10 4:59 AM

As with so many things, I think the only 100% accurate answer is “it depends.” There are certainly situations where direct comparison would be nice, and is non-cluttered, even if that's not the usual case.

Noah Iliinsky

01.25.10 6:06 AM

In TrailRunner is use a mixed approach, I display a common x-axis but give each data row it´s own vertical space. In TrailRunner 3.0 this vertical space can even reach into other data rows if the current row has an outlier. When you hover over a data row, grid lines are being displayed for that row, disappearing when you hover over another row.

So my this case, “it [also] depends” and additionally it is “interactive”.


see more here:

http://trailrunnerx.com/blog

Berbie

01.25.10 8:16 AM

There are times that dual Y-axes can distract rather than illuminate, but that can be said for most plotting features. It does work sometimes.

Chris

01.25.10 4:24 PM

There are many times in my field (engineering science) where we have to submit publications with everything given in both English and Metric units.  It makes all the sense in the world to have two sets of axes, say, one in inches and the other in meters since both axes apply to the same data set.  It would be highly redundant to display the same graph twice, with the only difference the scales.

Ben

02.02.10 6:04 AM

This “manual” method is good. What would be better is to let the user chose. As I see it your “Job” is to make it as flexible as possible.

So please, do enable have multiple Y-Axis on the same chart (Moreover, you have 2 Y “Sides”).

Drazick

02.14.10 2:31 AM
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