Data visualisation tools. Visualisation tools. 8 more free tools for data visualization and analysis. Posting a roundup of useful data visualization tools invariably means leaving out more than you can include.
JavaScript libraries alone number considerably more than the 22 free tools for data visualization and analysis I reviewed last week. I knew I'd hear from Computerworld readers -- in comments, by email and via social media -- and I expected you'd have some great additions to my initial list. You didn't disappoint. Here are some of the more interesting recommendations, culled from reader responses, social media and posts around the Web. Disclaimer: I haven't tried any of these hands-on (yet). MicroStrategy Reporting Suite One reader asked why MicroStrategy's free reporting tool didn't make the cut. Reporting Suite is free for up to 100 users and offers tables, graphs, and the ability to query data and generate statistical metrics. D3.js I just came across this JavaScript library today (thanks to @keikei on Twitter).
Make a Map Data Science Toolkit Visualization Toolkit VisIT. 22 free tools for data visualization and analysis. You may not think you've got much in common with an investigative journalist or an academic medical researcher.
But if you're trying to extract useful information from an ever-increasing inflow of data, you'll likely find visualization useful -- whether it's to show patterns or trends with graphics instead of mountains of text, or to try to explain complex issues to a nontechnical audience. There are many tools around to help turn data into graphics, but they can carry hefty price tags. The cost can make sense for professionals whose primary job is to find meaning in mountains of information, but you might not be able to justify such an expense if you or your users only need a graphics application from time to time, or if your budget for new tools is somewhat limited. If one of the higher-priced options is out of your reach, there are a surprising number of highly robust tools for data visualization and analysis that are available at no charge.
Data cleaning DataWrangler. Tableau revamps BI visualization tools with user-centric focus. News By Chris Kanaracus January 18, 2012 12:04 AM ET IDG News Service - Business intelligence vendor Tableau Software on Wednesday announced the availability of Tableau 7.0, a release that boosts speed and scale as well as provides what the company calls "human-oriented" design and accessibility.
One main new feature is Data Server, essentially a central repository where users can share datasets and database connections with people who have the granted permissions. Tableau supports direct connections to many popular data sources, such as Excel and the Oracle database. Tableau has also rolled out a number of new visualization tools and chart types, such as filled maps and area charts. "The key emphasis here is putting the power into the hands of people who have questions," said Francois Ajenstat, director of product management. Tableau is also looking to get into larger and more complex deployments, with new support for multitenancy. Reprinted with permission from IDG.net.