Parallel Coordinates

Compare entities across multiple numeric dimensions simultaneously. Each measure gets its own vertical axis, and each entity is represented as a polyline connecting its values across all axes. Ideal for multi-criteria evaluation -- product comparisons, supplier scoring, employee performance profiles.

Examples

When to Use

• Comparing products, suppliers, or candidates across many dimensions at once
• Identifying clusters of similar entities or outliers in multi-dimensional data
• Exploring trade-offs between competing metrics (cost vs. quality vs. speed)
• Profiling entities to find patterns in multi-variate datasets

Data Roles

Settings

Color & Appearance

Axis Settings

Common settings like Legend, Tooltip, and Small Multiples configuration are covered in Shared Concepts.

Tips & Best Practices

• Bind 3-6 measures for optimal readability -- too many axes become cluttered
• Use the Group field to split into small multiples when comparing subsets
• Hover over lines to highlight individual entities and compare their profiles