Introduction to Data Science: A Low-Code Project-Based Approach

Subsection Keyboard Shortcuts and Efficiency Tips

Duplicating Components

Right-click on a component’s title bar and select "Duplicate" to create a copy.

Quick Graph Creation

Select attributes in the table by Ctrl/Cmd+clicking their headers, then click the graph button.

Batch Editing

Select multiple cells in a column, right-click, and choose "Edit Values" to change them all at once.

Rearranging Components

Hold Shift while moving components to maintain their alignment with other components.

Quick Selections in Graphs

Click and drag to select multiple points in a graph; double-click background to select all points.

Subsection Common Issues and Solutions

Data Not Importing Correctly

• Check that your CSV file uses consistent delimiters (commas or tabs)
• Ensure text with commas is properly quoted in CSV files
• Try opening the CSV in a text editor to check for formatting issues
• For large files, try importing in smaller chunks

Formulas Not Working

• Check for typos in attribute names (they are case-sensitive)
• Verify parentheses are balanced
• Make sure you’re using the correct operators (e.g., = for equality, not ==)
• Confirm that referenced attributes contain appropriate data types

Performance Issues

• Close unnecessary components to reduce memory usage
• Work with a subset of data if the full dataset is very large
• Limit the number of simultaneously open graphs and tables
• Save your work frequently to prevent loss from browser crashes

Display Issues

• Try refreshing the browser if components aren’t displaying correctly
• Use a different browser if persistent display problems occur
• Check that your browser is updated to the latest version
• Adjust browser zoom level if components appear too large or small

Data Not Linking Between Components

• Verify that all components are using the same data context (collection)
• Check if any filters are applied that might be hiding selected data
• Ensure that the components were created within the same document

• Try the "Help" menu for documentation and resources
• Check the CODAP User Community at codap.concord.org/help

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  codap.concord.org/help
• Save your work and refresh the browser
• Try a different browser (Chrome and Firefox work best with CODAP)

Subsection Advanced CODAP Tricks

Using the Ruler Tool

The ruler tool allows you to create reference lines, divide data into segments, and more:

• Click the ruler icon in graph axes or attribute headers
• Click on the axis/column to place dividers
• Drag dividers to adjust their position
• Use for creating bins, thresholds, or reference points

Creating Aggregate Functions

Calculate summaries across groups:

• Create a graph with the grouping variable on one axis
• Drag the variable to summarize to the other axis
• Click the axis to change from "Count" to other aggregates (mean, median, sum)
• Add these summaries back to your data using the "Edit..." menu option

Custom Color Palettes

Create custom color schemes for your data:

• Drag an attribute to the legend area of a graph
• Click on individual colors to change them
• Use the color palette button to select from preset schemes
• Choose colors that are colorblind-friendly for accessibility

Data Transformations

Transform data for better visualization:

• Use log() for skewed distributions
• Use (value - min) / (max - min) for normalization
• Use (value - mean) / standardDeviation for standardization
• Create binned categories with nested if() statements

Creating Custom Interactive Controls

Use formula-based approaches to create interactive controls:

• Create a new collection with control parameters (e.g., threshold values)
• Reference these values in formulas in your main dataset
• Adjust the controls to see immediate effects on visualizations

Subsection CODAP Best Practices

Document Organization

• Use descriptive titles for all components
• Group related components together in the workspace
• Add text objects to provide context and explanations
• Organize your workflow from data import to final visualization

Data Management

• Keep original data intact and use derived attributes for transformations
• Use consistent naming conventions for attributes
• Document the meaning of derived attributes and formulas
• Save your work frequently and create backups

Visualization Practices

• Choose appropriate visualization types for your data and questions
• Use clear titles and labels for all visualizations
• Apply consistent color schemes across related visualizations
• Ensure visualizations are accessible (adequate contrast, colorblind-friendly)

Analysis Workflow

• Start with exploratory visualizations to understand your data
• Progress to focused visualizations that address specific questions
• Create calculations to quantify relationships and patterns
• Develop a comprehensive dashboard to communicate findings