Treemap display with minimum cell size
A treemap with cells that have a minimum size so that large data sets can be clearly represented. A treemap that represents a plurality of data elements is generated, the treemap including a plurality of two-dimensional cells. Each cell represents a corresponding data element in the data set. The treemap includes a portion of a display screen assigned to a first cell so that the first cell has a size. A portion of the display screen is then assigned to a subsequent cell. The size of the first cell is adjusted in order to compensate for a size of the subsequent cell and to maintain the minimum cell size.
1. A method of generating a treemap display on a computer display screen, comprising:
assigning at least a portion of the display screen for a treemap field;
assigning a portion of a treemap field to a first cell of the treemap so that the first cell has a size;
assigning a portion of the treemap field to a subsequent cell of the treemap; and
adjusting the size of the first cell in order to compensate for a size of the subsequent cell;
wherein each of the cells has a minimum size such that adjustment of a cell size maintains the minimum cell size.
2. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the minimum size of each cell is defined in display units.
3. A method as defined in claim 2 , wherein the display units are pixels.
4. A method as defined in claim 1 , additionally comprising assigning a portion of a display screen to a first row of cells and subsequently assigning a portion of the display screen to a second row of cells.
5. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein adjusting the size of the first cell comprises increasing the size of the first cell.
6. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein adjusting the size of the first cell comprises decreasing the size of the first cell.
7. A method as defined in claim 1 , additionally comprising assigning a cell to a first row of the treemap.
8. A method as defined in claim 1 , additionally comprising assigning a cell to a second row of the treemap.
9. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the minimum cell size has a default value.
10. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the minimum cell size is assigned by a user.
11. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein each cell has rectangular shape and an aspect ratio and wherein a cell size is adjusted so as to move the aspect ratio of each cell towards a value of one.
12. A system for generating a treemap display on a computer display screen, comprising:
a memory in which instructions and data are stored; and
a processor, coupled to the memory, such that the processor receives the instructions stored in the memory and executes the instructions to perform operations comprising:
assigning at least a portion of the display screen for a treemap field;
assigning a portion of a treemap field to a first cell of the treemap so that the first cell has a size;
assigning a portion of the treemap field to a subsequent cell of the treemap; and
adjusting the size of the of the first cell in order to compensate for a size of the subsequent cell;
wherein each of the cells has a minimum size such that adjustment of a cell size maintains the minimum cell size.
13. A system as defined in claim 12 , wherein the minimum size of each cell is defined in display units.
14. A system as defined in claim 12 , wherein the display units are pixels.
15. A system as defined in claim 12 , wherein each cell has a rectangular shape and an aspect ratio, and wherein a cell size is adjusted so as to move the aspect ratio of each cell towards a value of one.
16. A system as defined in claim 12 , wherein adjusting the size of the first cell comprises increasing the size of the first cell.
17. A system as defined in claim 12 , wherein adjusting the size of the first cell comprises decreasing the size of the first cell.
18. A program product for use in a computer that executes program steps recorded in a computer-readable media to perform a method of generating a treemap display on a computer display screen, the program product comprising:
a recordable media; and
computer-readable instructions recorded on the recordable media, comprising instructions executable by the computer to perform operations comprising:
assigning at least a portion of the display screen for a treemap field;
assigning a portion of a treemap field to a first cell of the treemap so that the first cell has a size;
assigning a portion of the treemap field to a subsequent cell of the treemap; and
adjusting the size of the first cell in order to compensate for a size of the subsequent cell;
wherein each of the cells has a minimum size such that adjustment of a cell size maintains the minimum cell size.
19. A program product as defined in claim 18 , wherein each cell has rectangular shape and an aspect ratio and wherein a cell size is adjusted so as to move the aspect ratio of each cell towards a value of one.
20. A program product as defined in claim 18 , wherein the display units are pixels.