GraphPlot is a spreadsheet and a drawing tool for sociometric data that has
been designed to handle unlimited numbers of individuals and objects. As in commerical
designing, it draws sets of shapes (nodes) that are arranged spatially, with lines (edges)
connecting them "on the dime" to other shapes. As data are entered a sociogram
emerges connecting lines from subject to subject illustrating the communication network.
The shapes represent people and significant objects from the real world, and the lines
represent relationships between the shapes. GraphPlot allows you to edit graphs
interactively in an intuitive manner. It works much like a drawing program. As you add
data to the database, GraphPlot re-arranges shapes (circles, trianges, etc.,)
automatically so shapes are connected by lines that are in close proximity. This is
significant in organizing an effective sociogram to help the viewer percieve the
relationships within the communication network. Shapes representing 'closer' relationships
are placed near one another, while those that are 'distant' are arranged further apart.
The information outlined on the following pages provide a step by step procedures to
input your data. Keep in mind that there is a help menu built into GraphPlot, and you can
access it by clicking on the ? symbol at the far right on the tool bar.
5.1 Opening Graphplot:
1. Double click on GraphPlot icon on the desktop.
5.2 EDITING data:
- Click File and then New.
- Your screen should look like this.
- Note that there are two screens:
- Manual.GPD - Data on your left and
- Manual.GPD - Graph on your right.
- Manual.GPD - Data - is the spread sheet where
sociometric data are entered.
- Manual.GPD - Graph - is where the sociogram will be
- 2. Click on Relationships - Add
Relationship Category (column):
- Relationships are equivalent to choice ranking for sociometric questions.
- Repeat this procedure until there are lettered blocks for sociometric choices &
- To label each column point the mouse on the top of the column (selecting columns
A or B ). The column has been selected when it is highlighted. Click once with right mouse
button that brings up a menu, choose "Label Selected
- "Input Dialog" box appears
allowing you to label sociometric questions.
- In the "Input Dialog" box type in the label you want (e.g., 1-1, 1-2,). Choose
- The example label means: Question 1, Choice 1,
Question 1, Choice 2.
- For this example, three questions have been entered.
- Repeat this procedure until all columns are labled.
- Subjects Add a Subject or Add Multiple Subjects:
- To enter the number of subjects click the right mouse button and this menu appears.
Select "Add Multiple Subjects."
- The "Input Dialogue" box appears. Enter the number of subjects.
- The illustration below means there are three members in the group.
- A sociometric question with two choices and three subjects will apear like this.
- Add Cell Data Information:
Click on the cell to enter data.
Subject # 1 - Enter the data for the first and second choices for question # 1 in each
Subject # 1 chose subject # 2 as first choice and subject # 3 as second choice.
Use the Arrow Keys or Mouse to
move from cell to cell to enter remaining data.
- Drawing the Sociogram.
- Move to the graph window and click on the Upper Right Grey bar - it will turn Blue. This shows that the graph spread sheet has been
- Move pointer to the lower right hand box.
- Click the Right Mouse Button and "Select Relationship
- The "Select Line Category" Menu appears.
5.3 SAVING the document:
*It is important to save data set at this point to prevent loss of data. *
- 1. Choose File - Save As.
- 2. At the top of the box - Save In: Make sure you choose the correct disk drive.
See example below:
- 3. Under File Name: type in the name of your file. For example, graph.GPD.
- 4. Click on Save.
5.4 EDITING the graph:
* Located at the bottom of the graph window
on the left side of the screen you will see two columns:
- Click and highlight the column to make changes.
- To distinguish 1st from 2nd choices using colors click the
RIGHT mouse button. Choose "Line
Properties for Selected Items" (see example below.)
3. To change the Line Properties, Thickness or Color of a particular column:
Select the appropriate column located to the right of the Default & Mutual
Columns. Select one column at a time. Click on the RIGHT mouse button. Select "Line Properties." Choose the color,
thickness, and whether or not you want the lines hidden. Click OK.
- Questions (Relationships) 1-1 and 1-2 are graphed showing blue lines representing
1st choices and black indicating 2nd choices.
5.5 USING shortcuts:
Click anywhere on the data window with the right mouse button
to bring up the menu:
Add Relationship Categories
Delete Selected Relationship Categories
Label Selected Relationship Categories
Add a Subject
Add Multiple Subjects
Click anywhere on the graph window
with the right mouse button to bring up the menu:
For detailed information click on Help located at the far right
of the Title Bar and a Help Topics Menu will drop down.
5.6 PRINTING the document:
1. Choose File - Print....
2. You may choose the number of copies to be printed. You may also choose to print the
entire document or only selected pages.
3. Once you have made your selection click on OK.
* REMEMBER - DONT FORGET TO SAVE
YOUR GRAPH! *
(You already saved the data set, now you must save again to save all of your
A. To Close a Document:
- Choose File - Close.
- This closes the document but keeps GraphPlot open.
B. To Exit GraphPlot altogether:
- Choose File - Exit.
- This closes both the document and the program.
Add Multiple Nodes - adds any number of rows, adds any number of subjects.
Add Node - adds a row, adds a subject.
Arrange Lines - enables or disables the "nice lines" feature.
Close - closes the active document.
Cut - removes the selected data from the document and puts it on the
Copy - copies selected data from the document onto the
Line Key - allows one to select relationship categories or line properties.
Move Shapes Tool - allows one to manually set the positions of shapes in the
graph by overriding the graph optimizer.
New - creates a new document.
Nice Lines - lines are drawn so that they do not intersect any shapes and so
that they do not collide with each other.
Open - opens an existing document.
Optimizer - minimizes the length of the lines between the shapes.
Optimizer On/Off - toggles the optimizer on or off.
Paste - inserts a copy of the clipboard contents at a selected point in the
Print - prints the entire document or selected pages, allows one to choose the
number of copies to be made.
Relationships - equivalent to the rankings on each sociometric question.
Save - saves the active document to its current name and directory.
Save As - saves the active document to the name and directory of your choice.
Select Tool - allows one to select certain elements of the graph.
Subjects - allows one to add a shape or any number of shapes to the graph.
© ttreadwell 2000