Build a dotplot

Example: adhesive strength

The example records 80 bonded joints, with 20 for each of four adhesive formulations. Strength is measured in MPa.

This is the same example used in Help. The CSV contains the observations to import.

1. Create the analysis

In the sidebar, open Plots and create an analysis. Name it, select New blank worksheet, then choose Create analysis.

2. Import the data

On Worksheet, choose Import. Select the downloaded CSV or paste its contents. Set the delimiter to Comma, use Decimal dot, and check First row contains column names. Preview the import, then choose Import into worksheet.

3. Assign the input columns

On Inputs, choose Dotplot in Chart type. In Data arrangement, choose One variable by group.

Open the column picker for Measurement and select lap_shear_strength_mpa. For Grouping column, select adhesive. Each dot will represent one bonded joint.

4. Set the chart options

In Statistics, choose Automatic for Bins. In Layout, choose First appearance for Order. Keep Blank categories or groups at Exclude and disclose. The groups use shared bins and aligned panels.

Open Labels and enter Compare strength using stacked observations in Chart title. Leave Horizontal axis label and Vertical axis label blank so the source labels are used.

Plots: Inputs with the example’s assignments and settings — Dotplot Inputs with the example’s column assignments, chart options and title. View full-size image (opens in a new tab)

5. Create chart

Choose Create chart, then open Results. Check Data used before comparing the chart with this guide. All stored worksheet rows participate; sorting or filtering the worksheet does not change the analytical sample.

6. Interpret results

Read the dots
Each dot represents one joint. Values in the same bin stack vertically, with horizontal positions at bin centers. All four panels share the same bins and strength scale in MPa.
Read Adhesive_B
The 20 B joints span 10.66–15.34 MPa, with a median of 13.255 MPa. Use the dot stacks to see which strength intervals occur most often.
Twenty Adhesive_B joint strengths, stacked in bins shared by all four formulations. View full-size chart (opens in a new tab)
Compare Adhesive_C
Compare C with A: C’s median is 15.215 MPa and A’s is 12.99 MPa. Their observed ranges overlap. Use the common horizontal scale to compare centers without assuming that every C joint is stronger than every A joint.
Twenty Adhesive_C joint strengths, stacked in bins shared by all four formulations. View full-size chart (opens in a new tab)
Compare Adhesive_D
The D panel overlaps the other formulations. Read its exact range and median in Data summary rather than estimating them from the bin centers.
Twenty Adhesive_D joint strengths, stacked in bins shared by all four formulations. View full-size chart (opens in a new tab)
Compare Adhesive_A
Use the A panel to check the C-versus-A contrast on the same scale. Data summary contains the exact medians and ranges for all four formulations.
Twenty Adhesive_A joint strengths, stacked in bins shared by all four formulations. View full-size chart (opens in a new tab)
Choose the next comparison
Read exact measurements in Dot placement: bin centers are display positions, not altered source values. Use the interval chart or an appropriate ANOVA to compare means; the dotplot alone does not establish a formulation effect.

More details: read each result section

Complete result tables use six significant digits, as in Help.

Data used

Worksheet rows is 80; Eligible observations across series is 80; Excluded observations is 0. All source rows are used. Check these counts and keep the example’s column assignments when comparing runs. Worksheet sorting and filters do not change the analytical sample.

All stored rows are considered in original order. Worksheet sorting and filters do not change the analytical sample.

Data used · 1 row
Worksheet rows	Eligible observations across series	Excluded observations
80	80	0

Data summary

Series names the measurement or group. Valid and Missing give counts; Mean and Median describe the center. Sample SD describes spread. Minimum and Maximum are the observed ends; Q1 and Q3 enclose the middle half. These summaries describe the captured observations, not acceptance limits.

Data summary · 4 rows
Series	Valid	Mean	Sample SD	Minimum	Q1	Median	Q3	Maximum
Adhesive_B	20	13.2955	1.2016	10.66	12.6975	13.255	14.2325	15.34
Adhesive_C	20	15.178	1.12076	12.88	14.5675	15.215	15.745	17.07
Adhesive_D	20	14.2415	1.07341	11.5	13.875	14.47	15.085	15.79
Adhesive_A	20	12.9655	1.08188	10.27	12.4825	12.99	13.6925	15

Dot placement

Series identifies the formulation and Worksheet row locates the joint. Value is its original strength in MPa. Bin lower edge and Bin upper edge locate the shared display interval; Stack position separates dots in that interval. Binning does not replace the source strength.

Dot placement · 80 rows
Series	Worksheet row	Value	Bin lower edge	Bin upper edge	Stack position
Adhesive_B	1	12.56	12.5367	13.2922	1
Adhesive_B	5	12.74	12.5367	13.2922	2
Adhesive_B	10	10.66	10.27	11.0256	1
Adhesive_B	14	11.83	11.7811	12.5367	1
Adhesive_B	16	13.16	12.5367	13.2922	3
Adhesive_B	19	14.01	13.2922	14.0478	1
Adhesive_B	20	14.3	14.0478	14.8033	1
Adhesive_B	21	14.85	14.8033	15.5589	1
Adhesive_B	23	12.71	12.5367	13.2922	4
Adhesive_B	24	14.33	14.0478	14.8033	2
Adhesive_B	25	11.28	11.0256	11.7811	1
Adhesive_B	28	13.47	13.2922	14.0478	2
Adhesive_B	40	13.67	13.2922	14.0478	3
Adhesive_B	52	12.9	12.5367	13.2922	5
Adhesive_B	54	15.34	14.8033	15.5589	2
Adhesive_B	62	14.21	14.0478	14.8033	3
Adhesive_B	69	12.66	12.5367	13.2922	6
Adhesive_B	71	13.08	12.5367	13.2922	7
Adhesive_B	73	13.35	13.2922	14.0478	4
Adhesive_B	75	14.8	14.0478	14.8033	4
Adhesive_C	2	14.88	14.8033	15.5589	1
Adhesive_C	4	14.66	14.0478	14.8033	1
Adhesive_C	7	12.88	12.5367	13.2922	1
Adhesive_C	11	16.54	16.3144	17.07	1
Adhesive_C	13	15.73	15.5589	16.3144	1
Adhesive_C	17	15.71	15.5589	16.3144	2
Adhesive_C	22	13.61	13.2922	14.0478	1
Adhesive_C	27	16.96	16.3144	17.07	2
Adhesive_C	29	14.29	14.0478	14.8033	2
Adhesive_C	32	15.22	14.8033	15.5589	2
Adhesive_C	34	15.21	14.8033	15.5589	3
Adhesive_C	38	15.79	15.5589	16.3144	3
Adhesive_C	39	16.02	15.5589	16.3144	4
Adhesive_C	42	14.26	14.0478	14.8033	3
Adhesive_C	47	14.98	14.8033	15.5589	4
Adhesive_C	64	15.58	15.5589	16.3144	5
Adhesive_C	65	15.13	14.8033	15.5589	5
Adhesive_C	67	13.34	13.2922	14.0478	2
Adhesive_C	70	15.7	15.5589	16.3144	6
Adhesive_C	78	17.07	17.07	17.8256	1
Adhesive_D	3	14.36	14.0478	14.8033	1
Adhesive_D	6	15.21	14.8033	15.5589	1
Adhesive_D	12	12.59	12.5367	13.2922	1
Adhesive_D	26	14.72	14.0478	14.8033	2
Adhesive_D	35	12.58	12.5367	13.2922	2
Adhesive_D	41	15.34	14.8033	15.5589	2
Adhesive_D	48	13.98	13.2922	14.0478	1
Adhesive_D	49	14.59	14.0478	14.8033	3
Adhesive_D	53	15.19	14.8033	15.5589	3
Adhesive_D	55	13.47	13.2922	14.0478	2
Adhesive_D	56	13.9	13.2922	14.0478	3
Adhesive_D	57	13.89	13.2922	14.0478	4
Adhesive_D	58	15.05	14.8033	15.5589	4
Adhesive_D	60	11.5	11.0256	11.7811	1
Adhesive_D	61	14.58	14.0478	14.8033	4
Adhesive_D	63	13.83	13.2922	14.0478	5
Adhesive_D	66	15.25	14.8033	15.5589	5
Adhesive_D	72	14.71	14.0478	14.8033	5
Adhesive_D	74	15.79	15.5589	16.3144	1
Adhesive_D	76	14.3	14.0478	14.8033	6
Adhesive_A	8	15	14.8033	15.5589	1
Adhesive_A	9	13.67	13.2922	14.0478	1
Adhesive_A	15	13.9	13.2922	14.0478	2
Adhesive_A	18	11.23	11.0256	11.7811	1
Adhesive_A	30	11.71	11.0256	11.7811	2
Adhesive_A	31	12.89	12.5367	13.2922	1
Adhesive_A	33	13.37	13.2922	14.0478	3
Adhesive_A	36	13.09	12.5367	13.2922	2
Adhesive_A	37	12.28	11.7811	12.5367	1
Adhesive_A	43	10.27	10.27	11.0256	1
Adhesive_A	44	12.2	11.7811	12.5367	2
Adhesive_A	45	13.76	13.2922	14.0478	4
Adhesive_A	46	12.55	12.5367	13.2922	3
Adhesive_A	50	13.63	13.2922	14.0478	5
Adhesive_A	51	12.85	12.5367	13.2922	4
Adhesive_A	59	12.73	12.5367	13.2922	5
Adhesive_A	68	12.87	12.5367	13.2922	6
Adhesive_A	77	13.79	13.2922	14.0478	6
Adhesive_A	79	13.33	13.2922	14.0478	7
Adhesive_A	80	14.19	14.0478	14.8033	1

7. Create a report

Keep the native charts and Data used, together with Data summary, Dot placement. Record the column assignments and chart options. Include the study context and any checks of unusual observations. Keep the chart’s units and the limitations described in the walkthrough.

Choose Add to report from the completed run. Open Choose individual items and advanced options to select tables and charts, then choose Add to draft. Hidden items stay in the saved analysis.

Name the report and add the purpose of the study and your interpretation. Choose Save, review Preview, then use Export → Download HTML. The example below contains the full selected content, including results beyond one screen.

Complete native output for this Help example, including applicable tables, charts and run notes. Report numbers use the app’s displayed precision. Exported charts are static. On narrow screens, scroll wide charts and tables sideways.

Open full report Download HTML report

View example report

Example: adhesive strength

1. Create the analysis

2. Import the data

3. Assign the input columns

4. Set the chart options

5. Create chart

6. Interpret results

Read the dots

Read Adhesive_B

Compare Adhesive_C

Compare Adhesive_D

Compare Adhesive_A

Choose the next comparison

Data used

Data summary

Dot placement

7. Create a report