Node Details #

Deep investigation requires inspecting, tracking, and isolating individual nodes. This module covers the Node Dossier, entry points for individual analysis, and the Flagging System.

Single Node Entry Points #

Analysts can extract specific nodes from aggregates to analyze their unique relationships.

Prerequisite

These actions require the group to be in Instance View (individual dots visible).

Seeding with an Node #

Isolate a specific node to start a new exploration path.

1. Locate the node via Search or the Node Table.
2. Right-click and select Start exploration with node.
3. Result: The canvas clears and places the single node as the root node.

Extracting from a Group #

Trace the specific connections of one individual within a larger group.

• Action: Right-click a dot (in Instance View) and select Explore connections of the node.
• Result: A distinct relationship line is drawn from the individual to the target group, separating its path from the aggregate flow.

The Node Dossier #

Selecting any node opens the Details sidebar (Dossier). This panel profiles the node identity and properties.

Anatomy #

1. Header: Displays the Caption and Description (configured in the left sidebar).
2. Identity: The unique (node ID).
3. Labels: List of all labels assigned to the node.
4. Properties: Attributes organized by their defining label.

Shared Properties

If a property is defined by multiple labels (e.g., rdfs:label used by both Clothing and SeasonalCollection), SemSpect groups them into a shared section (e.g., Clothing & SeasonalCollection) to avoid duplication.

Controls #

• Hide empty fields: Toggles visibility of properties that have no value for this specific node.
• Copy Data: Right-click any row to copy the property or value.

Flagging & Annotation #

Flags highlight nodes for tracking.

Permanent Flags (Session Scope) #

Persistent markers for curation.

• Action: Right-click an node → Flag node → Select Color.
• Notes: Click Add note to attach a text comment. The note appears in the tooltip on hover.

Temporary Flags (View Scope) #

Transient highlights generated by system actions (e.g., histogram selection or search).

• Behavior: Temporary flags (Orange) disappear when the graph topology changes (e.g., expanding/filtering).
• Locking: To preserve a selection, use the Temporary flags menu in the top-left toolbar:
  • Keep last flags: Converts the current transient selection into a “locked” state that survives graph updates.
  • Clear last flags: Removes the current highlight.

Path Highlighting (Branching) #

Visualize dependencies upstream and downstream.

1. Hover over an node in Instance View.
2. Visuals:
   • Target: Yellow (Red on click).
   • Path: Connected predecessors and successors turn Green (Blue on click).
3. Action: Right-click and select Flag all connected nodes… to apply a Temporary Flag to the entire branch.

Line of Sight

Path highlighting is blocked by Aggregated Groups (Count > Threshold). The system cannot trace dependencies through a collapsed cluster.

Visualizing Influence (Predecessors) #

In Instance View, SemSpect visually encodes the “centrality” of nodes based on their incoming connections.

The Predecessor Metric #

Predecessors = The number of links from the previous group in the current path.

Visual Encodings #

• Badge: The number inside the dot displays the exact count (e.g., “54” means this Product is referenced in 54 Orders in the previous group).
• Size: Larger dots indicate higher connectivity.
• Position: High-influence nodes gravitate toward the center.