You can generate the Time Series Graph (Figure 5-6) in two modes, for one or more parameters. In multi-parameter mode, you can group different parameters together for any time period.

With the tools at the bottom or the screen, you can change the color scheme, remove or restore the legend, and print the graph. In Version 2.1 and above, the graph color scheme is saved as a preference.

The minus (-) sign in the upper left corner of the screen minimizes the selection criteria to make more room for the graph.

Use the mouse scroll wheel to zoom in or out (X-axis zoom only); right-click and hold to drag the zoomed graph to a different data area. Using the blue arrows on the top toolbar, you may also 'fast scroll' the graph to the next data segment, based on the duration of the data you have selected (e.g., if you select Jan 7-13, a right arrow select will select January 14-21).

Hover the cursor over a data point to see the specific date, time, and value.

You can toggle between hiding or showing invalid data (e.g., data during calibration, maintenance, or analyzer failures).


Figure 5-6 Time Series from Data Editors menu

If you bring up the Time Series Graph in single parameter mode, you get additional options at the top of the graph (Figure 5-7):

• Show History displays N previous years of data alongside main graph
• Show Statistics displays cumulative statistics of N previous years--min, max, avg
• Number of Years
• +/- Days allows rolling average of additional days in historical statistics
• Refresh

Version 2.0 will allow the user to select the comparison to be N previous days, weeks, or years (not just years).

Version 2.1 adds a line for the raw data to be plotted alongside the "final" data. Also, if a 1-hour program has been set in the Violation of Standards report, that standard will also appear alongside the data.

Version 2.3 adds the capability to have a second Y-axis on the right side to plot parameters of different ranges (expand the "+" sign to enable dual Y-axis).


Figure 5-7 Time Series Graph with a single parameter selected

If the database contains data from previous years for the same parameter, those previous years can be graphed in the Time Series Graph alongside the current data by selecting Show History and the number of years you want to graph. Each previous year is graphed individually (Figure 5-8). Select Refresh to update the graph.


Figure 5-8 Time Series Graph with a single parameter and Show History option

The “+/- Days” selector can be used to compile nearby days for the same hour into the comparison statistics. An example of how this is applied would be:

Current Data = 1/15/09,. Number of Years = 3, +/- Days = 1

1/5/09 data at hour 00 would be compared against statistics using the following points:
1/4/06, hour 00
1/5/06, hour 00
1/6/06, hour 00
1/4/07, hour 00
1/5/07, hour 00
1/6/07, hour 00
1/4/08, hour 00
1/5/08, hour 00
1/6/08, hour 00

Obviously, selection of a large data set with a long lookback period and large skews can be very processor intensive for the client and the SQL server for large data sets. Agilaire recommends this tool be used for data sets of roughly a week or less.