Introduction#

On this page the SparqlVisualization markup is demonstrated via examples based on the Simpsons ontology from the Simpsons Demo

SparqlVisualization Syntax#

Basic Syntax#

For using the SparqlVisualization markup a sparql query with exactly three variables has to be defined. Each triple variable binding of the result set of the query defines one edge of the drawn visualization graph. The first variable value will create the source node, while the third variable value creates the target node. The source and target node will be connected by an edge having the value of variable two. This can be represented by the following pattern:

%%SparqlVisualization
SELECT ?source ?edge ?target WHERE { <selection-pattern>}
%

Annotations#

There's a number of different annotations, which allow to configure different aspects of your SparqlVisualization. Annotations can be placed under any SparqlVisualization markup as following:

%%SparqlVisualization
SELECT ?source ?edge ?target WHERE { <selection-pattern>}
%
@Annotation <option>

Annotation Function Allowed Options Default
@colors The annotation @colors allows to specify a color schema by defining a property. With this property colors can be assigned to Classes and Properties. The color schema for this example can be found on Visualization Util
In accordance with Visualization Util none
@config Allows outsourcing annotations into a self defined config, which can be reused in different sparql requests as shown in Visualization Util. config name none
@design Allows using an attached css file to be applied to generated svg file. css file name? null
@dotAddLine Allows adding a line in dot language to the dot file. any string in dot language null
@excludeNodes Given nodes are excluded from the visualization and therefore will not be shown. node identifier none
@excludeRelations Given relations are excluded from the visualization and therefore will not be shown. relation identifier null
@filterRelations Given relation will be included in the visualization exclusively. Other relations will not be shown! relation identifier null
@format Sets the file format of the visualization file. png, svg svg
@height Limits the visualization's height to given height in pixels. Integer not limited
@isVisTemplateForClass Defines this SparqlVisualization as an Template for a given class. class identifier none
@language Sets language of visualization. languages codes in accordance with ISO 639-1. null
@layout Allows using different Graphviz layouts. DOT, NEATO, FDP, CIRCO, TWOPI null
@linkMode Deprecated Deprecated Deprecated
@literals Don't show literals, show literals as tables or show literals as nodes. OFF, TABLE, NODES TABLE
@overlap Allows using different Graphviz overlap options TRUE, FALSE, SCALEXY, SCALE, COMPRESS, VPSC, VORONOI, ORTHO, ORTHOXY, ORTHOYX, PORTHO, PORTHOXY, PORTHOYX null
@predecessors Limits the the number of predecessor nodes to be shown in the visualization. Integer 1
@rankDir Sets direction of graph layout. For example, if rankdir="LR", and barring cycles, an edge T -> H; will go from left to right. By default, graphs are laid out from top to bottom. LR, RL, TB, BT LR
@rankSame Will rank given nodes on the same level dependent on selected layout. node identifiers null
@showInverse Shows inverse relations in the visualization if set to true. TRUE, FALSE FALSE
@showLabels   ??? TRUE
@showOutgoingEdges Shows edges of nodes which are outside the visualizations boundaries if set to true. TRUE, FALSE FALSE
@showProperties Shows properties as property nodes if set to true or hides them if set to false. TRUE, FALSE TRUE
@showRedundant Shows edges which are not necessarily needed if set to true. TRUE, FALSE FALSE
@size Limits the visualization's size to given size in pixels. Integer not limited
@successors Limits the the number of successor nodes to be shown in the visualization. Integer 1
@templateDefaultConcept Sets the default concept for this visualization template to given node identifier. node identifier none
@timeout Sets the timeout for rendering the visualization. Use with caution! Integer 300000
@title Adds specified title to the visualization and the date and time of generation, aswell. Any value no title shown
@width Limits the visualization's width to given width in pixels. Integer not limited

Demos#

Display the Class Hierarchy as a Tree#

No ontology found! The package '' is not used to compile an ontology.

%%SparqlVisualization
     SELECT ?x ?edge ?z WHERE {
	    ?x ?y ?z . 
	    ?x rdfs:subClassOf si:SimpsonsConcept. 
	    ?z rdfs:subClassOf si:SimpsonsConcept. 
	    ?x rdfs:subClassOf ?z.
	    FILTER NOT EXISTS { 
	    	?middleObject rdfs:subClassOf si:SimpsonsConcept. 
	    	?x rdfs:subClassOf ?middleObject. 
	    	?middleObject rdfs:subClassOf ?z.
	    	FILTER (?middleObject != ?x ).
	    	FILTER (?middleObject != ?z ).
 	    }
 	    FILTER (?x != owl:Nothing).
 	     FILTER (?x != ?z).
	    BIND (" " AS ?edge).

}
@rankDir: BT
@size: 700
%

Display the family relations as a graph using labels#

One can use the available features of SPARQL to create customized labels for the nodes and edges to generate a more nicely readable visualization.

No ontology found! The package '' is not used to compile an ontology.

   SELECT ?xLabel ?yLabel ?zLabel WHERE {
	    ?x ?y ?z . 
	    ?x rdf:type si:Human. 
	    ?z rdf:type si:Human.
	    ?x rdfs:label ?xLabel.
	    ?z rdfs:label ?zLabel.
	    FILTER (?y != si:relatedWith).
	    FILTER (?y != si:parent).
	    FILTER (?y != si:child).
	    FILTER (?y != si:grandparent).
	    FILTER (?z != ?x).
	    BIND (SUBSTR(STR(?y), 33) AS ?yLabel)  
}
@rankDir: BT
@size: 600

Visualize lost of stuff (be careful for large ontologies!)#

Note: You can use the option "display svg" from the tool menu on the top right of the visualization to open the diagram in a distinct window. Then you can use browser functions to zoom an navigate the graph.

Colors: The annotation @colors allows to specify a color schema by defining a property. With this property colors can be assigned to Classes and Properties. The color schema for this example can be found on Visualization Util.

No ontology found! The package '' is not used to compile an ontology.

%%SparqlVisualization

    SELECT ?x ?y ?z WHERE {
	    ?x ?y ?z . 
	    FILTER (STRSTARTS(STR(?x), "http://www.example.org/ontology#")).
	    FILTER (STRSTARTS(STR(?z), "http://www.example.org/ontology#")).
	    FILTER NOT EXISTS {?x rdf:type rdfs:Class}.
	    FILTER NOT EXISTS {?z rdf:type rdfs:Class}.
	    FILTER NOT EXISTS {?x rdf:type rdf:Property}.
	    FILTER NOT EXISTS {?z rdf:type rdf:Property}.
	    FILTER (?y != si:relatedWith).
	    FILTER (?y != si:parent).
	    FILTER (?y != si:child).
	    FILTER (?y != si:grandparent).
	    FILTER (?z != ?x).

}
@rankDir: BT
@size: 1200
%

Show all Properties of the Simpsons Ontology #

No ontology found! The package '' is not used to compile an ontology.

%%SparqlVisualization

    SELECT ?x ?y ?z WHERE {
	    ?x ?y ?z . 
	    ?x rdf:type rdf:Property.
	    FILTER (?z != <http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#Resource>). 
	    FILTER (STRSTARTS(STR(?x), "http://www.example.org/ontology#")).
	    FILTER (STRSTARTS(STR(?z), "http://www.example.org/ontology#")).
	    FILTER (?z != ?x).

}
@rankDir: BT
@size: 1200
%

Filtering Functions#

To make your SparqlVisualization sleeker, simpler and easier to grasp you can make use of different filtering functions, which are turned on by default (ShowRedundant: false).

ShowRedundant#

This filter is turned on by default and will work on following edges:

  • Recursive edges: Edges which have the same subject and object (e.g. Homer is related to himself) will be filtered out.
  • Double edges: If there are two edges having same predicate and swapped subject and object, the filtering function will replace them with one double headed edge.
  • SuperProperties: The filtering function will focus on the edges having the highest level of detail. Therefore it will find all edges in your visualization having SubProperties in this visualization and filter them out.
Let's visualize all the relations between the characters in the Simpsons ontology to see the difference by turning the redundant filter off first and visualize it afterwards with turned on filter.

ShowRedundant true (Filtering function turned off)#

No ontology found! The package '' is not used to compile an ontology.
@size: 1200

ShowRedundant false (Filtering function turned on)#

No ontology found! The package '' is not used to compile an ontology.

ShowInverse#

Inverse edges are edges which are the "opposite" of each other (e.g. Husband and Wife).
The filtering function, which is turned on by default (ShowInverse: false), will find these and replace them by one double headed edge having both predicates combined.

ShowInverse true (Filtering function turned off)#

No ontology found! The package '' is not used to compile an ontology.

ShowInverse false (Filtering function turned on)#

No ontology found! The package '' is not used to compile an ontology.

Visualization Templates#

Visualization Templates can be used to create visualization patterns for certain classes. If a template is defined for a certain class, users will have the option to visualize it on usage, by clicking on the instance in the visualization and chosing "Visualize with template ..."

Defining templates#

Templates are easily defined by using the annotation @isVisTemplateForClass: <class>.
You can also define a default concept which will be visualized when no concept was chosen by using the annotation @templateDefaultConcept: <class>.

Please be aware that only one template should be defined per page!

The example below demonstrates the definition of a SparqlVisualization template for the class si:Human, having si:homer as default concept and will visualize relations between a given si:human instance and other si:human instances.

%%sparqlVisualization
     SELECT ?x ?y ?z WHERE {
	    BIND ( %1$ AS ?x) .
	    ?x ?y ?z . 
	    ?z rdf:type si:Human.
	    FILTER (?z != ?x).
	   }
@templateDefaultConcept: si:homer
@isVisTemplateForClass: si:Human
%

Examples#

Template for class si:Human#

VisualizationTemplateHuman is a template for all instances of class si:Human.

Template for class si:Location#

VisualizationTemplateLocation is a template for all instances of class si:Location.

simpsons