Main Effects Page

The Main Effects page displays the sensitivity of variables to one another. A main effect is defined as the change in an output variable with respect to an input variable. The graph shows how all the main effects for a given output variable compare to one another. Thus, the input variable with the largest main effect is said to have the greatest influence on the output variable.

To compute the main effect between a particular input and output pair, this plot takes the average output value for all runs with the input at its minimum, then at its maximum. It throws out all runs where the value is not the minimum or maximum. The difference between the two averages is the main effect.

   This plot throws out all runs where the input value is not at its maximum or minimum. It can return very incorrect results if you are not doing a 2-level DOE or Parameter Scan.

To configure a Main Effects page further, select the Basic Settings option from the Chart menu and go to one of the following tabs:

Format Tab

This tab has options for:

  • Chart - whether to display the main effects as a bar chart or a pie chart. If bar, then you may select which colors to use for the bars and the cumulative effect line.
  • Sorting Options - option to sort the effects in the bar graph by their importance or alphabetically. If by importance, then you may elect whether or not to display the cumulative effects series.
  • Variables - choose how to display variable names in the chart, whether by showing them in full, abbreviating each group down to one letter, or excluding group names all together.

Labels Tab

This tab has options for:

  • Chart Title - the text to use for the plot's title. Edit the font selection by pressing the corresponding Font button.
  • X-Axis Title - the text to use for the x-axis's title. Edit the font selection by pressing the corresponding Font button.
  • Y-Axis Title - the text to use for the y-axis's title. Edit the font selection by pressing the corresponding Font button.
  • Show Percentage - choose whether to show the percentage next to each effect on the chart.
  • Show Effect Value - choose whether to show the effect value next to each effect on the chart.

See Also: Data Explorer