What this helps you see
Explain a sequence through supported motion modes, keeping time and category roles separate. A useful animation shows change that a static frame cannot show as clearly.
Free example data and exact column mapping
The figure uses the downloadable CSV with the exact column mapping below. Public snapshots retain their data notes and transformations. Constructed teaching scenarios are identified in the method notes; they are not customer results. Editorial layouts may combine comparisons from the same records.
The free example contains 60 observations and these columns: Month, S&P 500, Gold, WTI oil. Keep the header row and preserve one observation per row. The table below shows the first records; the CSV retains the full example.
| Month | S&P 500 | Gold | WTI oil |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-01 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 2020-02 | 91.58895163615968 | 98.81230345958936 | 86.81147620123933 |
| 2020-03 | 80.12940773085735 | 100.03158759190651 | 39.72071178579395 |
| 2020-04 | 90.2933453832314 | 106.39964149317076 | 36.53995277499613 |
| 2020-05 | 94.38199236587486 | 110.66396640054994 | 68.83242966097211 |
| 2020-06 | 96.11752586527275 | 113.74691845535136 | 76.16369164432611 |
How to use it in Datamon
- Create an animated visualization or open Motion on a compatible chart.
- Choose an available mode such as story, reveal, race, scatter, number, flow or map according to chart support.
- Set time and category fields, duration and story moments, then inspect the preview.
- Use video export only when the separate rendering service is configured, and retain a static figure for readers who cannot use motion.
Column mapping
- Categories / X axis
- Month
- Values / Y axis
- S&P 500, Gold, WTI oil
How to read the example
Compare positions and values with the table, then inspect the legend or size encoding where used. A visual pattern is a description of the displayed observations. It does not by itself identify a cause, justify extrapolation, or repair missing data.
Limits and common mistakes
Not every mode is available for every chart. Video rendering uses connected infrastructure; an animation is not evidence of observations between recorded time points.
What is free and what needs an account?
Reading this guide and downloading its CSV and chart images are free. Datamon currently has no paid checkout or subscription plans in this deployment. Creating and saving an editable visualization requires Google sign-in. Provider-backed AI, cloud analysis, publishing and video depend on configured services; this guide does not promise unlimited free connected services.
Questions before you start
Can I visualize animate charts and export video with a free example?
Yes. The CSV and preview images on this page are free to download. Follow the field mapping and steps above. Sign in to create and save the editable project; connected-service availability is separate.
Can I replace the example with my own data?
Yes. Preserve the observation unit and the required numeric, category or geographic fields. Recompute any derived values, update the unit and source, and compare the output with known rows before sharing.
Sources and further reading
Report a correction or an access barrier: Email the editorial contact.
Open Datamon