# Specify Visual Encodings

### Encoding Shelves

The encoding shelves are grouped into positional channels (e.g. x, y), mark channels (e.g. size, color, shape, detail, text), and facet channels (e.g. row, column). 

![](https://2307510974-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LB2cWom_kyHA9FGG9Zw%2F-LD4q1DtbCwXccRvM_jB%2F-LD4q3mU4QQZFBSlnP8k%2Fdrag_to_encoding_shelf.gif?alt=media\&token=193e24cd-441f-43bb-af4b-ac0915b6deae)

To visualize data, you can drag-and-drop a data field onto an encoding channel shelf (e.g., x, y, color). By default, the system encodes raw (unaggregated) values. You can select a transformation such as an aggregation, binning, or time unit function via a [pop-up function menu](https://data-voyager.gitbook.io/voyager/visualizing-data/specify-visual-encodings#quantitative-field-function-pop-up).

### Mark Selection

![](https://2307510974-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LB2cWom_kyHA9FGG9Zw%2F-LD4kjt4c5sayZz9sefv%2F-LD4klHpyiiHeCA1C5Rg%2Fmark_selection.gif?alt=media\&token=15331fcf-54f4-473c-b520-512c7bc90993)

By default, the system automatically picks an appropriate mark type. You can override this choice using the mark selector drop-down menu.

### Facet

![](https://2307510974-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LB2cWom_kyHA9FGG9Zw%2F-LD4jAF9Voy5Lc71bBHP%2F-LD4jcRCbYMnV3PiscE7%2FScreen%20Shot%202018-05-21%20at%207.46.58%20PM.png?alt=media\&token=e53bb945-1fb4-4a57-b28a-150c5eb0329e)

The row and column channels can be used to create vertical facets and horizontal facets for trellis plots.

![Row is used for vertical facets.](https://2307510974-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LB2cWom_kyHA9FGG9Zw%2F-LD4jAF9Voy5Lc71bBHP%2F-LD4jKg-6Svs3Demjhu8%2FScreen%20Shot%202018-05-21%20at%207.45.02%20PM.png?alt=media\&token=6e0e2ba7-7755-4836-bc34-c98647be4cba)

![Column is used for horizontal facets.](https://2307510974-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LB2cWom_kyHA9FGG9Zw%2F-LD4jAF9Voy5Lc71bBHP%2F-LD4jSgTi3J6AwoacpzR%2FScreen%20Shot%202018-05-21%20at%207.46.30%20PM.png?alt=media\&token=0ae322a6-f568-40c1-83a4-247526bb2639)

### Quantitative Field Function Pop-up

Quantitative fields have a function pop-up for specifying various aggregations and bin.

![](https://2307510974-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LB2cWom_kyHA9FGG9Zw%2F-LDKf27GE0AU2Ioc03S6%2F-LDKg9IgMIrHwbAHgf46%2Fscreen-shot-2018-05-21-at-8.18.25-pm.png?alt=media\&token=dc94cf1b-5b78-479f-a854-4ddf32cb7874)

### Temporal Field Function Popup

Temporal fields have a function pop-up for specifying various time-unit functions.

![](https://2307510974-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LB2cWom_kyHA9FGG9Zw%2F-LDKgJayXC3PJ3XEbpSJ%2F-LDKgNNK2N8pZaDJIaiU%2Fscreen-shot-2018-05-21-at-8.19.04-pm.png?alt=media\&token=d46ca5a9-e950-4e5b-836e-f28da0aaa1e7)