Visualization Tools

The Visualization Tools section is a standalone toolkit of plotting and reporting utilities usable independently of the analytic sections. These tools produce the figures and tables systematic reviews typically include. Each tool works on its own dataset -- you don't need to run a Main Analysis first.

The six tools

# Tool What it does
1 Forest Plot Maker Build a forest plot from effect estimates and CIs
2 Funnel Plot Analyzer Build funnel plots (standard, contour-enhanced, trim-and-fill)
3 Risk of Bias Visualizer Build RoB summary and traffic-light figures (RoB 2 / ROBINS-I)
4 GRADE Table Generator Build a GRADE Summary of Findings table
5 Network Plot Maker Draw a network geometry plot from head-to-head comparisons
6 Flowchart Maker Build flowcharts, including PRISMA template

Forest Plot Maker

Build a forest plot directly from pre-computed effect estimates.

Step What you do
1. Quick start Start with sample data to see the format
2. Enter or upload data Per-study labels, effect sizes, CI bounds, weights
3. Choose template style Pick visual layout for manuscript
4. Export Figure renders and can be exported

Useful when you have estimates from a published paper or external tool and need a publication-ready figure.

Funnel Plot Analyzer

Supports three plot variants and trim-and-fill adjustment:

Variant Use
Standard funnel plot Effect vs precision with 95% pseudo-CI funnel
Contour-enhanced Shaded significance contours to distinguish bias from small-study effects
With trim-and-fill Duval-Tweedie adjustment with imputed studies and adjusted pooled effect

Use for deeper investigation of publication bias beyond routine diagnostics.

Risk of Bias Visualizer

Builds risk-of-bias summary figures for systematic reviews. Supports:

Framework Use
RoB 2 Cochrane's tool for randomized trials
ROBINS-I Tool for non-randomized studies of interventions

Enter per-domain judgements (low / some concerns / high risk) per study. Produces the per-study traffic-light table and summary bar chart showing judgement distribution across the evidence.

GRADE Table Generator

Builds a Summary of Findings table in GRADE framework. For each outcome, enter number of participants, anticipated absolute effects, relative effect, certainty rating, and explanatory comments. The tool assembles the table in GRADE format for manuscript or guideline inclusion.

Network Plot Maker

Draws the network geometry plot for NMA. Treatments are nodes; direct comparisons are edges. Distinguishes:

  • Direct edges -- head-to-head studies performed
  • Indirect connections -- comparisons estimated through the network

Shows whether the network is connected, where evidence concentrates, and which comparisons rest on direct vs indirect inference.

Flowchart Maker (including PRISMA)

General flowchart builder with templates for review-process diagrams:

  • Start from a template (e.g. PRISMA) or blank canvas
  • Edit nodes and edges -- screening boxes, exclusion arms, eligibility steps
  • Name the flowchart for export
  • Export figure for manuscript inclusion

The PRISMA template shows records identified, screened, assessed for eligibility, and included.

When to use which tool

You need to... Tool
Show meta-analysis results visually Main Analysis output or Forest Plot Maker
Inspect publication bias graphically Funnel Plot Analyzer
Communicate bias assessment Risk of Bias Visualizer
Present certainty of evidence per outcome GRADE Table Generator
Show treatment network structure Network Plot Maker
Show literature flow from search to inclusion Flowchart Maker (PRISMA template)
Draw custom review process diagram Flowchart Maker (blank canvas)