How to use the Graphing agent in BioRender Graphing (Beta)

BioRender’s Graphing agent is your built-in assistant for creating and analyzing graphs. Skip the manual setup and describe what you want to explore in plain language, the Graphing agent builds the graph right from your raw data. Please note the Graphing agent is currently in beta. 

Try the Graphing Agent (Beta)  

In this article, you'll learn:

• Who can use the Graphing agent
• What the agent can do, and what it can't do yet
• How it works
• Your data and privacy
• How to create a graph, run an analysis, and edit your graph with the agent
• Tips for getting the results you want
• Answers to common questions

Who can use the Graphing agent

The Graphing agent is part of BioRender Graphing and is available at no additional cost. If you don't have a Graphing seat yet, see BioRender Graphing: Plans and pricing.

What the Graphing agent can do

• Add your data: It guides you through uploading a spreadsheet, finds the datasets in your file, and detects your variables.
• Describe your data: After you import, it tells you what it sees in your dataset, such as an ELISA plate dataset with concentration readings across cell lines.
• Suggest and create graphs: It recommends a graph type that fits your data, assigns your variables, offers grouping options, and creates the graph.
• Run analyses: It lists the analyses available for your graph, recommends one, and helps you set it up.
• Customize your graph: Describe a change, such as colors, labels, axes, or data point styles, and the agent applies it.
• Suggest next steps: After each step, it proposes what to do next, such as fitting an analysis to compare cell lines.
• Stay with you across tabs: The agent is available on the Data, Graph, and Analysis tabs and keeps your conversation and data context when you switch tabs.

What the agent can't do yet

• It doesn't create graph types or run analyses that BioRender Graphing doesn't offer yet.
• You can't click a graph element and send it to the chat. Describe what you want to change instead.

How it works

• Supported graphs and analyses only: The agent only works with available graphs and analyses..
• BioRender's own methods: The agent uses BioRender's own tested analysis methods, the same ones you have access to when you click “run new analysis.
• It asks when it's unsure: If it can't tell which variable or group you mean, it asks.
• It tells you when it can't do something: If a request isn't supported or fails, the agent explains what it couldn't do.

Your data and privacy

When you use Graphing’s agentic capabilities, your data is secure with BioRender. The agent works through BioRender’s built-in analysis and graphing tools, so it doesn’t read or alter your data and never uses it to train AI without your consent.

Where to find the agent

The agent is the “Ask BioRender” chat box. It appears when you first create a new Graphing file and is present on all “Data”, “Graph” and “Analysis” tabs.

• In a new, empty file: it opens in the center of the “Data” tab and greets you.
• On the Data, Graph and Analysis page: it sits at the bottom center. Click “Ask BioRender” to open the conversation.

Example: The Graphing agent on the “Data” tab.

Example: The Graphing agent in the Graph tab (you can change the way the agent appears by opening the side panel option for a different view)

Create a graph with the agent

Step 1: Add your data

1. From your Gallery, click “Create New” > “Graph” > “Graphing”.
2. Click “Upload data” in its message, or click the “+” button in the chat box.
3. Choose your file. Supported formats: .csv, .xls, .xlsx, .prism, and .pzfx (up to 50 MB).
4. In the “Select datasets from your file” window, select the datasets you want, or choose “Select All”, then click “Import data”.
5. The agent confirms what it added and describes what it sees. It highlights the variables it detected.

💡 Use “Upload data” or the “+” button to upload a dataset at anytime. Both open the same import window.

Example: Upload dataset.

Prefer another way to start? You can also click “Blank spreadsheet” to paste or type your own data, or “Try a sample dataset” to explore with example data. For full details, see How to add your data in BioRender Graphing.

💡 Importing from GraphPad Prism? See How to import your Prism files into BioRender Graphing. 

Step 2: Create your graph

1. In the chat, ask for a graph. For example: "Help me set up a graph from [dataset name]." If you imported your data with the agent, it recommends a graph type for you.
2. The agent suggests a graph type that fits your data, such as a dose response curve. Say yes, or tell it a different graph type.
3. The agent tells you what that graph needs, such as a numeric X-axis and a numeric Y-axis, and assigns your variables.
4. If the graph supports grouping, the agent offers options. Click an option or type your own.
5. The agent shows a plan that summarizes the graph. Click “Create the graph”.
6. The agent confirms what it created, and will take you to your new graph immediately. 

Example: The graphing agent suggesting a graph type.

Step 3: Run an analysis

1. In the chat, type "run an analysis," or name the analysis you want. The agent may also suggest one after it creates your graph.
2. The agent lists the analyses available for your graph type. For a dose response curve, these are:

• Outlier Detection: flags outliers in your data
• Area Under Curve: total area under each group's curve
• Correlation Analysis: strength and direction of the association between two numeric variables
• Linear Regression: models a linear relationship
• Nonlinear Regression: fits curves, such as dose-response models

3. The agent recommends the analysis that fits your data. Click a suggestion, or type the one you want.
4. Follow the agent's prompts to set up the analysis.
5. Review your results in the “Analysis” tab. Significant comparisons are added to your graph.

Example: The graphing agent will suggest analyses available dependent on your graph type. 

For more on analyses, see Running statistical analyses in BioRender Graphing.

Step 4: Customize your graph

1. On the Graph page, click “Ask BioRender”.
2. Describe the change you want. Name the part of the graph, such as a group, an axis, or the legend.
3. Review the updated graph.
4. If you don't like the result, click the undo arrow in the upper left corner or ask the agent to reverse or undo the action. 

The agent makes changes with the same Graphing tools within BioRender, so your graph stays fully editable by hand.

Example: Prompt: Color red the data points in Compound B that are between 9.899 and 103.1 on the x-axis. Working with the agent in the center chat view.

For all the ways to customize, see How to customize your graph.

What to say: Example prompts

Tips for better results

• Be specific: Say what you want to change and where. Instead of "Change the colors," try "Make all data series grayscale except Treatment 1, which should be red."
• Name your data: Use your dataset, variable, and group names, such as "Group by Cell Line."
• Make one change at a time: It's easier to check the result and undo it.
• Use the suggestion buttons: When the agent offers options, click one instead of typing.
• Rephrase if it misses: If the result isn't what you wanted, undo it and describe the change in different words.

Work manually at any time

You can switch between chatting and working without the agent at any time.

• Customize graph: Click “Customize graph” in the upper right corner of the Graph tab to edit by hand.
• Graph details: Click “Edit” in the Graph details panel to change your dataset, variables, or grouping.
• Run new analysis: Click “Run new analysis” in the Analysis panel.
• Undo and redo: Use the arrows in the upper left corner.

Troubleshooting

I don't see the Ask BioRender box. 

Try refreshing the page, then check that you're in a Graphing file. If it's still missing, contact support.

The agent didn't do what I asked. 

Undo the change, then try again with a more specific request. Name the group, axis, or data points you mean. If the agent can't do your request action, it tells you why.

The agent suggested a graph I don't want. 

Tell it which graph type you want, or choose one yourself from the Graphs panel on the Data tab.

Run new analysis doesn't respond. 

You must confirm or save your graph details first. Check whether the Graph details panel is still open in edit mode, then close or confirm it.

My file didn't import. 

Check that your file is a supported format and under 50 MB. See How to add your data in BioRender Graphing for data limits.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Graphing seat to use the agent? 

The agent is part of BioRender Graphing. 

Does the agent cost extra? 

No. There is no additional cost. 

Will the agent change my data?

No. When you customize your graph, only how it looks changes. Your underlying data stays the same.

Does the agent use my data to train AI models?

When you use Graphing’s agentic capabilities, your data is secure with BioRender. The agent works through BioRender’s built-in analysis and graphing tools, so it doesn’t read or alter your data and never uses it to train AI without your consent.

How do I undo a change? 

Click the undo arrow in the upper left corner or ask the Graphing agent to undo the action. Use the redo arrow to bring the change back.

Can I run any analysis with the agent? 

The agent offers the analyses available for your graph type.

Can I still build graphs without the Graphing agent? 

Yes. Choose a graph type from the “Graphs” panel on the Data tab, assign your variables, and click “Continue”. See Getting Started with BioRender Graphing.