PLS graph is an application that consists of a windows based graphical user interface that helps the researcher or the user to perform PLS analyses. PLS graph helps the user or the researcher in processing the command file in order to obtain an output file which contains the outcomes of the analysis as specified by the command file. PLS graph helps the user or the researcher in viewing the outcomes in the form of a scrollable window. In PLS graph, there is a two button mouse metaphor. In PLS graph, with the help of that button, the user or the researcher can easily interpret a theoretical model which is represented graphically. This graphical representation of the model by PLS graph is consistent with the partial least squares method of structural equations modeling with a latent variable.
Using the PLS graph software:
- The first step involves starting up the PLS graph program by clicking on the icon of the PLS graph.
- The next step involves moving the cursor to the top left menu item which is labeled as “File” in PLS graph. The user then clicks that menu item and selects to open in PLS graph.
- Then the user clicks the floating menu in PLS graph which is labeled as “PLS graph Tools.”
- The far left icon in PLS graph is labeled as “PLS function.” This function in PLS graph runs the model and extracts the results back into the graph.
- There are also many features present in the PLS graph.
- The “floating tools menu” in PLS graph allows the user to create the graph. This menu in PLS graph is always present in the start up of the program.
- The “select” option on the left side of the menu in PLS graph allows the user to select the objects in the graph for further action.
- The “zooming” option in PLS graph allows the user to increase or decrease the graph length that is displayed in the monitor. The user can shrink the graph in PLS graph by 10 percent. The user can go back to the normal size in PLS graph by going to the “view” option in the menu and selecting the “normal size” option in the menu of the PLS graph.
- The option called the “construct” option in PLS graph helps the user to create constructs. A circle representing the construct in PLS graph is then created which can be subsequently changed by the user in PLS graph.
- The “linkage” option in PLS graph allows the user to create the path links among the constructs. In other words, this option in PLS graph allows the user to connect the constructs with indicators. The user should keep in mind that in PLS graph, when the user is connecting a new indictor with the existing ones, then the directionality will automatically be assigned to the same direction as per the existing indicators in PLS graph.
- The “text” option in PLS graph allows the user to create a text for display purposes in PLS graph. This option in PLS graph does not have any impact on the rest of the program.
