A. POSTMORTEM OF AN EXAMPLE -- 1. The stages of decision-making -- 2. The aim of graphics: a higher level of information -- 2.1 Useful information -- 2.2 Information levels -- 2.3 Measurement of useless constructions -- 3. The three successive forms of graphic application -- 3.1 The matrix analysis of a problem -- 3.2 Graphic information-processing -- 3.3 Graphic communication -- 3.4 Outline of work -- B. GRAPHIC CONSTRUCTIONS -- 1. A "synoptic" of graphic constructions -- 2. Permutation matrices -- 2.1 The reorderable matrix -- 2.2 The weighted matrix -- 2.3 The image-file -- 2.4 The matrix-file -- 2.5 The array of curves -- 3. Ordered tables -- 3.1 Tables with 1, 2 or 3 characteristics -- 3.2 Superimpositions and collections of tables -- 4. Reorderable networks -- 5. Ordered networks: topography and cartography -- 5.1 Information provided by a map -- 5.2 The base map -- 5.3 Cartography with one ordered characteristic -- 5.4 Cartography with several characteristics -- C. THE GRAPHIC SIGN SYSTEM (A Semiological Approach to Graphics) -- 1. Specificity of graphics -- 2. The bases of graphics -- 3. Variables of the image: the plane, size and value -- 4. Differential variables -- 5. The law of visibility -- 6. Summary -- D. THE MATRIX ANALYSIS OF A PROBLEM AND THE CONCEPTION OF A DATA TABLE -- 1. The apportionment table -- 2. The homogeneity schema -- 3. The pertinency table -- 4. Applications of matrix analysis -- CONCLUSION.