Basic Skills

This section provides a short summary on how to set up DataLab for a quick start. It is assumed that DataLab is already installed and running.

1. Set up the size of the matrix

First, you have to define the size of the data table you are working on. Don't worry too much about the correct size of the table, it can be changed any time later on. In order to set up the size of the table choose the command Edit/Resize Data Matrix, or use the shortcut button () in the Matrix Viewer. A window opens which lets you adjust the number of rows and columns of the data matrix.

Hint:

If you are using the free evaluation copy of DataLab the size of the matrix is restricted to a maximum of 500 data elements (i.e. the product of the number of rows and columns must not exceed this limit).

2. Open the appropriate number of data windows

If you are using DataLab for the very first time, only the matrix viewer window will be open. In order to display your data you have to open at least one data window. To do this, select Window/New, or use the corresponding shortcut button ().

3. Clear data table if necessary

Next, clear the data table if you have used DataLab previously. You may omit this step if you intend to load data from the disk. Select Edit/Data/Delete/Clear Data Matrix or click the shortcut button () in the Matrix Viewer.

4. Enter or create data

Now you are ready to enter data. Data may be entered either numerically via the keyboard, loaded from harddisk, or created by using the mathematical formula interpreter. In the case of inputting data via the keyboard you have either to choose the command Edit/Data/Numerical or to click the shortcut button () in the Matrix Viewer, which brings up the Numeric Data Editor.

Hint:

Of course, you can also import data from external files or you can load a data table from a previously saved DataLab data file. In this case you do not have to step through the first three points; DataLab does it for you automatically. More on loading data can be found in the section How to get data into DataLab

5. Let's Go !

At this point you can start to work on your data, display, transform, edit, or analyze it. Good luck !