Data Entry and Editing

Data Entry and Editing
Data may be entered from the keyboard into one or more columns in the Data Editor (i.e. the spreadsheet), or through the Data Entry Form, which links with the data editor. Most users find the data editor window a convenient format for both viewing and entering data. It also supports a number of spreadsheet calculations.

When entering data into a variables data set, we suggest that you select the Smart cursor option in the Preferences dialog box under the Options menu. The smart cursor will automatically move the cursor to the next subgroup in the column you are working with when you have entered enough values to fill the subgroup size set up in the Column Format dialog box.

Note: There may be some areas in the data set where key entry is not permitted. Anything that you type in these areas will be ignored. One such area is in variables data sets beyond the end of a column subgroup size. Other such areas include ranges in the data file whose value has been set by a DDE link or an ODBC Query.
The Edit Box

At the top of the workspace, immediately under the menu bar, is an edit box to the right of the tool bar containing the buttons with pictures on them. When the edit box is active, OK and Cancel buttons next to the box and the contents of the current cell are shown in the edit box. A blinking vertical bar (the text cursor or caret) also appears in the box. Any text that you type will be inserted at the position marked by the caret.

To enter or edit text

Use the arrow keys or the mouse to position the current cell cursor where you want to enter text in the spreadsheet.

Click on the edit box, then move within the edit box using the arrow keys to position the cursor at the appropriate location in the string, and type in any changes. Use the backspace and delete keys to erase text, OR

Type text into the cell. This activates the edit bar, replacing the current contents of the cell.

To save changes, press ENTER, use the arrow keys (UP, DOWN, LEFT and RIGHT) and change the current cell position, or click on the OK button that appears on the edit bar when you are editing cell text, OR

To restore the cell to its previous value, click on the Cancel button or press the ESC key.

Note: Charts will extract any numerical information from the cells where possible. For example "$35.46" will be interpreted as 35.46, as would "Alice 35.46".