Data Files

Data Files
Data is viewed and edited in the Data Editor window, but stored within a Data file. In some cases, such as when DDE links or ODBC Queries have been established with other data sources, the data file does not store the actual data, but rather maintains a link to the data source.

Data Files are assigned a Data Type, based on whether the data is continuous measurements (Variables data) or discrete counts (Attributes data). This selection streamlines the analysis you can perform on the data.

Data files are created according to layouts. Layouts allow different data files to be created with a common format to the Data Editor window (or spreadsheet), which can simplify data entry and analysis. Defining specific layouts for given processes or departments is useful so that new files will have common column names, column widths, column types, file types, etc. Data entry, including subgroup collection, may be conducted according to this format.

Several sample layouts are provided with the program. For example, the Standard Variables layout has the columns, DATE, TIME, DATA 1, DATA2, DATA3, DATA4, and COMMENTS. If you create a data set from this layout it will have seven columns matching these names.