How can I see a dataset?

First, you must have the data.  If you need to get the data, consult the “Getting Data” illustration. 

1.  Let’s first assume that you know the name of the dataset and it is in the “data” subdirectory of the “fdc” folder.  In that case, just type its name in a command line:

If you do not know the name of the dataset, go to point 2. below.

When you hit the ENTER key, FDC will retrieve your data.  If the box on that line is checked (as it is above), then the dataset will be displayed and the name of the dataset will appear in bold text in the margin:

If the box on the command line is unchecked, FDC will retrieve your dataset, but it will not be displayed, and the name in the margin will be in gray text:

If you were to then check the box, the dataset will appear.  If you are doing exploratory work, it’s better to see the datasets as they are requested.  However if you are doing a lot of work, you probably do not want all the datasets opened on your monitor, and it would be best to .  You can always check and uncheck individual boxes as you wish. 

Note the three tabs at the bottom of the opened dataset:

If you click on the Plot tab, you will be presented with the default plot:

If you are the type of person who always wants to view charts first, then you can instruct FDC to always default to showing you plots first.  Here’s how:

 

Please skip to point 3. below.

2. Suppose you do not know the name of the dataset.  Here’s how to find it among all the datasets you may have:

Click on the Data Wizard icon  and you will be presented with a green template:

This gives you the ability to retrieve already-saved data, or download data from the web.  In this case, click on .  The data folder will be opened for you to view all of the saved datasets. 

.  Select the dataset you want and click .

3.      When you retrieve a dataset, you get the whole thing.  That may be a nuisance, so you may want to limit the data in some way.  Here are a few ways to do that:

Note that in each case above, FDC has given the datasets temporary names:  temp1, temp2, etc., since you are not getting the entire dataset, but only a subset of each dataset.  Should you wish, you may save the temporary datasets.

You may also request more than one dataset on each command line:

4.      Suppose that the data you want is on your computer, but not in FDC.  For example, sitting on your desktop is:  , which looks like this when opened on the desktop:

In this case, go to your Data Wizard , and , then  and

When you click  FDC will perform the operation and show you on the command line the language for making that request directly.

 

The data is imported into FDC and available for you as an FDC temp dataset:

5.      Data may also be copied into FDC with the standard Copy and Paste operations.  For example, you may copy data from text files or Excel® files as follows:

OR

Then click on the Clipboard icon , and your copied data will be pasted and formatted into a temporary FDC dataset and identified as having come from the clipboard: 

6.      Data may also be stored in a remote location, such as on a server.  Please consult the illustration titled “Remote Data Saving and Activation”.