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iTool User's Guide: Importing and Exporting Data |
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All data used by any iTool is first loaded into the iTools Data Manager, which keeps track of which data items are associated with an iTool visualization. The Data Manager provides a convenient and structured environment in which to import and view files and variables.
The process of loading data into the Data Manager is entirely automatic if you specify data when launching an iTool at the IDL command line or if you open a data file using the Open command from the iTool's File menu. In these cases, the iTool will import the data in the specified file or variable and create a visualization of the default type for the selected data and the iTool you are using.
If you want more control over the process of creating a visualization, you can load data into the Data Manager manually, either from a data file or from one or more variables that exist in your current IDL session. Once a data item is placed in the Data Manager, it is available to all iTools until it is removed.
The IDL iTools support several data types. Data import and export capabilities within each iTool allow you to access these various types of data. Methods used to place data into the Data Manager are described in this chapter. File readers allow you to import data stored in binary formats, ASCII files, and several image file types.
Note You can also create file readers for other data types besides those provided in IDL. For more information on creating file readers and creating your own iTools, see Creating a File Reader. |
The Data Manager's graphical user interface consists of these elements:
In addition to the ability to import new data into the Data Manager, you can rename, duplicate, or remove existing data items.
Note Deletion is not reversible. |
IDL Online Help (March 01, 2006)