The
Data View
The Data View is used to enter and display data for the current chart. Each
column in the Data View corresponds to a chart series, and has the series type
icon displayed in the column header. Each row in the Data View corresponds to a
data element in a given chart series. The order of the series columns in the
Data View determines the drawing order of the series in the chart.
Adding Rows and Series
There are several ways to add rows or series columns to the Data View.
¥ Using the Ò+Ó Button
On the bottom and right edges of the Data View are two buttons marked Ò+Ó and Ò-Ò. Clicking the Ò+Ó button will add a row
or series immediately following the currently selected row or series. If no row or series is selected the row
or series will be added at end of all others.
¥ Using the Enter Key
You can add rows or series by using the ENTER key on the numeric keypad. To add
rows, first select a row by clicking in a row label, which will highlight the
entire row. Hitting the ENTER key will then insert a row after the currently
selected row. Similarly, to add a series column, select a column by clicking in
the column header or label, which will highlight the entire column. Hitting the
ENTER key will then insert a new series column of the chart type.
¥ Insert Row, Insert Series Menu Items
If you wish to add a number of rows or series all at one time, use the Insert
menu items. Clicking the Insert_Row or Insert_Series menu items in the Data
View submenu will bring foward a panel in which you can enter the number of
rows or series you wish to add. The rows or series are inserted after the
currently selected row or series.
¥ Using the Series Palette
Double clicking on an icon in the Series Palette inserts a new series column of
that type after the current selection .
¥ Copy and Paste
You can copy and paste entire rows or entire columns within a Data View, or to
another Data View. The series type, the row or series name, and the data are
all carried in the copy. Pasting a row or series inserts it after the currently
selected row or series.
Deleting Rows and Series
Rows may be deleted by selecting one or more rows in the Data View, and hitting
the backspace key, or by clicking the Ò-Ò button that resides on the bottom edge
of the Data View. Alternately, you may choose to use Cut, which will allow you
to paste the rows elsewhere. Series may be deleted by selecting the series
columns and hitting the backspace key, by clicking the Ò-Ò button on the right
edge of the Data View or by choosing Cut. Alternately, you may select the
series in the chart itself, and hit the backspace key.
Selecting and Positioning in the Data View
Select any cell in the Data View by clicking it with the mouse.
Select any range of cells by clicking and dragging, or by selecting one cell
then shift-clicking another cell.
Select a row by clicking on the row label cell.
Select a series column by clicking on a series column label.
Select a range of rows or series by clicking and dragging across the respective
labels, or by selecting one row or column then shift-clicking another row or
column.
You may also reposition the single cell selections in the Data View using the
directional keys, and the tab keys. For example, if a row is selected, hitting
the right arrow key will move the selection to the first cell in that row. If a
series column is selected, hitting the down arrow key will move the selection
to the first cell in that series.
Selecting only the labels allows you to restrict operations to row or series
labels only. To select series column or row labels, select their series columns
or rows, then from the Data View submenu, choose Select Labels Only.
Editing Cells
Double clicking in a cell or label allows you to edit the existing text. Typing
when a cell is selected will replace the contents of the selected cell with
whatever you type.
Chartsmith provides smart repositioning of the selection in the Data View when
you finish editing by hitting the RETURN key. If you are editing a row label
and you hit RETURN, Chartsmith repositions the selection so that typing will
enter text in the next row label. If you are editing a series column label and
hit RETURN, the selection moves to the next series column label. If you are
editing cells in the data area, hitting RETURN moves to the next cell in the
series column (downward). If the cell is the last one in a column, hitting
RETURN after editing will position the selection at the first cell in the next
series column.
Converting Series Types
An existing series in a chart may be converted to any other series type that
uses the same grid layout. All such series are listed int the Series Palette on
the Data View Window. Convert a series type by dragging a series icon from the
Series Palette onto the column header of the series you wish to convert. If you
wish to convert more than one series, first select the series, then drag and
drop a series icon onto any of the selected series' column headers. Note that
when possible, series attributes are preserved when converting between series
types.
Reordering Series
Series are drawn in the Chart View in the order that their series columns
appear in the Data View. Series columns furthest to the left are drawn first,
placing them in the back. Series columns furthest to the right are drawn last,
placing them in the front of all other series. Series ordering can be important
when mixing series types; e.g. an area series may obscure a line series if the
line series is not drawn in the front. Chartsmith allows you to change the
order of the series quickly and easily. Simply hold down the control key and click-drag
the series column header you wish to reorder. The series column will follow the
drag until you drop it, where it will be inserted before the series you drop it
on.
Setting the Font
The Data View supports font specification for each of its components. You may
set the font of the row label cells, the series column label cells, and the
data cells; fonts cannot be specified for individual cells. To set the font,
just select one of the target cells, and use the font panel to apply the
desired font type.
Setting Alignment
You may set the alignment of any block of label or data cells by making the
desired selection, and choosing Format->Text-> Align_Left, Center or
Align_Right.
Using the Data Fill Panel
If your data or your labels follow a sequential pattern, you may want to use
the Data Fill Panel to quickly fill the cells or labels in the Data View
instead of manually entering data and labels. See the Data Fill help file for
more information.
Disabling Chart Updates
At times you may wish to disable chart-updating so that many changes can be
made without waiting for the graphical updates to be made to the chart. This is
possible by clicking the Chart Updating button found at the left side of the
Data View. Once clicked all chart updates are delayed until the next time this
button is clicked, or until the chart is clicked.
Resizing Rows, Series, and Labels
Rows, Series, or Labels may be resized by positioning the cursor over a
resize handle and dragging to the new size. See the Data View Resizing help
file for more information.