The Data Worksheet contains the data for GS+ analyses. Data can be entered manually or can be imported via the Import file command. Entered data can be edited, filtered (or bounded), and can be temporarily or permanently deleted from subsequent analyses. Field assignments (assigning fields or columns to x-coordinate values, y-coordinate values, etc.) are made in the worksheet window by clicking on the top row.
The Base Input File is the external file from which worksheet data were loaded – if none of the data were loaded from an external file then this field will be blank. To import data to the worksheet from an external file, press Import to bring up a File Import Dialog window. Note that the data in the worksheet may not be the same as data in the Base Input File if the worksheet data were changed after importing.
Press Import File to bring up a File Import dialog from which text and binary (e.g. worksheet) files can be imported into the worksheet.
The Rebuild command builds the data arrays on which all statistical analyses are based. This command is enabled whenever data records have been edited. The data arrays must be rebuilt prior to semivariance or other analyses whenever data have been changed. Sometimes this occurs automatically, such as when columns are reassigned. Other times, such as when individual cells are edited, you must rebuild the data arrays yourself. When rebuilding is needed, the Rebuild command will become enabled and the color of the font will change to red. During rebuilding the data are checked for duplicate coordinate locations and for a sufficient number of valid records.
Note that rebuilding is only needed when column assignments change or when data within a column assigned to a coordinate or z-variate changes. In the screen above, changing a value within the Al column will not require arrays to be rebuilt.
Press Filter to bring up a Filter Dialog that allows the data to be constrained to a particular range; data outside of the specified range are treated as temporary missing data, i.e. excluded from subsequent analyses. The filter check box turns filtering on and off.
Press Clear to empty the data worksheet and reset all analysis windows. Has the same effect as the File – New menu command.
Any text information desired can be entered in this field. When importing text files, the “header” records in the file – the records that appear prior to the data records – are placed in this box. If specified in the text file import window, these records can also contain variate names that appear as data column titles. The first line of the Data Description becomes the default graph and worksheet title. You can use this box for storing comments about the parameter file or analysis.
The first row of the data worksheet holds the field or column numbers. You can click on a cell in this row to sort the contents of the column in ascending or descending order; each time you click the order is alternated. All row contents are sorted when you sort a particular field or column.
The second row of the data worksheet specifies the Field or Variate Assignments, i.e. which field or column contains the X-Coordinate Data, Y-Coordinate Data, Z-Variate Data, or Sample ID Data. These assignments can be changed by clicking within the top row, which will bring up a Field Assignment Dialog window.
The third row of the data worksheet specifies the user-supplied Field or Variate Names for the various data fields or columns. To enter or edit names, click on the cell to be edited. When data is imported from a text or external worksheet file, variate names can be read from the header records.
The data area of the worksheet contain data for each variate. To enter or edit data in any given cell, double-click on that cell. To enter a formula rather than a value, begin the cell with an “=” sign.
The data worksheet may contain 4 billion records and up to 64 columns.
To change the width of any column, move the cursor to the top of the column and use the mouse to stretch or contract the column margins.
To sort the datasheet, click on the topmost row of the column. Sorts will alternate between ascending and descending order. Or use the Sort command in the Data Menu.
To change the number of decimal places to show for any given column, use the Decrease Decimals or Increase Decimals command in the Data Menu, or click on the respective tool icon in the menu bar.
To temporarily delete a cell from analyses, change it to a Temporary Missing Value with a click of the right mouse button (its color turns red and the font becomes italicized; see the value 0.37 in the diagram above). Another click restores it to the worksheet (its color will return to black and font to normal). To change a value to a Permanent Missing Value, delete its contents by highlighting it and pressing the Delete key (note the empty cells in the figure above).
To insert or delete a row or column in the worksheet use the Data - Insert or - Delete commands on the menu bar.