ChartDraw

Data input


[ Data input | Input window menu | Keyboard shortcuts and special keys ]


Data input

Clicking with SELECT on the iconbar icon, or on the New option in the iconbar menu, will open a new data input window. ChartDraw can have several of these windows active at any one time. The window is shown below.

The window as opened will have a column for the data labels and one column for the data. Clicking the mouse in an appropriate cell will set the caret ready for text input. A chart title can be entered, as can column headings. Extra columns can be added at any time by placing the caret in a column heading and pressing Control-Shift-Tab. A maximum of four columns in addition to the column of labels is allowed. Tab will move from one cell to the next. Return will do the same, but in addition, when in the rightmost cell, a new row will be added when Return is pressed. The result of entering data may be as shown below.

Clicking with ADJUST on the iconbar icon will open a small dialogue to set the starting number of rows and columns. This dialogue is shown below.

chart.png - 4Kb

In the example shown (10 rows and three columns) the initial window would appear as shown below. New rows or columns can still be added if necessary, as described above.

For general editing of the data most of the expected special keypresses for navigation, etc., are available. To clear a cell, use Ctrl-U. To delete a complete row, use Ctrl-Shift-Delete. To insert a new blank row, use Ctrl-Shift-Insert. The full set of keypresses are described below. Options for inserting or deleting columns are available from the input window menu).


Input window menu

The menu attached to the data input window is shown to the right.

Add new column
This option mimics the Ctrl-Shift-Tab keypress in a column header field, and will add a new blank column at the right. If the maximum allowed number of columns has been reached, then the option will be shaded and not selectable.
Insert column
This allows the insertion of a new blank column. Follow the arrow right to choose before which current column the new column is to be inserted. The list of options will be shaded/unshaded depending on how many columns there are already. If the maximum allowed number of columns has been reached, then the option will be shaded.
Delete column
This allows an existing column to be completely deleted. Follow the arrow right to select the target column. You cannot delete a single remaining column.
Stacked bars
This will open a chart window, in which the data is shown in stacked bar chart format. See the chart window page for a full description.
Grouped bars
Selecting this will open a chart window, in which all the data is shown in grouped bar chart format. Alternatively, following the arrow right allows you to select from a submenu just one of the columns to be plotted. See the chart window page for a full description.
Line graphs
Selecting this will open a chart window, in which all the data is shown in simple line chart format. Alternatively, following the arrow right allows you to select from a submenu just one of the columns to be plotted. See the chart window page for a full description.
Stacked lines
This will open a chart window, in which the data is shown in stacked line chart format. See the chart window page for a full description.
Pie charts
Selecting this will open a chart window, in which all the data is shown in pie chart format. Alternatively, following the arrow right allows you to select from a submenu just one of the columns to be plotted. See the chart window page for a full description.
Save as
This leads, via a submenu offering the save either in chartdraw or CSV format, to a standard 'save as' dialogue box. Drag the icon to a filer window, or a suitable application, or enter the path manually to complete the save.

Once a chartdraw data file has been saved, then double clicking on it in a filer window will reload it in to ChartDraw. If the application has been seen by the filer, or been filer_booted, then ChartDraw will be launched if not already running. The saved data file can also be reloaded into ChartDraw by dragging its file icon from a filer window to the iconbar icon.


Keyboard shortcuts and special keys

Many of the standard key actions are available in the input window.

Left arrow Move caret left by one character within the current field.
Shift left arrow Move caret to left of data in current cell, unless already at left, when caret moves to previous cell in row.
Control left arrow or Home Move caret to end of data in leftmost cell of current row.
Right arrow Move caret right by one character within the current field.
Shift right arrow Move caret to right of data in current cell, unless already at right, when caret moves to next cell in row.
Control right arrow or End Move caret to end of data in rightmost cell of current row.
Down arrow Move caret down one row.
Up arrow Move caret up one row.
Page down or Shift down arrow Move caret down by 10 lines, or to bottom line if less than ten lines from bottom.
Page up or Shift up arrow Move caret up by 10 lines, or to top line if less than ten lines from top.
Control down arrow Move caret to bottom line.
Control up arrow Move caret to top line.
Tab Move caret to next field. If at end of row, move to left field of next row.
Shift Tab Caret moves to previous cell in row.
Control shift Tab When in the header text of a column, add a new blank column at the right.
Return Move caret to next field. If at end of row, move to left field of next row. If at end of bottom row, create a new row and move to left field.
Control U Clear the contents of the current cell.
Backspace Delete character to left of caret.
Delete Delete character to right of caret.
Control shift Delete Delete the complete row of data and close up the rows.
Control shift Insert Insert a new blank row above the current caret row.

These pages are best viewed in a CSS compliant browser. For RISC OS, Netsurf would be the browser of choice.

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ChartDraw is © Chris Johnson, 2014
Email:chris@chris-johnson.org.uk