The Data Editor is opened from Data → Edit Data, or by right-clicking a dataset in the project tree and choosing Edit Data.
This utility changes the values of a dataset that is already in the project. Use it to fix a transcription error, fill in or blank out a suspect value, or adjust a record before running an analysis. It does not create datasets or change a dataset's times, x values, units, or parameter. Only the values can be edited.
Only one Data Editor can be open at a time. If the editor is already open, choosing Edit Data on another dataset in the project tree switches the editor to that dataset.
Selecting a dataset
| Dataset | Lists every dataset in the project, grouped by project-tree category, and can be searched by typing. If the editor was opened from the project tree, the dataset that was right-clicked is already selected. |
| Value column | Only appears when the dataset has more than one numeric value column. Picks which column the table and plot edit. Only one column can be edited at a time. |
To the right of these fields is a count of changed values: No changes, or n changed value(s).
A dataset can be edited if its first column is its index (a date/time or an x value) and it has at least one numeric value column. Otherwise the editor shows This dataset has no editable values.
If you switch datasets while there are changes that haven't been applied, a dialog asks whether to Apply and switch, Discard and switch, or Keep editing.
Table
The table on the left has three columns:
| Date/Time or X | Read-only. The dataset's index. Date/times are shown as stored, and the column heading gives their time zone. |
| Current | Read-only. The value currently saved in the project. |
| Modified | Editable. Type a new value, or clear the cell to make that value missing. A blank cell is a gap, not a zero. |
If a Modified cell contains something that isn't a number, a red message lists the affected rows (Row(s) … are not numbers. Correct or clear them before applying.) and Apply Changes is disabled until they are fixed.
The divider between the table and the plot can be dragged to resize the two panes.
Plot
The plot on the right shows two series against the same axes: Current (the saved values) and Modified (the values as edited). Edits made in the table appear on the plot after a short pause.
| Visual edit | Lets you edit values directly on the plot. Drag a Modified point up or down to change its value; the new value appears in the table's Modified column when the point is released. While visual edit is on, the y axis stays fixed so points don't jump while you drag, and zooming and panning are turned off. |
Values snap to round numbers suited to the plot's scale. Hold Alt while dragging to set a value in between.
Visual edit is unavailable when two or more rows share the same date/time or x value, because a point on the plot would not identify a single row. Edit those datasets in the table.
Applying or discarding changes
| Apply Changes | Disabled until at least one value has changed and every Modified cell is either a number or blank. Saves the modified values to the dataset. A confirmation message appears in the Message Component (Applied n changed value(s) to "name".), and the editor reloads the dataset so the Current column shows the saved values. |
| Cancel | Closes the editor. If there are changes that haven't been applied, a dialog asks whether to Discard them or Keep editing. |
Applying replaces the dataset's saved values. The previous values are not kept, and there is no undo. To reverse a change, edit the value back to what it was.
