The spreadsheet displays the file’s data in a grid format. When the application is first opened, no data is displayed until a specific data file is opened (see E-DATAAID: Opening a Data File [22794]).
When a data file is opened, the data is displayed in the spreadsheet with columns representing the variables of the experiment, and rows representing the lowest log level in the experiment (e.g., trials). The columns within the spreadsheet may be reorganized by moving, hiding, or unhiding columns.
Spreadsheet Organization
By default, ExperimentName, Subject, and Session appear as the first three variable columns. The remaining variables are organized alphabetically within hierarchical log levels. That is, session level variables occur in alphabetical order after the first three columns, then the variables for the next log level (e.g., Block) are organized in alphabetical order, then the variables for the next log level (e.g., Trial) are organized in alphabetical order, etc. The default column order is used every time a file is opened (i.e., any reordering of columns is not saved when a file is closed), or when the Restore Column Order or Restore Spreadsheet commands are used.
Refer to E-DATAAID: Saving and Loading Column Arrangement (.cd3) [23602] for information pertaining to loading frequently used column definitions.
Arranging Columns
By default, the columns in a data file are displayed in alphabetical order within hierarchical levels (e.g., Session, Block, Trial, etc.). Columns may be rearranged by selecting the column, clicking and holding the left mouse button to change the cursor to an arrow on a small box, dragging the column header to a new location, and releasing the left mouse button. A dotted red line provides feedback concerning where the column will be located after the left mouse button is released.
Alternatively, the Arrange Columns dialog may be displayed using the Arrange Columns tool button on the toolbar, or by using the Arrange Columns command in the Tools menu.
The Arrange Columns dialog box allows arranging columns within the list of currently displayed columns by selecting the column name and using the Move Up and Move Down buttons to move the column to a new position.
The Arrange Columns dialog also allows the reorganization of the spreadsheet through the designation of which columns to hide or show. To hide a column so that it does not appear in the spreadsheet, select the column in the Show list and click the Remove button. The column will then be placed in the Hide column. Likewise, to display any hidden columns in the spreadsheet, select the column in the Hide list and click the Add button to add the column to the Show list. When a hidden column is added to the Show list, the column is added to the end of the Show list, and is displayed as the last column in the spreadsheet when the dialog is dismissed. Use the Move Up button to reposition the variable if desired. The Add All button moves all hidden columns (selected or not) to the Show list. The Remove All button moves all unhidden columns (selected or not) to the Hide list. The Alphabetize buttons allow the items in either list to be ordered alphabetically.
The Select field may be used to highlight columns in both lists matching a specific filter. In the Select field below the Hide these columns list, type the desired filter into the edit box and click the Select button. Any column in either list matching the filter will be highlighted. The highlighted column then may be added or removed from the respective list. The selection is not case sensitive, and multiple filters may be entered at one time. Multiple filters are separated using semi-colons. Filters may also include the wildcard (*) character.
Hiding/Unhiding Columns
Columns may be hidden or unhidden using a variety of methods. First, columns may be hidden by selecting the column(s) to hide and using the Hide Columns command in the View menu. Or, individual columns may be hidden by right-clicking the column header and choosing the Hide command from the pop-up context menu.
Columns may also be hidden using the Arrange Columns command in the Tools menu. Using this method, the Arrange Columns dialog box will be opened to display all of the columns currently displayed or hidden, and the order of the displayed variables. Columns may be hidden by clicking the column name(s) and using the Remove button to move them from the list of displayed columns to the “Hide these columns list.”
Finally, columns may be hidden by dragging the boundary on the right side of the column header to meet the boundary on the left side of the header.
There are also several ways to unhide columns. To unhide one or more columns, use the Arrange Columns command in the Tools menu. The Arrange Columns dialog box will be opened to display all of the columns currently displayed or hidden. Unhide a column by selecting the column name and using the Add button to move the column from the hidden columns list to the Show list. The unhidden column may be positioned in the list of displayed columns using the Move Up or Move Down buttons. To unhide all hidden columns, use the Add All button in the Arrange Columns dialog, or the Unhide Columns command in the View menu.
When using the Add All button in the Arrange Columns dialog to unhide all hidden columns, the hidden columns are placed at the end of the Show list, and are placed as the last columns in the spreadsheet. Use the Move Up or Move Down buttons in the Arrange Columns dialog to reposition the columns if desired. When unhiding columns with the Unhide Columns command, the columns are shown in their original placement in the spreadsheet.
Column Definitions
E-DataAid provides a mechanism on the main interface toolbar to apply Column Definition files. A Column Definition's purpose is to save the the layout and whether columns are hidden or not in a file. Columns can be hidden and arranged in E-DataAid by using the Arrange Columns dialog. When a Column Definition is applied to an .edat3 file, the column visibility and column order configure to match what was specified by the Arrange Columns dialog.
If the Column Definition contains a column that does not exist in the .edat3 file, that column is ignored and the remaining columns become realigned so the column order is contiguous. If the .edat3 file contains a column that does not exist in the Column Definition, that column is treated as visible and is be placed after all the columns that do exist in the Column Definition.
NOTE: For more information, view the next article (E-DATAAID: Saving and Loading Column Arrangement (.cd3) [23602]).
Restoring Column Order
The Restore Column Order command in the View menu restores the columns to the default order. The spreadsheet’s default order is as follows:
-
ExperimentName
-
Subject
-
Session
-
Session level variables in alphabetical order
-
Name of the second level (e.g., Block)
-
Second level variables (e.g., block level variables) in alphabetical order
-
Name of third level (e.g., Trial)
-
Third level variables (e.g., trial level variables) in alphabetical order
-
…etc.
Collapsing Levels
The Collapse Levels command allows the user to collapse all levels below a chosen level. Collapsing all levels below a designated level automatically restores the columns to the default order, redisplays all hidden columns, clears all filters, filters all levels below the designated level on instance 1 or NULL, and hides all columns below the designated level. The Collapse Levels command may be invoked using the Tools menu or by clicking the Collapse Levels tool button.
The Collapse Levels command displays the Collapse Levels dialog. By default, the spreadsheet is set to collapse levels below the lowest level of data (e.g., commonly the lowest level would be the Trial level). Use the drop-down box to select a level, and click OK. The spreadsheet will be refreshed to display all data at or above the selected level.
Restoring Spreadsheet
The Restore Spreadsheet command, in the View menu, clears all active filters, redisplays all hidden columns, and restores the columns to the default order. The spreadsheet’s default order is as follows:
- ExperimentName
- Subject
- Session
- Session level variables in alphabetical order
- Name of the second level (e.g., Block)
- Second level variables (e.g., block level variables) in alphabetical order
- Name of third level (e.g., Trial)
- Third level variables (e.g., trial level variables) in alphabetical order
-
…etc.
Next Article: E-DATAAID: Saving and Loading Column Arrangement (.cd3) [23602]
Previous Article: E-DATAAID: Opening a Data File [22794]
Comments
0 comments
Please sign in to leave a comment.