Inserting Visualizations

If you already have the necessary data in the iTool Data Manager, you can manually create a visualization in your iTool. This is done from your desired iTool window by selecting Insert  Visualization.

To access data using Insert  Visualization from your tool:

  1. Start an iTool.
  2. Select Insert  Visualization. The Insert Visualization Dialog appears.
  3. Figure 3-1: Insert Visualization Dialog With Image Visualization Type Selected

    insertviz1.jpg

    The Insert Visualization dialog contains the following items:

    • Data Tree View — this tree contains any imported data and/or variables available for visualization in the Data Manager.
    • Data Properties — this area, to the right of the Data Tree View, shows the properties of any selected Data Tree elements.
    • Select a Visualization Drop-down Menu — this menu allows you to select the visualization type to use with the selected data.
    • Parameter Property Sheet— these are the input parameters for the visualization type selected in the Visualization Type Drop-down Menu. These input variables will change per visualization type.
    • Parameter Data Types Window — this window to the right of the parameters table shows the properties of the selected parameter.
    • Help — this button will invoke the help system.
    • Import Variable — gives you the ability to select a variable to import into the Data Manager. For more information on importing a variable into your Data Manager, see Importing Data from the IDL Session.
    • Import File — gives you the ability to select data from a file to import into the Data Manager. For more information on importing a file into your Data Manager, see Importing Data from a File.
    • Insert Button — this button will insert the specified visualization into the current iTool. Insert is only active if data is associated with all required parameters.
    • Dismiss — this button will dismiss the dialog.
  4. Select the visualization type from the visualization type drop-down menu.
  5. Next, assign data in the dialog to the parameters of the visualization being inserted.
  6. Now click Insert to finish inserting the visualization.