Launching the iTools

The IDL Intelligent Tools (iTools) are a set of interactive utilities that combine data analysis and visualization with the task of producing presentation quality graphics. Based on the IDL Object Graphics system, the iTools are designed to help you get the most out of your data with minimal effort. They allow you to continue to benefit from the control of a programming language, while enjoying the convenience of a point-and-click environment. Each tool is designed around a specific visualization type:

Two and three dimensional plots (line, scatter, polar, and histogram style)

Surface representations

Contour maps

Image displays

Volume visualizations

Maps

Vector displays

Figure 1-1: Black Hole Density Data in the iVolume Tool

For detailed information on the new iTools and how to use them, see the iTool User's Guide.

The iTools are built upon an object-oriented framework, or set of object classes, that serve as the building blocks for their interface and functionality. IDL programmers can easily use this framework to create custom data analysis and visualization environments. Such custom Intelligent Tools may be called from within a larger IDL application, or they may serve as the foundation for a complete application in themselves. For more information on creating your own custom iTools, see the iTool Programming.

Starting an iTool

To get started using the new IDL iTools, from the IDL Workbench command line, simply type the name of the tool you wish to call. The tools available are:

iContour

iImage

iMap

iPlot

iSurface

iVector

iVolume

Loading Data into an iTool

There are multiple options for loading your data into your chosen iTool for visualization:

Command Line Argument — At the IDL Command Line enter:

mydata = RANDOMU(SEED, 45) 
iPlot, mydata  
 This option allows you to have control over parameters and keyword options for setting up the way you wish your plot (or other visualization) to appear.

Workbench: File → Open — If you are using the IDL Workbench, selecting Open from the Workbench File menu and selecting an image format file will automatically open an IIMAGE tool containing the selected image.

Workbench: Drag to Tool Palette — If you are using the IDL Workbench Visualize perspective, you can simply drag one or more variables from the Variables view to a tool in the Tool Palette view. IDL will create an iTool visualization that matches the number of parameters you dragged.

Workbench: Drag to Tool Action — If you are using the IDL Workbench Visualize perspective, you can drag one or more variables from the Variables view to a specific action in the Tool Palette. This method allows you greater control over the visualization created.

iTool: File → Open — If you have an iTool open, this is the quickest way to create a default visualization of your data.

iTool: File → Import → IDL variable — This will invoke the IDL Import wizard.

iTool: File → Import → From a File -— This also invokes the IDL Import wizard.

iTool: Insert → Visualization — This method gives you parameter control similar to using the command line.

Note
For more detailed information on loading data into the iTools, see Importing and Exporting Data (iTool User's Guide).

The iTools Data Manager

All data used by any iTool is first loaded into the iTools Data Manager, which keeps track of which data items are associated with an iTool visualization. The Data Manager provides a convenient and structured environment in which to import and view files and variables.

The process of loading data into the Data Manager is entirely automatic if you specify data when launching an iTool at the IDL command line, by dragging from the IDL Workbench Variables view to a Workbench action, or if you open a data file using the Open command from the iTool's File menu. In these cases, the iTool will import the data in the specified file or variable and create a visualization of the default type for the selected data and the iTool you are using.

If you want more control over the process of creating a visualization, you can load data into the Data Manager manually, either from a data file or from one or more variables that exist in your current IDL session. Once a data item is placed in the Data Manager, it is available to all iTools until it is removed.