How To Use It

• Chapter 1. "Overview", describes IBM Visualization Data Explorer--an integrated visualization environment--and its main features.
• Chapter 2. "Introduction to Visualization" introduces the basic terminology and working principle of Data Explorer.
• Chapter 3. "Understanding the Data Model", presents a formal description of Data Explorer's underlying data model. (Users who do not require such a description, however, should find the informal treatment in Chapter 2. "Introduction to Visualization" sufficient for their purposes.)
• Chapter 4. "Data Explorer Execution Model" describes the Data Explorer execution model.
• The next five chapters deal with various aspects of the Data Explorer graphical user interface:
  • Chapter 5. "Graphical User Interface: Basics"
  • Chapter 6. "Graphical User Interface: Important Windows"
  • Chapter 7. "Graphical User Interface: Control Panels, Interactors, and Macros"
  • Chapter 8. "Graphical User Interface: Menus, Options, and the Message Window"
  • Chapter 9. "Graphical User Interface: For Advanced Users"

  If you intend to use only existing visual programs, see

  • 5.4 , "Executing a Visual Program"
  • 6.1 , "Using the Image Window"
  • 6.3 , "Using the Colormap Editor".
  • 7.1 , "Using Control Panels and Interactors"
• Chapter 10. "Data Explorer Scripting Language" presents a more traditional approach to creating data visualizations. In this connection, see also Chapter 1. "Data Explorer Tools" in IBM Visualization Data Explorer User's Reference.
• Appendix A. "Using Data Explorer: Some Useful Hints" describes some of the ways to use Data Explorer more effectively.
• Appendix B. "Importing Data: File Formats" discusses various data formats that Data Explorer can import, including Data Explorer's native format.
• The remaining appendixes contain information of varying interest to different users:
  • Appendix C. "Environment Variables and Command Line Options"
  • Appendix D. "User Interface Configuration"
  • Appendix E. "Data Explorer Fonts"
  • Appendix F. "Data Explorer Colors"
  • Appendix G. "Accelerator Keys".