Adding data to columns

[jmallenParticipant]

It seems it is not possible to append data to single columns, other than be reconfiguring the column in other software like Excel and re-pasting into Datagraph, or typing the data in individually cell-by-cell.

If implemented, it would make data tables more easily editable. Thanks.

 

[jordanParticipant]

This has been covered in the follow threading post, and it includes a nice video to show you how step by step.

Select a data block

[jmallenParticipant]

That procedure is complicated and not what I am after.

As a newbie to Datagraph, and a Deltagraph exile, I find the data pane in Datagraph restrictive.

All my data comes from Excel. If I select an entire column in  Excel it can be copied and pasted into a column in Datagraph no problem. If I select just part of a column in Excel and try to paste it into Datagraph nothing happens. If I want to append data to a column in Datagraph by copy and paste below the last entry just the first number is inserted, or it can be done manually cell-by-cell.

So to adapt requires setup of an Excel file just for Datagraph and use the import options.

[dgteamModerator]

Hi there – here are some comments on your issues.

‘All my data comes from Excel. If I select an entire column in  Excel it can be copied and pasted into a column in Datagraph no problem.’

Glad that is working

‘If I select just part of a column in Excel and try to paste it into Datagraph nothing happens.’

That should not happen.  Could be a bug.  Would be great if you could send more information, either here or to our help email. Including a file with an example is often helpful.

‘If I want to append data to a column in Datagraph by copy and paste below the last entry just the first number is inserted, or it can be done manually cell-by-cell.’

This sounds like you double clicking in the last entry. Try this with a single click to select the row you want to append to, then Command-V.

For example, if this is my data that I want to append to ..

.

If you go to the cell below and double click, that will open the cell for entry. Pasting here will paste only into that cell.

Instead, if you do a single click on the row, like this …

Then when you paste (command-V) you will append to the column.

If you have multiple columns, you might be asked to specify which column to append the data, using the interface shown in that video.  Otherwise this should work.

If you have an action you are finding you have to repeat over and over, we may have a built-in action to make that easier.  For example, we have the ability to Flatten a data set.  There is also a way to append multiple groups into one group.  Let us know if you think something else should be added to do repeated actions.

I hope this helps!

 

[jmallenParticipant]

Thanks but your answer does not work.

I cannot find any way to append part of a column from Excel to a particular column in a multi-column table in Datagraph.

[dgteamModerator]

I’m not sure what is not working for you.  You can paste into a single column, even when more than one column is shown, but the program may ask where to place the data.

For example, say you want to copy and paste these three cells from a spreadsheet as shown.

Select and copy the data from the spreadsheet.

Here are the steps in DataGraph:

Step 1:  Click once to select the row you want to paste into.

Step 2: Select Edit/Paste or type Command-V.  You will see the following pop-up where the left side shows the data you want to paste, the right shows the columns in your table.

 

Step 3:  Click and Drag to connect the data to the destination.  Click Import when you are done.

 

The three cells are now pasted in the column.

If you have a case that is not working, it would be helpful if you could send a file to help@visualdatatools.com and we can better diagnose the problem.

FYI — It is also very easy to import entire Excel files by dragging and dropping on the column list.  Perhaps what you have to manipulate is better done in the spreadsheet.  Then when you want to update the data in DataGraph, drag and drop the same file onto the column group and DataGraph will update your data.

 

[jmallenParticipant]

OK thanks for your help, it works.

Would it not be simpler just to select a cell in a column, hit command-v and have the data appended below, as in a database like Excel or Numbers?

[dgteamModerator]

I agree that for pasting a group of cells into the middle of a column, spreadsheets do this better. DataGraph has a different data structure than a spreadsheet, column-based not cell-based. There are a lot of advantages to the column-based approach. For example, calculations are more robust and manipulating large datasets is often much easier. The draw back is that small manipulations take an extra step when the destination column is unclear.

We did a major upgrade to our data table last year (https://youtu.be/8OtDuoLIIO4) that could give us more flexibility to select cells.  So we may have that in the future but what we generally recommend is importing entire spreadsheets into DataGraph, rather than doing a lot of copy and paste. (Drag and Drop the file on the Column list to import)

FYI — If you are new to the program you may want to watch Get the Most out of DataGraph.

 

 

 

 

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