Setting up a Winstats data table

Okay, let's assume we have some data that we need to graph. Data can be easily entered following the instructions below. Let's use the following data, a typical data table you may be presented with in one of your science classes:

Before you create a graph, you will need to manually enter your data into Winstats. To start, select Multi-var data from the Window menu in Winstats as shown below.

A new window much like the one below will appear. However, it will probably not look exactly the same.

The data table starts up empty. The numbers along the left side correspond with each row of the data table while red numbers along the bottom correspond with each column of the data table. The titles vbl 1, vbl 2, etc. appearing at the top allow you specify a name for each column.

Before we can start entering data, we need to resize the data table so that it can properly hold all of our data.

Click on the Edit menu, and then click on Dimensions. This window will appear:

After specifying the number of rows and columns in our data table, we click OK.

Next, we click on the Edit menu again, and then on Format to bring up this window:

The only thing you may need to change here is the decimal places. I used 2 decimal places for every value in my data table, so I put a 2 in this text box. However, if we wanted to round to 1 decimal place for every value, we would put a 1 here. This value should be set to the most number of decimal places used in any number in the data table.

Now, I begin to enter data into Winstats. I start with changing the column titles, named Vbl1, Vbl2, etc. This is done by simplying clicking on the column heading, and typing text into a textbox that appears. When you are done typing, press ENTER.

To enter the data into the data table, it is best to use a feature called auto-feed. When you finish editing one textbox with this feature enabled, pressing ENTER will allow you to edit the next textbox.

Start by right-clicking the first textbox in the top left (column 1, row 1). Enter a value, and then press ENTER. You will notice that the value you entered now appears on the data table, and that you are now editing the next textbox. To stop editing, press the Escape key.

This would be a great time to save your data. Go to File menu then select Save As. The file name must be 8 characters or less (use only letters, numbers or underscores).

The data table is now complete. It is now time to start the graph!

Here is my completed data table. I am now ready to begin my graph.