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#!N 
#!CSeaGreen #!N  #!Rall158 Supported Formats #!N #!EC #!N 
#!I0 #!N #!N #!I0 #!N  #!F-adobe-times-bold-r-normal--18*   Data Explorer Format #!EF #!I50 
#!N The Data Explorer format can be used to describe any 
object which can be represented in Data Explorer. Objects can be 
exported in the Data Explorer format using the Export module, and 
often filters are written to convert from other formats to the 
Data Explorer format. The Data Explorer format is described in detail 
in  #!Ledf,dxall623 h Data Explorer Native Files  #!EL  in IBM Visualization Data Explorer User's Guide. #!N #!N 
The Data Explorer format is supported directly by the Import module 
(see  #!Limport,dxall871 h Import  #!EL  IBM Visualization Data Explorer User's Reference). To create visual 
programs using data in this format, simply use the Import module, 
specifying the file name, and the format as "dx." #!N #!I0 
#!N  #!F-adobe-times-bold-r-normal--18*   CDF Format #!EF #!I50 #!N CDF is a standard 
format, supported directly by the Import module. For more information on 
the CDF format, see  #!Lcdf,dxall664 h CDF Files  #!EL  in IBM Visualization Data Explorer User's 
Guide. To create visual programs using data in this format simply 
use the Import module, specifying the cdf as the  #!F-adobe-times-bold-r-normal--18*   name 
#!EF parameter to Import, and specifying the format as "cdf." #!N 
#!I0 #!N  #!F-adobe-times-bold-r-normal--18*   netCDF Format #!EF #!I50 #!N netCDF is a 
standard format, supported directly by the Import module. For more information 
on the netCDF format, see  #!Lnetcdf,dxall665 h netCDF Files  #!EL  in IBM Visualization Data Explorer 
User's Guide To create visual programs using data in this format 
simply use the Import module, specifying the file name as the 
 #!F-adobe-times-bold-r-normal--18*   name #!EF parameter to Import, and specifying the format as 
"netCDF." #!N #!I0 #!N  #!F-adobe-times-bold-r-normal--18*   HDF Format #!EF #!I50 #!N HDF 
is a standard format, supported directly by the Import module. Data 
Explorer supports HDF files that contain a Scientific Dataset (SDS). For 
more information on the HDF format, see  #!Lhdf,dxall682 h HDF Files  #!EL  in IBM Visualization 
Data Explorer User's Guide. To create visual programs using data in 
this format simply use the Import module, specifying the file name 
as the  #!F-adobe-times-bold-r-normal--18*   name #!EF parameter to Import, and specifying the 
format as "hdf." #!N #!I0 #!N  #!F-adobe-times-bold-r-normal--18*   Image data #!EF #!I50 
#!N Images in TIFF, MIFF, GIF, and RGB formats can be 
directly imported by the ReadImage module (see  #!Lreadima,dxall915 h ReadImage  #!EL  in IBM Visualization 
Data Explorer User's Reference). To see the image, you need only 
to attach the output of ReadImage to first input of the 
Display module. You can of course manipulate the image with any 
of the appropriate Data Explorer modules. #!N #!I0 #!N  #!F-adobe-times-bold-r-normal--18*   Grid 
or Scattered Data (General Array format) #!EF #!I50 #!N Data Explorer 
can import a wide variety of gridded and scattered data using 
the General Array format. The basic procedure is to create a 
header file which describes the structure of the data (dimensionality, number 
of variables, layout in the file, etc.). The General Array Importer 
is described in detail in  #!Lgai,dxall110 h General Array Importer  #!EL  .  #!Lgaiexs,dxall114 h Importing Data: Header File Examples  #!EL  contains many examples 
illustrating the wide variety of data that can be imported. #!N 
#!N The Data Prompter greatly simplifies the task of creating a 
header file, as it performs extensive error checking (disallowing conflicting keywords, 
for example) and frees you from needing to know the exact 
syntax of the General Array format. When you use the Data 
Prompter to import this format, you will be asked to describe 
your data in detail. You need to then save the header 
file using  #!F-adobe-times-bold-r-normal--18*   Save As #!EF in the File menu of 
the Data Prompter Full or Simplified window. The data can then 
be visualized using one of the general purpose programs provided by 
the Data Prompter. #!N #!N To create new visual programs using 
data imported in this way, simply specify the name of the 
header file to the Import module, specifying the format as "general" 
(see  #!Limport,dxall871 h Import  #!EL  in IBM Visualization Data Explorer User's Reference). #!N #!I0 
#!N  #!F-adobe-times-bold-r-normal--18*   Spreadsheet Data #!EF #!I50 #!N Spreadsheet data is typically 
non-spatial data, arranged in columns. This type of data is supported 
by the ImportSpreadsheet module (see  #!Limpspsh,dxall872 h ImportSpreadsheet  #!EL  in IBM Visualization Data Explorer 
User's Reference). #!I0 #!N #!N Note: For the formats directly supported 
by Import (Data Explorer, CDF, netCDF, HDF) or ImportSpreadsheet (spreadsheet data), 
it is not necessary to use the Data Prompter to import 
the data. You can simply use the Import or ImportSpreadsheet module 
and then add whatever visualization modules you want to look at 
the data. However, you can use the Data Prompter to give 
you easy access to the general purpose programs which get you 
"up and running" with a picture of your data. #!N #!N 
If you are importing your data using the General Array format, 
once you have created a header file (typically done by using 
the Data Prompter), you can import the header file directly using 
the Import module. #!N #!N #!N  #!F-adobe-times-medium-i-normal--18*   Next Topic #!EF #!N 
#!N  #!Linitdb,dxall160 h Initial Dialog Box  #!EL  #!N  #!F-adobe-times-medium-i-normal--18*   #!N 
