Import Clipboard

The Import Clipboard option in the File menu is used to import the contents of the clipboard into the AutoSignal data table. You may import numeric information from text files, or blocks from Excel, Lotus 123, Quattro Pro, and SigmaPlot files.

Clipboard Import vs. Paste

Note that AutoSignal does not offer a Paste option in its Edit menu. This is because the data columns of interest are often non-adjacent in the data source. This Import Clipboard option offers the means to select from all of the columns contained in the clipboard. This is identical to the Import procedure, except that the clipboard is used instead of a file. In fact, this option first saves the data to clipbrd.wk1, clipbrd.wk3, or clipbrd.prn, depending on the format available in the clipboard. The spreadsheet formats are given priority since these maintain full binary precision. The data are then processed either as a WK1 or WK3 file, or as an ASCII file.

Two or More Columns of a Spreadsheet Block

To import a spreadsheet block from the clipboard, there must be at least two columns present. You must then select an X and Y column, and optionally a weights column based upon column number and content. The data are imported in accord with the WKx format, regardless of the spreadsheet source.

Two Numeric Columns of ASCII Text

In this case, the X and Y data are automatically read. Every valid data pair is placed in the data table. If the variables need to be reversed, this can readily be done within the AutoSignal Editor. The data must follow AutoSignal's XY ASCII format.

One Numeric Column of ASCII Text

In this instance, you must enter an initial X-value and an X-increment. The X values are then automatically generated as Y values are read. Every point is placed in the data table. This is identical to the single column ASCII format in text files.

Multiple Numeric Columns of ASCII Text

You must select an X and Y column, and optionally a weights column based upon column number and content. The data must follow AutoSignal's multi-column ASCII format.