| iTool User's Guide: Importing and Exporting Data |

## Importing Data from the IDL Session

Variables in your current IDL session can be imported into the Data Manager to be visualized in an iTool. Once you have entered variables into the IDL session at the command line, you can import a variable directly from the Data Manager dialog, or by using File Import. See Importing and Writing Data into Variables for information on how to create variables that contain data within an IDL session.

Note If you specify a variable as a parameter to the iTool at the IDL command line, the variable is automatically imported into the Data Manager.

The following is an example of importing a variable using the Data Manager dialog:

1. From the Data Manager dialog, select Import Variable. The IDL Variable Browser appears.

Figure 2-9: The IDL Variable Browser

Figure 2-9: The IDL Variable Browser

2. From the IDL Variable Browser you can select available variables which you have created in your IDL session and click OK to add them to your Data Manager as available variables.

Figure 2-10: Imported Variable with Imported Files

Figure 2-10: Imported Variable with Imported Files

After importing data into the Data Manager, you can display the data using the Insert Visualization dialog. See Inserting Visualizations for details.

### Importing Graphic Objects

You can import graphic objects into your iTool using the Visualization pull-down menu on the Insert Visualization window. Select IDL Graphics Object and then import your variable from the Data Manager into the Graphics Object field and select Insert.

When importing graphic objects into an iTool it is important to remember:

- If the object hierarchy being inserted as a graphic object does not have the REGISTER_PROPERTIES keyword set, then no properties will be available in your iTool when the object is visualized.

If the object hierarchy being inserted as a graphic object includes an image object, rotation may not behave as expected. For more information on image objects and their behavior, see Transformations of IDLgrImage Objects.

### Parameter Data and the Command Line

Parameter data can often be entered at the IDL command line in IDL when creating an iTool. Consider the following example:

1. At the IDL Command Line, enter the following:

    myPlotData = RANDOMU(seed, 30)
    iPlot, myPlotData

2. The variable `myPlotData` is inserted into the iTool Data Manager.

3. The following is produced in an iPlot window:

Figure 2-11: Reading Parameter Data in at the IDL Command Line

Figure 2-11: Reading Parameter Data in at the IDL Command Line

Note See Importing and Writing Data into Variables for more information on Command Line data access.

IDL Online Help (March 01, 2006)