| iTool User's Guide: Common Operations |

## File Operations

File operations are provided in the iTools to allow you to open files, save files, import variables and files, export variables, or export the contents of the iTool window as an image file.

### Opening Files

Data files, text files, and previously saved iTools State (`*.isv)` files can be opened with File Open. For more information on opening files, see Using File Open.

### Importing Variables and Files

IDL variables and files can be imported into the current iTool with File Import. The IDL Data Import Wizard offers you the choice of importing a variable or a file, and then asks you to identify the location of the data source and the type of visualization to be created with the data.

#### Import a Variable

The Data Import Wizard can import an IDL variable created at the IDL command line or exported from an iTool session into the current iTool. For more information on importing variables, see Importing Data from the IDL Session.

#### Import a File

The Data Import Wizard can import text files, data files, or image files into the current iTool. For more information on importing files, see Importing ASCII Data, Importing Binary Data, or Importing Image Data.

### Saving Files

The current state of the iTool can be saved as an iTools State (`*.isv`) file. Whenever you close an iTool window, you will be prompted to save the current state as an `*.isv` file so that you can return to the current state of the data later when you open the `*.isv` file. Other IDL users running IDL 6.3 for Windows, UNIX or Mac OS X can open `*.isv` files.

#### Save

File Save saves the state of the current iTool to a file. If the file has already been saved, it will be saved under the same filename it was previously saved under. If the state has not been previously saved and has no filename, enter a filename. The saved file can be opened by IDL on either the Windows or the UNIX platform.

#### Save As...

File Save As also saves the state of the current iTool to a file, but it prompts you to enter a filename even if the file has been saved previously. Use Save As to save an existing iTools State file under a different name.

### Exporting Variables and Files

Data items created within the current iTool can be exported as IDL Variables, and the contents of the current iTool window can be exported as an image file. Select File Export, and follow the instructions in the IDL Data Export Wizard.

#### Export as a Variable

Data from the currently selected object can be exported as a variable from the IDL Data Export Wizard to the main IDL program.

For more information, see Exporting Data to the IDL Session.

#### Export as a File

The contents of the current window can be exported from the IDL Data Export Wizard as an image file.

For more information, see Exporting Data to a File.

### Exiting the iTool

Clicking the Close button on the iTool window will close the selected window. File Exit also closes the iTool window. You will be prompted to save any changes to the current state (see File Save above for details). All visualizations and views within the window are removed from memory.

IDL Online Help (March 01, 2006)