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

## Importing Data from a File

You can import data from several types of files into the iTool Data Manager. The following sections describe the process of importing different types of data.

- Importing Image Data

- Importing ASCII Data

- Importing Binary Data

- Importing Shapefile Data

### Importing Image Data

You can visualize image data stored in many common file formats. Common image file formats accepted are:

DICOM Images | Macintosh PICT
Graphics Interchange Format Images (GIF) | Portable Network Graphics (PNG)
Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) | Tag Image File Format (TIFF)
JPEG2000 (JP2 or JPX) | Windows Bitmap (BMP)

Note You can also use the iTool's export and export variable features to export image data and variables. For more information on exporting, see Exporting Data.

Note For more information on the iImage tool and its functions and features, see Working with Images.

### Importing ASCII Data

When you open a file containing ASCII data, you must specify the format of the file before the iTool can read the data and place it into the Data Manager. The iTool opens the ASCII Template dialog to allow you to specify the format of the ASCII data.

Note You can also use the iTool's export and export variable features to export ASCII data and variables. For more information on exporting, see Exporting Data.

To import ASCII data in an iTool, select File Open or click the Import File button in the Data Manager or Insert Visualization dialog. See Using the ASCII Template Dialog under ASCII_TEMPLATE for instructions on how to use the dialog to define the structure of your ASCII data.

Note Once data has been imported into the iTool and is visible in the Data Manager, there are a few ways to visualize the data. To learn more about visualizing data, see Visualizations.

For more information on using the ASCII file reader, see ASCII_TEMPLATE.

### Importing Binary Data

When you open a file containing binary data that is not of a format recognized by any other file reader available to your iTool, you must specify the format of the file before the iTool can read the data and place it into the Data Manager. The iTool opens the Binary Template dialog to allow you to specify the format of the binary data.

Note If the file contains binary data of a recognized format, such as TIFF or JPEG, the iTool will automatically choose the correct file reader to read the binary data.

Note You can also use the iTool's export and export variable features to export binary data and variables. For more information on exporting, see Exporting Data.

To import binary data in an iTool, select File Open or click the Import File button in the Data Manager or Insert Visualization dialog. See Using the BINARY_TEMPLATE Interface under BINARY_TEMPLATE for instructions on how to use the dialog to define the structure of your binary data.

Note Once data has been imported into the iTool and is visible in the Data Manager, there are a few ways to visualize the data. To learn more about visualizing data, see Visualizations.

For more information on the binary file reader, see BINARY_TEMPLATE.

For more information on plotting and plot functions, see Working with Plots.

### Importing Shapefile Data

For more information on shapefiles and inserting them into an iTool, see Inserting an IDL Shapefile.

Note Once data has been imported into the iTool and is visible in the Data Manager, there are a few ways to visualize the data. To learn more about visualizing data, see Visualizations.

IDL Online Help (March 01, 2006)