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I m a g i n e I T T o o l b a r

Detailed guide to all the buttons on the toolbar

Details of the buttons on the toolbar

In what follows the array of cells in rows and columns that Microsoft refers to as a 'worksheet' is called a spreadsheet (this tallies with commmon with everyday usage and it avoids confusion with the written worksheets that students use). Similarly, all types of graph and bar chart are referred to here as graphs (rather than charts, as Microsoft do). (Note, however, that when you create new graphs, the tab at the bottom assigns the default names Chart1, Chart2, etc., if they are normal Excel graphs, but Graph1, Graph2, etc. if they are ImagineIT Super Graphs.)

Tables of data

Resize, create or delete a table

To create a new ImagineIT table,
either click on the top left hand cell in your table of data first, then click the toolbar button and enter the numbers of rows and columns when asked,
or select the whole of your table first and then click the toolbar button.

Up to two separate ImagineIT tables can be created but they must not overlap.

To change the size of an ImagineIT table,
either click on any cell in the table, then click the toolbar button and enter the number of rows and columns when asked,
or select all the cells along any edge of the table and then drag inwards or outwards using the mouse,
or insert or delete rows or columns in the table in the usual Excel way (this is useful if you want data plotted on graphs to continue to refer to all rows in a table).

To delete an ImagineIT table, click on any cell in the table, then click the toolbar button and choose 'Delete'.

Tables are colour-coded in yellow (unless you choose otherwise).

Specify column names and graph labels

Allows you to identify rows that you want to use for graph titles, axis labels on graphs, labels for different sets of data on a graph - 'series labels', (all colour-coded green).
Also allows you to identify rows giving names for the different table columns that you can use in formulae instead of cell references (colour-coded blue).

To choose these rows, click on any cell in the ImagineIT table, click on the toolbar button, and then click in the appropriate rows.

Copy down

To copy down to the bottom of the table the formulae in one or more adjacent cells in any row in an ImagineIT table, first select the cells and then click the toolbar button.

Show tables, labels, names and parameters

To see what cells you have chosen for ImagineIT tables, graph titles, axis labels, series labels, columns names, parameter values and parameter names (see below) click this toolbar button.

Tables of parameters

Specify parameters

To identify a block of adjacent cells in a given row that contains parameter values, and to identify the row containing the names for these parameters, click this toolbar button. A second block of parameters can be identified if required.

Graphs

If you want to change an existing graph to a different type, simply click on it to activate it, and then click the appropriate graph button.

To create a new graph using data from an ImagineIT table, click first on a cell in the column you want to use for the y- axis values and then click the appropriate graph button. A new graph can either be a normal Excel graph, or an 'ImagineIT type graph'. Graphs are created as new sheets and you can opt either to place them in a new window or view them in your existing window.

An 'Excel graph' is similar to that produced using the Excel Chart Wizard (but with a white background rather than grey so it can be copied and pasted into other documents more readily).

An 'ImagineIT graph' also allows you to 'freeze' copies of plots which will not change when the spreadsheet data changes. When values on your spreadsheet change you will then see the resulting changed plot as well as the original frozen one. This is very useful for comparing results under different conditions (different parameter values).

With either type of graph, titles, labels for the axes, and series labels will be generated automatically if you have previously identified the rows on the spreadsheet that you want to use for these things (see 'Specify column names and graph labels' above).

[On a technical note: Data for drawing ImagineIT graphs are stored in a separate 'Graph Data Sheet' (GDS for short) so that it does not confuse your original spreadsheet. You do not ever need to look at this sheet. Data for Excel graphs, on the other hand, is linked directly to your spreadsheet in the normal Excel way, so that all changes in your data are immediately reflected in your graphs.]

	x-y plot with data points and joins	x-y plots are used to plot one varying quantity against another. (Note that data points are joined directly without trying to smooth the data to produce a smooth curve.)
	x-y plot with joins only	x-y plots are used to plot one varying quantity against another. (Note that data points are joined directly without trying to smooth the data to produce a smooth curve.) Sometimes called a line graph (not to be confused with an Excel 'line chart' - see below).
	x-y plot with markers only	x-y plots are used to plot one varying quantity against another. This type of x-y plot is often called a scattergraph.
	Vertical bar chart	Sometimes called a column chart or a bar graph. The x-axis scale labels the bars rather than being a numerical scale of values as on an x-y plot.
	Horizontal bar chart	The x-axis scale runs vertically and labels the bars rather than being a numerical scale of values as on an x-y plot.
	Excel 'line chart'	This is really a bar chart in disguise. The x-axis scale labels the bars rather than being a numerical scale of values as on an x-y plot. It should not be confused with an x-y plot, which is frequently called a line graph if the data points are joined.
	Pie chart	The size of the sectors (in degrees) gives the relative magnitudes of the quantities plotted, and labels are printed around the outside of the circle.

Adding new data to a graph

Add plot

To add new data to a graph first select the column in the ImagineIT table on the spreadsheet which is to be used for the y-coordinates, then click the toolbar button. You will be asked to select which graph you want to add the data to if there is more than one.
(If you also want to specify the x-data in advance and the rows to be plotted, you can do this by first selecting the x-data, then holding down the control key and selecting the y-data.)

Changing what is plotted on a graph

	Change x-coordinates	To change the column used for the x-coordinates for any data plot, first select the graph by clicking on it, then select the individual data plot, and finally click the toolbar button. (If there is only one plot on a graph, you need not bother selecting the individual plot.) If you want to specify the x-column in advance you can select it before clicking on the graph.
	Change y-coordinates	To change the column used for the y-coordinates for any data plot, first select the graph by clicking on it, then select the individual data plot, and finally click the toolbar button. (If there is only one plot on a graph, you need not bother selecting the individual plot.) If you want to specify the y-column in advance you can select it before clicking on the graph.
	Replace plot	To change the rows and columns used for any data plot, first select the graph by clicking on it, then select the individual data plot, and finally click the toolbar button. (If there is only one plot on a graph, you need not bother selecting the individual plot.) If you want to specify the y-data in advance you can select it before clicking on the graph. If you want to specify both the x and the y-data in advance you can select first the x-data, then hold down the control key and select the y-data, before clicking on the graph.
	Delete plot	To delete a specific plot on a graph, first click on it to select it and then click this button. If the plot is on a normal Excel graph (rather than a Super Graph) you can also select the plot and then press 'Delete' on your keyboard.

Freezing data on a graph so you can make comparisons

Freeze plot

Allows you to 'freeze' plots on Super Graphs (not Excel type graphs) so that they do not change when the oriiginal data changes. You can either freeze the original plot or a make a 'frozen' copy of it. The latter is useful for investigating how different parameters affect the results of a model, since the new plots can be compared with the old (frozen) ones. You can freeze or freeze a copy of just one plot on one ImagineIT graph, all plots on the one graph, or all plots on all ImagineIT graphs.

To freeze all plots on one graph, click on that graph before clicking on the toolbar button. To freeze a single plot, also click on that to select it. To freeze all plots simply click the button.

Delete frozen plots

Allows you to delete 'frozen' plots on Super Graphs.

To delete all frozen on one graph, click on that graph before clicking on the toolbar button. To delete a single frozen plot, also click on that to select it. To delete all frozen plots on all graphs simply click the button.

Quick pasting tools

	Paste formulae	Saves time when editing a worksheet by avoiding the need to use 'Paste special'
	Paste values	Saves time when editing a worksheet by avoiding the need to use 'Paste special'
	Paste formats	Saves time when editing a worksheet by avoiding the need to use 'Paste special'

Zooming in and out

	Zoom in	This button zooms in on the spreadsheet making cells 10 per cent larger. It is especially useful when using a data projector with a large audience.
	Zoom out	This button zooms out from the spreadsheet making cells 10 per cent smaller. It is especially useful when one want to see all of a large spreadheet at once.

Displaying formulae or values

	Show formulae	Saves time when looking at a worksheet by avoiding the need to use 'Tools/options/view/formulas'
	Show values	Saves time when looking at a worksheet by avoiding the need to use 'Tools/options/view/formulas'

Locking and unlocking

	Unprotect spreadsheet	Unprotects spreadsheet so that all cells can be modified
	Protect spreadsheet	Protects spreadsheet so that only unlocked cells can be modified - this prevents important information getting deleted by mistake.

Calculating

	Calculate now	Saves time when looking at a worksheet by avoiding the need to use 'Tools/Options/Calculation/Calculate now'
	Start calculation	Saves time when looking at a worksheet by avoiding the need to use 'Tools/Options/Calculation/Automatic'
	Stop calculation	Saves time when looking at a worksheet by avoiding the need to use 'Tools/Options/Calculation/Manual'
	Keep recalculating	Causes worksheet to keep recalculating over and over again, until either the escape key is pressed, or a fixed number of recalculations has been completed. Useful for worksheets involving random numbers and for those involving the Excel iteration feature (see next section).

Iteration

Iteration is an advanced feature of Excel which is useful when the same calculation is to be carried out many times, each time using the results of the preceding recalculation. It enables 'Monte Carlo' simulations involving random numbers to be set up in a straightforward way. For further detials see Advanced modelling Features.

Switch iteration on

Switches the Excel 'iteration' facility on so that circular references can be used (equivalent to 'Tools/Options/Calculation/Iteration'). Also allows you to specify the number of iterations performed in one go.

To the ImagineIT buttons you need a cell on your worksheet named 'Counts'. Each time the worksheet is recalculated, Counts increments by one, (or by whatever you have set the number of iterations to be). Counts is reset to one by the 'Reset iteration' button.

If you also have a cell called Counter (to the right of Counts or below it) this will be reset to zero by 'Reset iteration', so you can start counting at zero rather than one.

Switch iteration off

Switches the Excel 'iteration' facility on so that circular references can no longer be used (equivalent to 'Tools/Options/Calculation/Iteration off').

Reset iteration

Sets the value of the cell on your worksheet named 'Counts' back to one (ready for a new simulation, or other set of iterative calculations).

Deleting unwanted names

Delete unwanted names

This toolbar buton enables you to tidy up your worksheet by deleting all names that have been defined previously, except those currently given in your chosen 'names' rows. Use with care or you may inadvertently delete other names on your worksheet that you want to keep!

Shortened toolbar giving just formatting options

Show just formatting buttons

This button shortens the toolbar so only graph buttons formatting buttons are displayed (those on white backgrounds). With the short toolbar the graph buttons only act as simple formatting buttons for existing graphs and cannot be used to create new graphs.

To restore the full toolbar click this button again.

Entering your passcode

Enter passcode

If your copy of the ImagineIT Toolbar has this key button, it is a time-limited copy. At the end of the free time (or before) you will have to click this button and enter a passcode in order to continue using the toolbar. (The formatting buttons will, however, still work without the passcode.) The passcode is supplied when you buy the toolbar.

Help button

Help

This button takes you to the on-line User's guide for the ImagineIT toolbar.

When you use the button for the first time, you will need to click it twice - the first click links the button to the location of the User's guide on your hard disc and the second click takes you to it.