PAW User Interface
The PAW user interface is designed with a task pane metaphor in mind, with the relevant tasks on the left pane, and then all the datasets that you're working on on the right. All windows can be repositioned to the user's preferences and those preferences will be maintained.
Task Pane
There are multiple sections in the task pane. These are the following:
- Welcome to PAW - this contains the typical startup options, including the option to start w/ a new file, open an existing file, or to open one of the recently opened files.
- Current File Section - this contains information about the currently active PAW file. If multiple files are opened, this will show the details for the file corresponding to the currently selected dataset. It lists options for saving the file, closing it, renaming, creating additional tables, tasks, customizing processes, as well as a window listing the existing sets of processes, datasets, tasks, and other items that might be part of your PAW file.
- Current Dataset Section - this section contains various options depending on the type of dataset that's selected. For processes, it provides the list of steps for that process, common options such as re-running the process, starting a new process with the dataset, copying the current result from the process into another dataset, as well as options for additional processing or for exporting the data. For manual datasets, options to maintain the fields, starting a process with the dataset or copying to another dataset are listed. For tasks, the options of running and editing the task are listed.
- Import Data - one can always start a new process by importing data into the existing PAW file. The various options for importing new data into PAW are listed, including Excel files, databases, etc..
- Support and Solutions Online - this section contains relevant links to the PAW website that might be useflu to pull up reference information for help.
Dataset Windows
The datasets are displayed in tabbed windows and can be repositioned as necessary to help w/ looking at multiple datasets. Selection of a window results in that dataset becoming the currently selected dataset. Any processing steps are automatically added to that dataset. The PAW file containing the currently selected dataset becomes the active PAW file, displayed in detail in the current file section.
