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SHS Lite - User Guide: A guide to using the Scottish Household Survey simplified dataset
7. Working with Output
Now that you have completed Chapter 6, you will be familiar with manipulating the data, and you have in effect been creating 'output'. This chapter will show you how to manipulate the output and how to present it.
7.1 The Viewer Window
Results are displayed in the Viewer. The types of output can vary from tables to charts, depending on the choices you make.
The Output window is divided into two panes. The outline pane contains an outline of all the information stored in the Viewer. The contents pane contains statistical tables, charts and text output.
Figure 27 - The Viewer Window
7.1.1 Changing the Width of the Outline Pane
Click and drag the right border of the outline pane to change its width (see Figure 27).
7.1.2 Navigating to a Table or Chart
You can use the scrollbars to navigate through the window's contents, both vertically and horizontally in either pane or you can click an item in the outline pane to display it in the contents pane.
! Note | A small red arrow is displayed in the outline pane to the left of the selected item. |
7.1.3 Hiding a Table or Chart
An open book icon in the outline pane indicates that this item is currently visible in the Viewer, although it may not currently be in the visible portion of the contents pane.
Double clicking the item's open book icon will hide the item in the contents pane. The icon now displays as a closed book. Double clicking the item's closed book icon will redisplay the item in the contents pane.
7.1.4 Changing the Output Order
You can change the order in which the output is displayed.
- Click on the item(s) you want to move
- Drag the selected item(s) to a new location and release the mouse button
| ! Note | While dragging the selected items, you will see the small red arrow to the left of the outline. When you release the mouse, the selected items will be inserted below the item with the red arrow |
7.2 Working with Pivot Tables
The results from most statistical procedures are displayed in pivot tables. The default tables produced may not display information as neatly as you would like, or the information may not clearly make your point.
With pivot tables, you can transpose rows and columns ("flip" the table), adjust the order of data in a table, and modify the table in many other ways. For example, you can change a short, wide table into a long, thin one by transposing rows and columns.
Changing the layout of the table does not affect the results. Instead, it's a way to display your information in a more intuitive manner.
7.2.1 Activate the Pivot Table
- Double-click the table in the contents pane (see Figure 28)
! Note | An activated table displays a hatched border around it. |
! Note | To deactivate the table, click outside of the table. |
Figure 28 - Activated table
7.2.2 Using Pivoting Trays
Pivoting Trays provide a way to move data between columns, rows, and layers.
If the pivot trays window (see Figure 30) is not already visible, from the menus choose:
Figure 29 - Pivot menu
! Note | If the Pivot menu is not available, the table has not been activated. Double-click the table to activate it. |
Figure 30 - Pivoting Trays window
When you click and hold the mouse over one of the pivot icons, the shaded area in the table indicates what is represented by that icon (see Figure 31). A screen tip also indicates what the icon represents in the table.
Figure 31 - Pivot icon clicked to show what is represented by it
You can drag the banded age of random adult pivot icon from the Column dimension to Row dimension to dramatically change the layout of the table (see Figure 32). The order of the pivot icons in a dimension reflects the order of the elements in the table. Figure 33 demonstrates changing the order of the icons in the Row dimension.
Figure 32 - Travel to work then banded age
Figure 33 - Banded age then travel to work
Layers can be useful for large tables with nested categories of information. By creating layers, you simplify the look of the table, making it easier to read. Layers work best when the table has at least three variables.
7.2.3 Changing Table Format
You can change the formatting of any text within a table. This includes changing the font size, colour and adding additional formatting, such as bolding or italics.
If the Formatting toolbar (see Figure 34) is not already visible, from the menus choose:
Figure 34 - Formatting toolbar
- Select the text you want to re-format
- Select the desired formatting option from the toolbar
7.3 Saving an Output File
The contents of the Viewer can be saved to a Viewer document (.spo). The saved document includes both panes of the Viewer window (the outline and the contents).
To save an output file:
7.4 Opening an Output File
To open an output file:
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