Other Data Modifications

The following data modifications are available by right-clicking on a variable in the Data panel.

Screenshot

Designate an ID Variable

The following is a necessary step in preparing to merge two data files in Vesta using an ID variable.

If the ID variable is not listed in the drop-down menu of the import window it first needs to be designated as an ID variable from the Data panel.

  1. Cancel the import
  2. Right-click on the name of the ID variable in the Data panel
  3. Select the option "Modify", followed by "Designate as ID”

This data modification is permanent.

Change Scale

This is another way to access the Changing Geographic Scale function under the Data menu item.

Convert to Categorical Variable

This modification converts qualitative data to a categorical variable in order to use the conveyed parameters in analyses and visualizations. Categorical variables can be type of forest animal (wolf, fox, bear), material used to construct a water pipe (lead, copper, PVC), soil type (silt, clay, sand), or land uses (agrarian, industrial, residential). This is useful in comparing and contrasting the behavior of empirical data based on different groupings.

  1. Right-click on the name of the desired variable in the Data panel
  2. Select the option "Modify", followed by "Convert to Categorical". A new categorical variable will appear listed at the bottom of the variable list in the panel view.

Logarithmic Transform

From the Data menu, users can transform a variable using either natural logarithm of base 10.