Creating projects

Once you select a database and data detail, and draw one or more graphs, you can save them as a project. A project contains multiple files that are related to each other and are organized into a logical grouping. You specify a file name for the grouping of files. The files that are included in the group include a working context file (<filename>.viz ) and a separate file for each graph you create, based on the context (<filename.1>, <filename.2> , and so on). Don't delete any of these files unless you want to delete the project. To delete the project, delete all files included in the project.

When you open an existing project, Visualizer selects the same database and data that were selected when the project was saved. It then draws the same graphs that were drawn before, including graphs on graph pages.

If the database associated with a project is still available, you can continue updating the project. If the database is no longer available, you can still change its page layout, and display, print, and annotate it (other graphic options are not available). This means you can share a project and its graphs with individuals who don't have access to the database. You need access to the database only to draw new graphs or change the data in the existing graphs.

When you start a session, select a database, and draw graphs, Visualizer automatically creates a new temporary project. To save your work, select File > Save Project. If you do not save before exiting, Visualizer prompts you to save the work in a project when you exit.

Use unique project names within a session. For example, you cannot have two projects named 3RD_QTR: one for CICS and one for MVS Measurements. However, you can name one 3_QTR_CI and one 3_QTR_MV.

Opening a project

There are multiple ways to open a project:

Opening a previously saved project
Clearing the current project
Using a template

The following sections explain each method.

To open a previously saved project

Select File > Open Project to open the Open Project dialog box.
Do one of the following:
- Enter the name of the project in the File Name text box.
- Double-click the name of the project from the scrollable list (the default file extension for project files is .viz).
  You can change drives or specify from a range of file types and directories.
Click OK.

To clear the current project

Select File > New Project > (clear).

Selecting (clear) removes the current project and database focus. You must choose a new database. If you didn't save the current project, Visualizer prompts you to save it first. For more information, see Saving a project.

To use a template

When you open a project as a template, all graphs are regenerated using a dynamic interpretation of the special variables (<LAST>, <NEXT n>). For more information, see Creating-templates.

Select File > New Project > From Template to open the Open Template dialog box.
Do one of the following:
- Enter the template file name.
- Double-click the template file name from the selection list (default file extension for template files is .bvt).
  Other options let you change drives and directories and specify the type of file displayed on the file selection list.
Click OK.

If you defined the template using a group, Visualizer displays the Data Selection dialog box. From the dialog box, select data before drawing the first graph referencing that group. If you defined the template using variables, Visualizer determines the values for variables and draws the template graphs. For more information, see Creating-templates.

Note

You can use a saved project as a template. When you access the Open Template dialog box, specify the project you want to use as the template for the new project. The template contains the working context of the specified project. If a template graph requires data that's been deleted from the database, that graph is removed from the project.

Saving a project

There are multiple ways to save a Visualizer project:

Automatically
For the first time or with a different name
With the same name

Warning

If you save a project to a name that exceeds 254 characters, you receive an error message on the first attempt and the application crashes on a second Save attempt.

To save a project automatically

Do one of the following from the File menu:
- Select New Project > (clear) .
- Select Exit.
Click OK.
- If you saved the current project at least once during this session, Visualizer saves it again. Depending on your selection in Step 1, Visualizer either opens a new project or exits.
- If you didn't save the current project, the Save Project As dialog box is displayed.
Enter the name of the project in the File Name text box. (The default extension for project files is .viz.) Other options let you change drives and directories, and to specify the file type displayed on the file selection list.
Click OK.
Visualizer saves the current project. Depending on your selection in Step 1, Visualizer either opens the new project or exits.

To save a project for the first time or with a different name

Do one of the following from the File menu to open the Save Project As dialog box.
- To save a project for the first time, select File > Save Project.
- To save a project with a new name, select File > Save Project As.
Enter the name (or new name) for the project in the File Name text box. (The default extension for project files is .viz.) Other options let you change drives and directories, and specify the type of file displayed on the file selection list.
Click OK.

To save a project with the same name

Select File > Save Project. Visualizer saves the current project with the same name.

Exporting projects

To use project data in other applications, select File > Export. The export option lets you choose from a wide variety of formats, including HTML, Bitmaps, MacPict, Metafiles, and so on.