Tables

Use tables to examine how measured values change over time. Tables are organized in rows and columns, with each column describing a single measurement, and each row containing measurements values at the moment that the row was added to the table.

Once you create a table, you can add rows to it one at a time, or you can instruct Sketchpad to collect rows automatically as you drag points or other objects that cause the tabulated values to change. You can also remove one or all rows from an existing table.

Working with Tables

To create a table, select one or more measured values—measurements, calculations, coordinate pairs, or equations—and choose Tabulate from the Graph menu. (Sketchpad also creates a table for you automatically when you create an iteration that causes one or more values to change.)
When you want to add—or "capture"—the current values of your tabulated measurements, double-click the table to add a new row to it. Or select the table and choose Add Table Data from the Graph menu.
To capture changing values in a table automatically as you drag or animate measured objects in your sketch, choose Add Table Data from the Graph menu. Sketchpad displays a dialog box that lets you specify how many rows to add, and how frequently to add them.
To remove a table’s most-recently added row, or to remove all of the rows from a table, select the table and choose Remove Table Data from the Graph menu. You can also double-click a table with the Arrow tool while holding down the Shift key to remove the most recently added value.
To change the labels of a table’s columns, change the name of the original measurement tabulated in that column.
To change the precision or units of a table’s data, change the precision or units of the original measurements tabulated by the table.
Use a table’s Table Properties panel to change whether the last row of the table changes dynamically as its measured values change.
To change the color of a table’s borders, use the Color submenu of the Display menu.
To change the color of a table’s text, or to change its font, size, or style, use the Text Palette.
To plot the data in the table, select the table and choose Plot Table Data from the Graph menu.
To export the data in a table to another application such as Fathom! or Microsoft Excel, select the table and choose Copy from the Edit menu. Switch to the other application and choose Paste. Sketchpad exports the table data to the other application as tab-delimited text.

Note that when Sketchpad creates a table for you automatically as the result of an iteration, the number of rows of data displayed in that table are controlled by the level of iteration. You can only add and remove data from these automatic tables by changing the level of iteration.