Working with DataStudio
Before further exploring the features and functionality of DataStudio, it is recommended that you read this section, explaining some of the basic concepts of DataStudio that can contribute to a faster and more efficient experience when working with the application.
Drag and Drop
Many operations in DataStudio can be completed via a simple drag-and-drop with the mouse. A drag-and-drop operation is done by pressing and holding down the left mouse button down on the window element to be dragged, moving the mouse pointer to the target area of the window with the left button still held, and finally releasing the left mouse button. This typical mouse operation can be used in a lot of situations in DataStudio, for example, when adding model objects to a display or generating references between model objects. If dragging an object is possible the mouse cursor will change to either a "hand" or a "cross" icon respectively, to indicate whether a drop is supported at the current mouse position or not.
In the above figure the "Hand" cursor is displayed when the Addition Item is dragged from the I/O Model panel to the History Grid display, indicating that this item can be dragged and dropped here. If the Addition item is dragged back to the I/O Model window the "Cross" cursor is shown, indicating that the Addition Item cannot be moved to this position in the panel and will remain unmoved if the left mouse button is released.
Context Menus
Context menus are displayed automatically by right clicking on elements within the DataStudio window. Just like the drag-and-drop operation DataStudio offers context menus in almost every area of the application window and offers functions related to the clicked element. Context menus can be small and simple (clicked element offers no, or only a small number of actions or functions), or they can be large and even nested (see figure below). Some menu items might also be disabled, if all functions of the clicked element are not available at that time.
| Context menu items may also be disabled, if the logged in user doesn’t have the rights to execute some functions of the selected element. |
Keyboard Shortcuts
DataStudio provides keyboard shortcuts for many operations in each section. Just like using the drag-and-drop function and context menus, keyboard shortcuts can speed up the use of DataStudio. Getting to know the available shortcuts is made easy. Every main and context menu item that has a keyboard shortcut assigned has the shortcut key displayed beside it.
To see the list of all available shortcuts, the Keyboard Shortcut List window can be opened by selecting from the menu bar, or using the Ctrl+F1 keyboard shortcut. The shortcuts listed are grouped by the area of usage. Each area is expandable to see the list of its assigned shortcuts.
Arrangement of Panels and Displays
DataStudio allows you to customize the display of its elements and sections in a highly flexible way. Panels and displays can be arranged according to your personal preference and DataStudio will memorize the arrangement for you for your next session.
Opening and Closing Panels
The panels in DataStudio can be hidden or closed, so that they don’t occupy display space anymore. To open panels closed by default or by the user, use the View menu (see also 2.4 View on page 32). To close a panel, click the x button in its title bar.
Hiding Items
To toggle the auto hiding feature of panel groups, click the pin button in its title bar.
Panel groups with Auto hiding on will collapse themselves and only show as vertical tab header per panel in the group either on the left or right hand side of the application.
To show any panel of a hidden panel group, hover the mouse cursor over the tab header and it will slide into view. It will be displayed as long as it has the focus, and slide out when it loses it.
Positioning Panels
In addition to closing and hiding, panels can be freely repositioned and fitted into the DataStudio window using a drag-and-drop operation. To a move a single panel or a panel group, left click and drag at the title bar. During the dragging operation, the panel area will be shown as blue rectangle, and the positions where it can be dropped will also be displayed by the grey arrows positioned around the display (see below figure).
By dragging the cursor over one of the grey arrows, its fitted position in that orientation is shown as preview by the blue rectangle (the arrow will also turn from grey to white). Releasing the mouse button will drop the panel into the fitted position. In the below example, the object properties panel is dragged to the "left" arrow and its previewed position is shown by the blue rectangle.
Alternatively, the panel can be dragged and dropped inside another panel to create a group panel, by dragging the cursor to the central "screen" icon (see below). Once dropped inside another panel the different panel entities can be accessed via the tabs on the bottom of the panel.
| A panel can only be moved out of a group panel by dragging the tab at the bottom of the group panel, not the title bar! |
Floating Panels
Panels can also be undocked from the application window and freely moved or placed on the workspace independent of the application window. To undock a panel, drag its title bar and drop anywhere that is not a docking position arrow.
All panels can be floated independently of one another but can still be dragged and dropped inside other floating panels to create group panels as described earlier. Simply drag the title bar of one panel to the "screen" icon in the centre of another panel and drop.
To dock a floating panel back to the application window, drag-and-drop it just like described above, and drop to a target location inside the main window.
| DataStudio will memorize all panel positions and windows whether they are floating or not! |
Opening and Closing Displays
To open a new display use the Open menu, or the various context menu options available in the different areas of DataStudio. A saved display can also be loaded into DataStudio using the menu. To close a display, click on the "x" in the top right corner of the display (see below).
| Unlike panels, which are system containers whose content is available to DataStudio until application shutdown, displays only keep their content until the point they are closed. This is why a panel can be reopened, but displays can’t unless they have been saved explicitly. |
Saving Displays
Unlike with panels, whose content is automatically defined by the system, the content of displays can be defined by the user and therefore the configuration can be saved. There are two ways of saving displays. A) Implicitly, by saving a workspace. In this scenario the configuration of a display is part of the configuration for the workspace, and can only be restored by loading the entire workspace. B) Explicitly, by saving an individual display. Certain display types support saving, meaning the configuration of the display can be saved by using the Save button in the top left corner of the display. Individually saved displays can be restored into any workspace.
Positioning Displays
Displays can be arranged similarly to panels using the drag and drop operation explained in an earlier section. However, panels and displays cannot be combined in the same tab group.
Floating Displays
Displays can be floated similarly to panels using the drag and drop operation explained in an earlier section.
Switching Active Displays
Displays can be grouped together similarly to panels as explained in an earlier section. It is possible to switch between these displays by clicking on the tab in the display header.
Alternatively the active display selector can be used, that is accessed by clicking the downwards pointing triangle icon next to the Close button. This shows a list of all available displays in the group, clicking on one makes it the active display (brought to the foreground).
Panel and Display Navigator
To select the active display or panel, you can also use the navigator dialogue. Access it by clicking the Navigator button next to the Selector button of a display tab group.
In the opened dialogue window there is a list of available panels and displays that can be activated. Click one of the list items to focus on the respective panel or display and bring it to the application foreground.
Concept of Workspaces
A workspace contains all the configurations for all the items used in a DataStudio session. Whenever a user logs in to DataStudio they must specify a workspace to be used or create a new workspace (see earlier section on Login).
| A DataStudio session always uses a workspace. |
A workspace contains the configurations of:
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IP-address/hostname and port of Core used to login
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Size and position of application window
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Visibility, state (docked/floated), and position of all panels Size and position displays
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Embedded display configuration (if applicable)
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Link to display configuration file (if applicable)
Workspaces can be saved at anytime when using DataStudio when logged in (see save Workspace section for further information).
On disconnecting the current session or closing the application, the user will be asked if the workspace should be saved. Automatic saving on disconnect can be configured using the Workspace Manager (see also Workspace Manager section).
Workspaces are user specific and are always saved to the corresponding AppData folder, in [SystemDrive]\Users\[UserName]\AppData\Local\inmation\DataStudio.
Status Bar
The DataStudio status bar shows information about the currently active session:
The first panel of the status bar show the current session state. Once connected it will show what Core host machine DataStudio is communicating with. The second panel shows the currently active user account and the authentication mechanism used to login. The third panel show the communication state of DataStudio.