.. _quick_start:

Quick Start
===========

This page contains a quick start tutorial. Please also check out introduction videos on YouTube `YouTube <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngf1g3S5C0A&list=PL_dfQNSnql9Ol0zRBnPU8kcTGUwqq4JkJ>`_ or `PeerTube <https://tube.kockatoo.org/c/labplot/videos>`_.

Import and visualization of data with LabPlot can be done in 5 easy steps.

.. contents::

.. youtube:: Ngf1g3S5C0A
   :align: left
   :width: 650px

Create a new project
----------------------

The first step is to create a new project by selecting :menuselection:`File --> New` from the main menu, if it is not created already. In current versions of LabPlot, a new project is opened by default when you start the program.

.. figure:: images/LabPlot_Getting_Started_New_Project.png
    :align: center
    :width: 650px

This and many other common actions can be invoked from the main menu, a context menu, a toolbar button, or even via a keyboard shortcut.

After the new project is created, you'll see :ref:`interface_project_explorer` on the left, showing the structure of the project, and also :ref:`interface_properties_explorer` on the right, showing the properties of the object currently selected in the :ref:`interface_project_explorer`.

The project is still empty and we're now going to add some content to it.


Create a new spreadsheet
------------------------

The data in LabPlot is organized and stored in :ref:`data_containers`. In this particular example, we're dealing with data organized in columns (one column per variable), so a :ref:`data_containers_spreadsheet` is the appropriate data container to import such data into.

To create a new :ref:`data_containers_spreadsheet`, choose :menuselection:`Add New --> Spreadsheet` from the context menu in the :ref:`interface_project_explorer`.

.. figure:: images/LabPlot_Getting_Started_New_Spreadsheet.png
    :alt:
    :align: center
    :width: 650px

A new :ref:`data_containers_spreadsheet` will be created with the default settings.

.. figure:: images/LabPlot_Getting_Started_New_Spreadsheet_Created.png
    :alt:
    :align: center
    :width: 650px

Now we are ready to import the data into this new :ref:`data_containers_spreadsheet`.

Import data
------------------

To import the data from a file, choose :menuselection:`Import --> Import From File` from the main menu.

.. figure:: images/LabPlot_Getting_Started_Import_From_File.png
    :alt:
    :align: center
    :width: 650px

In the `Import Data` dialog box that will appear, specify the location of the file to be imported and other relevant settings (e.g. the separating characters).

.. figure:: images/LabPlot_Getting_Started_Import_Dialog.png
    :alt:
    :align: center
    :width: 650px

Navigate to the `Preview` tab in this dialog box to check whether the structure of the data will be properly read with the current settings.

.. figure:: images/LabPlot_Getting_Started_Import_Dialog_Preview.png
    :alt:
    :align: center
    :width: 650px

Click the :guilabel:`OK` button to import the data into the :ref:`data_containers_spreadsheet`. After the import, you'll see it in the :ref:`data_containers_spreadsheet`.

.. figure:: images/LabPlot_Getting_Started_After_Import.png
    :alt:
    :align: center
    :width: 650px

Visualize data
----------------

The imported data contains signals from multiple sensors that were placed on a multicopter. We want to visualize the acceleration in the x-direction. For this we select the column containing the data we want to plot and choose :menuselection:`Plot Data --> xy-curve` from the context menu of this column.

.. figure:: images/LabPlot_Getting_Started_Plot_Data.png
    :alt:
    :align: center
    :width: 650px

The `Plot Spreadsheet Data` dialog box will appear.

.. figure:: images/LabPlot_Getting_Started_Plot_Data_Dialog.png
    :alt:
    :align: center
    :width: 650px

LabPlot automatically assigned the "Time" column to the X-axis. We keep all the other settings as shown below in order to visualize the data in a new `plot` on a new 'Worksheet'.

.. figure:: images/LabPlot_Getting_Started_Worksheet.png
    :alt:
    :align: center
    :width: 650px

Once the ``plot`` is created, you can change its appearance by clicking on it or on one of its identifiable parts and then modifying their properties in the :ref:`interface_properties_explorer`.

Export results
------------------

To export the `plot` as an image, choose :menuselection:`Export` from the main menu and specify the location of the output file and other relevant settings:

.. figure:: images/LabPlot_Getting_Started_Export_Dialog.png
    :alt:
    :align: center
    :width: 650px