Contents - Index

Files

Open a WinBasp or a PAST file to transform data from one to the other format or enter data directly into the blank spreadsheet, then save the result in any of the three available formats.

Files can be opened in Basp_PAST either from the main menu and its submenu:



or by clicking on this symbol on the toolbar

which opens a Windows dialog box:



The three file types, WinBasp, PAST and CSV may be chosen from the drop-down list:



and a history list of previously opened files may also be used if desired



If Basp_Past is spawned from another programme, a fully qualified file name on the command line will also open the appropriate data loading routine based on the file name extentions .dat for PAST, .ent for WinBasp or .csv for Comma Separated Variables.

If CSV files are chosen as input, Basp_Past expects that all items are separated by commas.  Row and column names are optional.  If they are used, they must additionally be enclosed in quotes without spaces, e.g. ,"Aname",  This kind of comma separated quoted output must be chosen in the options of the spreadsheet programme before saving there in CSV format.  If names are not in the CSV file, no data may be enclosed in quotes. In that case columns will be given the usual spread-sheet type letters and rows the usual spread-sheet numbers when a CSV file is saved from Basp_PAST as another CSV file. If a WinBasp file is saved from Basp_Past in CSV format, the short unit and type (row and column) names will be saved enclosed in quotes.  This also applies to data loaded from a PAST file.

Data may be saved by clicking on or the SaveAs entry on the file menu. A save dialog box opens



and the kind of output file may be chosen from the drop-down list



or the history list clicked if desired.  An overwrite warning will be given if the filename chosen exists.



Clicking on or on the Run PAST or Run WinBasp entry on the File menu will cause the programme to show a directory selection dialog box for searching for the folder where PAST or WinBasp has been installed.



This is only needed for the first time Basp_Past runs for each user.  Clicking a second time on the PAST or WinBasp symbol or file menu entry will spawn PAST or WinBasp, and it can be loaded with a Basp_Past saved output file:



If for whatever reason, PAST or WinBasp can not be found or is damaged, an error message results.  Re-installation of PAST or WinBasp is then required.