Capturing Data from Graphs & Geometry

You can use Lists & Spreadsheet application to capture information about objects in the Graphs & Geometry application. For example, you could track changes in the area of a triangle as you change the length of a side in the Graphs & Geometry application.

Captured values replace values in the column. If you prefer, you can remove all data from a column before starting a new capture by clicking Clear Data on the Data menu.

Capturing Data Manually

Make sure the data value that you want to capture is linked to a variable name.

Click the column formula cell (the second cell from the top) of the column in which you want to capture the values.

Note: Captured values replace values in the column.

Click Data > Data Capture >Manual.

A capture expression is inserted into the column formula cell with var as a placeholder for the name of the variable you are capturing.

Replace the letters “var” with the name of the variable to capture from Graphs & Geometry. For example, type area.

The formula cell now contains an expression similar to =capture(area,0).

Note: The argument “0” tells Lists & Spreadsheet that you want to trigger each capture manually.

Press Enter.

From the Graphs & Geometry application, change the object with a measured value stored as the variable (area, in this example) referenced in the data capture expression.

Each time you are ready to capture the current value of area, press the capture keys.

Windows®: Press Ctrl+. (the period key).

Mac®: Hold down “ and press . (the period key).

Handheld: Press / ^.

The current area value is added to the end of the list as a list element.

Capturing Data Automatically

When you capture data automatically, you can specify that you want the captures to be triggered by:

•

Changes in the captured variable only.

•

Changes in the captured variable or additional variables.

This lets you set up multiple columns of synchronized captures, such as the x and y coordinates of a moving object.

Clear all columns that you will be using for the captured data.

Make sure any data values that you want to capture are linked to variable names.

Click the column formula cell (the second cell from the top) of the column in which you want to capture the values.

Click Data >Data Capture >Automatic.

A capture expression is inserted into the column formula cell with var as a placeholder for the name of the variable you are capturing.

Replace the letters “var” with the name of the variable to capture. For example, type objpathX. Alternatively, you can select the variable name from the Variables menu.

The formula cell now contains an expression similar to =capture(objpathX,1).

Note: The argument “1” tells Lists & Spreadsheet that you want the captures to be triggered by the variable change.

If you want the capture to also be triggered by changes in an additional variable or variables, type a comma after the 1, and then type the variable name or the name of a list that itemizes the variables.

The formula cell will contain an expression similar to =capture(objpathX,1,objpathY).

Press Enter to complete the formula.

If you are capturing multiple columns of synchronized data, set up the additional columns. For example, you might set up a second capture variable using
=capture(objpathY,1,objpathX).

When you are ready to capture the values, begin moving the object or start the animation that affects it in Graphs & Geometry.

Each captured value is added to the end of the list.