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2- Manual Matrix Entry  

[ go to data entry or (after computation) results matrix ] At the bottom of this page is a sample of the input form for the Manual Matrix Entry mode of the calculator. This is not a mock-up. The user can enter data, run the calculator, and view the output matrix. The user can use the first drop down list ("Select Process Type...") to select whether biogeographical affinity is to be computed in addition to the similarity metric. In this sample input form, the mode "Manual Matrix Entry" has already been selected. A user of the Manual Matrix Entry mode must be sure to select this mode from the drop down list labeled "Input Type." NOTE: If you have trouble starting up, this is very likely to be a data entry problem. We are very willing to review your first data set for format so that you can use the "Upload Matrix" data entry mode. Contact us here. Data Entry: Data entry should follow the organization of the form. Start with the first line and enter data in the input fields left to right. When data is entered in some fields, the input form may be redrawn (for example, to create more space to enter lists). Be sure not to rush ahead. If you do, you may have to re-enter some data after the form is redrawn. The user of this entry mode is assumed to have lists with various numbers of items in the lists and to know the number of distinct items in the union of all the lists. The form supports the manual creation of a presence-absence matrix based on the lists. The manually created matrix can then be submitted to the similarity calculator and a similarity index matrix will be generated. The user of this form of I/O should begin by entering the number of lists of items to be compared in the entry field entitled "Number of Lists." The default setting is 2. Changing the default will cause the input form to be redrawn with the correct number of columns. Then enter the number of "Item Rows" (the number of distinct items in the union of all lists). This action will cause the form to be expanded to the correct number of rows. If the user wishes a specific title assigned to the output similarity index matrix, such a title can be entered in the box following the phrase "Name for this list group." This name and any comments regarding the computation will be saved with the data in our database. The next step is to fill in the table by entering the item names in the leftmost column (under our logo) and the list names in the top row. Of course, the user must take care because there is no way to project (and check) the texts that are entered. The user can then use her/his lists to fill in check marks indicating which list items appear in each list. Click on a little box following the query "Present?" in order to toggle the box content between blank (item not in list -- item named at left end of row) and a check mark (item in list -- list named at top of column). Note: The similarity metric calculator assumes that data is entered sensitive to case -- "A" is different from "a" in the comparison phase of the calculator. Note: We have assumed that there is no duplication in the item names that are entered in the input form as the "names" of the rows. Note: The user will receive an error message for each attempt to compare a list that has no member items -- no check marks in its column. Note: To run the similarity metric calculator without entering data, you may obtain a randomly generated set of lists of numbers by clicking the "populate with demo data" button. Running the Similarity Calculator: When data entry is completed and checked by the user, clicking the "Process" button will initiate the generation of the similarity index matrix. The similarity calculator predicts an approximate run time for the computation part of the processing. After your output similarity index matrix has been prepared it can be saved by printing the screen content or it can be downloaded to your computer. Downloading Output: To download the output matrix as a text list click the button on the Results page marked "download printable results file." To download the output matrix as lines of tab-separated cell entries -- ready for input to a word processor or a spreadsheet tool such as Excel -- click the button on the Results page marked "download tab separated results file." [ populate with demo data] I/O Form Control : Select Process Type.. Similarity Similarity and Biogeographical Affinity Input Type: Manual Matrix Entry Item Rows Number of Lists 23456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100 Include calculations ignoring items common to all lists. Name for this list group: Comments? Lists Title: COMMENTS? Title: COMMENTS? I t e m s Present? Present? Present? Present? [ back to top of page ]

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- Last modified: 07/31/2006