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	Product Overview Worksheet Features & Import Capabilities Inferential & Exploratory Statistical Analysis Data Visualization & Chart Types Thematic Maps & Map Projection Utilities Database Metaphor Dynamic Data Exploration Data Manipulator Regression/Curve Fitting Data Filtering Tools Graphic Export Chart Customizing Tools

Aabel Database Metaphor

An Aabel database metaphor is a data management container for holding any combination of Aabel worksheets and folders containing worksheets. It also acts as a dynamic data source for data analysis, data processing, and data visualization and charting.

You can create and maintain databases using standard Mac OS functions such as import file, drag and drop, and click and select.
You can perform data analysis and graphing from multiple worksheets, while operating on a single document, i.e., the database metaphor.
You can omit an entire data base or some of its folders or worksheets at any stage of data analysis and charting with a single click of the mouse.
You can perform multi-dimensional data filtering (based on user-defined criteria) from within database metaphor documents.
You can represent data from Aabel data metaphors based on three categories of markers:
- Global database markers (shared by all folders and worksheets)
- Folder-specific markers
- Worksheet-specific markers

The saved database document does not store a static block of data, but stores references to the source worksheets. Hence, when you change and save the worksheet data, all database documents that have a reference to a modified worksheet (whether currently open or closed) will be updated.

Database Metaphor Practical Size Limitations

When files are moved around in the database hierarchy, Aabel builds the database indices on the fly. This will impose a large speed penalty when large numbers of variables are present in the worksheets. Therefore, with current hardware technology, the database metaphor may not be suitable for managing worksheets that have more than 1000 variables.