Thank you for trying DataScope!  Any questions are welcome on
CompuServe ID 100263,574 and fax number +36 62 325 928.

This demo version can be distributed freely.


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1. Installation
---------------

Simply copy all files into one directory.  Then create an icon
for DataScope in Program Manager,  or use the File/Run command
to start it.


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2. Introduction
---------------

The short description below  introduces DataScope's  main fea-
tures, thus helping you to evaluate the software.


DataScope is a Microsoft  Windows  3.1 application which helps
you  analyse  your  database in a very efficient  manner.  The
software  graphically displays the contents of a database  and
provides incredible tools to explore the relations between the
records.  For further analysis, it also allows you  to  create
new databases with specific selections of records and fields.

DataScope can be used immediately without formal training.  It
is  an  excellent tool for managers, their staff,  consultants
and  scientists.  Operational, financial,  customer,  product,
scientific  and  other databases can now  be  interrogated  to
unveil   hidden   business   challenges   and   opportunities,
meaningful  relationships  leading   to  new  scientific  con-
clusions, and more.

Some of the most important features of DataScope:

- The DataScope system attaches itself to any database through
  Microsoft  ODBC,  and checks its contents. It classifies the
  various database fields to three categories:
  1. Identifier fields. This category helps in identifying the
     records.  An identifier field  is usually a name or other
     unique ID.
  2. Number fields.  These fields contain quantities,  such as
     age,  population,  price, etc. DataScope is also able  to
     handle  numeric  fields where no  data available  for all
     records.
  3. Discrete fields.  In this category,  fields usually  have
     only a  few  different  values  that  are  used  not  for
     quantitatve  analysis but record classification. Examples
     are fields which contain type identifiers, yes/no answers,
     and so forth.

- DataScope  displays the database in up  to  16  different
  windows. Each windows represents one or two database fields,
  so  you  can analyse various alternatives using 16 different
  fields or field pairs. All windows are related to each other
  in  that  they  all  show information  about  the  currently
  selected  alternative. The mode of display  depends  on  the
  field category:
  1. Identifier fields are  displayed as a list. The list con-
     tains  the contents  of the identifier  field, and, also,
     the contents of the field(s) in the active, i.e. selected
     window.  The list  is automatically  sorted based  on the
     field in  the active window, so you can examine  the data
     sorted by any of the fields by simply  activating another
     window. Changing the sorting order does  not take time at
     all, because of  DataScope's special indexes that it cre-
     ates in a preprocessing phase.
  2. Number   fields   are  represented  by  their   empirical
     distribution function. The value that  this function gen-
     erates for a  selected  data  element is a number between
     0% and 100%. The  percentage shows you where the selected
     data element is situated relative to the others and, thus,
     allows you to examine one value  relative to another very
     easily. Suppose you have a database containing car price/
     performance data. If the value  generated by the function
     based on pricing  data amounts to 90%, then the car falls
     in the top range of all list prices.
  3. Discrete fields are displayed as traditional charts, such
     as the pie chart or the bar chart.  Charts show the cate-
     gory to which the currently selected data element belongs.

- Relational diagrams can be used to display information about
  the relationship between two  numeric fields. These diagrams
  are useful when examining trends  and if  you  want to point
  out exceptional features. The more  a point  (representing a
  specific  data  element)  deviates  from  the  average,  the
  farther it is from the diagonal line of the diagram.  A  re-
  lational diagram can also be well used to examine  whether a
  better alternative exists.

  Many different relational diagrams can be displayed. If  you
  see an exceptional data element in one, you can click on  it
  to  determine whether it is exceptional in other windows  as
  well.

  The  16 windows  that can  be opened show the selected  data
  element  from various angles of view. The identifier  window
  shows   its  identifier,  the  numeric  windows   show   its
  quantitative characteristics, the discrete windows show  the
  categories to which it belongs, while the relational windows
  show the trends it might follow.

- DataScope  is not  only suitable for  analysis of individual
  records.  In  any  window (i.e. for any  feature),  you  can
  select  a group of records. These selections are independent
  from  each  other and are called local selection.  A  global
  selection can be created from the union ('or' operation)  or
  the  intersection ('and' operation) of the local selections.
  In  this  way,  you  can select records  satisfying  complex
  conditions  without  having  to  type  in  any  commands  or
  formulas.  For  example, you can select the high-performance
  and  low-consumption  cars  in a database  with  car-related
  data.

  The simultaneous update of the windows causes all windows to
  show  globally selected records. When you globally select  a
  group  of alternatives, the identifier window helps  you  to
  identify  them,  numeric  windows  show  their  distribution
  relative  to all other records, discrete windows show  their
  distribution  among  the categories and  relational  windows
  show the ones with exceptional characteristics.

- You  can  create a new  database from the  globally selected
  records.  In  this  way,  you can  quickly  filter  out  the
  uninteresting records when preparing for a decision.

- Record markers can  be assigned to records you wish to study
  in  more  detail.  These  markers appear  in  all  diagrams,
  showing the position of the record at a glance.

- DataScope  imports data through  the Microsoft Open Database
  Connectivity  (ODBC) standard. This standard makes  possible
  to  access all popular database types. Drivers are delivered
  for text files, dBase, Excel, Paradox, MS-Access, FoxPro and
  SQL-Server  databases. Additional drivers  can  be  obtained
  from Microsoft and manufacturers of database systems.

- With DataScope,  the emphasis is on the graphical display of
  data,    which    makes   quantitative   information    more
  understandable for people. The numeric information  is  also
  preserved,  so DataScope also replaces traditional  database
  query  systems. Typed commands in DataScope are not  needed.
  You  just  need  to use your mouse (and your  intuition,  of
  course) while you explore.

- The  instant  update of the windows  allow you to examine  a
  database  from many angles of view. You can select  database
  elements with certain features and check how they relate  to
  others.

- The  unique  features of the distribution  function used  to
  display  numeric  fields allow you  to  perform  a  context-
  dependent analysis. How good is a car that has a performance
  of 80 HP? Can you tell whether the female life exceptancy in
  Germany  is high or low compared to the other countries?  Is
  one  point  increase  for a chemical company  on  the  Stock
  Exchange  high  or low? Generally to answer these  questions
  you  need  an  expert  or a significant time  investment  to
  evaluate the statistics.  This is not necessary any  longer.
  Now, you just need DataScope!

