Data Universes
MOVE Data OUT, KEEP it IN, and Using the Basket
Relates only to version 2.3 and earlier. Data Universes have been reclassified as Data Subsets selectable using the Data Subset drop-down selector in each individual View Toolbar, and configured using the Queries drop-down on the Main Toolbar (2.4)
When Omniscope filters records, where do the excluded records go? Don't worry...they are not deleted! Based on your filtering decisions, Omniscope classifies each record (row) in a given file as being in one or more Data Universes:
- Green 'IN' Universe- records still under consideration
- Red 'OUT' Universe- records moved out, excluded from further consideration
- Black 'ALL' Universe- all records in the file/data set, regardless of queries/filters set
- Gold 'BASKET' Universe- records saved to the basket during the session
- Blue 'SELECTION' Universe- records selected at any given time
All of these Universes can be viewed at any time in any of the 12 available views in Omniscope. Click on 
Add View on the Main Toolbar, then select the Show other data universes option at lower right.
Tick the box representing any combination of Views and Universes to see the records (rows) currently in each universe in each view.
If you save an Omniscope file, the contents of the IN and OUT Universes will be preserved, and the file will open with the barometer showing the same IN/OUT split as when the file was last closed. However, the contents of the BASKET and SELECTION Universes will be re-set. Always remember to do something with the contents of your BASKET universe before you close the file, because this selection of records will not be there when you open the file again.
Let's explore the use of Data Universes in Omniscope, while re-visiting the filtering aspects of navigating .IOK files. Recall that there are 2 filtering approaches in Omniscope, which can be used interchangeably at any time, assuming at least one SideBar with instant filter/query devices is showing.:
- Sidebar filter/query devices (known as instant query mode)
- Select > Move > Keep sequences (known as power query mode)
In the Tutorial below, we will see in more detail the difference between single-step, 'instant' filtering using Sidebar filters/query devices, and multi-attribute, potentially multi-layered 'power' queries using Select > Move > Keep sequences. If you are viewing both the
IN and the
OUT universe, it is also possible to do dual-directional, multi-layer power queries...which are difficult, and sometimes even impossible to do programatically!
Using Data Universes
For this tutorial, please download another, especially-configured version of the Everton Football Universes file. This version of the Everton file has been configured to open with five Table Views, one for each Universe, and with only one Side Bar open:
The View icons on the far left of each View Toolbar are coloured to show which of the 5 Universes is being displayed in the view. In this demo, the upper left-hand Table View is showing the green IN Universe, all 23 players. The upper right-hand Table View is showing the red OUT Universe, currently empty because no players have been filtered out. The full-width black ALL Universe Table View in the middle will always show all players, regardless of filtering. The gold BASKET Universe Table View is showing 'Basket Empty', since no players have yet been placed in the Basket. Finally, the bottom blue SELECTION Table View is empty, indicating that no records are yet selected.
Using the Side Bar, type the letter 'B' into the top text query device labelled Surname. Notice how the right-hand green IN Table View changes to display only the 3 players whose surnames begin with B, and the left-hand red OUT Table View now displays the records for the 20 players whose surname does not begin with 'B'. A glance at the barometer confirms that the green IN Universe contains 3 players whose surnames begin with B, and the red OUT Universe contains 20 players whose surnames all begin with other letters. In the Side Bar, back-space over the letter 'B' to clear the Surname query device, which will Reset the file, since this was the only extant query/filter setting.
Notice that when using the Sidebar devices, the bottom Table View showing the SELECTION Universe did not show any records being selected, and that moving 20 players to the OUT Universe was instant.
Now let's try using Selection, which can be very useful for drilling-down and confirming details before deciding whether to execute a Move or Keep operation.
Go to the upper right green Table View showing the IN Universe, and click on the Position category Defender, which will display an animated highlight in blue. This means you have selected all the players who are Defenders, and their records will now appear in the bottom blue SELECTION Table View. A glance at the barometer will confirm that you have selected 9 Defenders out of the 23 on the team.
Let's say you want to take a closer look at the Defenders. On the main/top Omniscope Toolbar, click on the green check-marked icon labelled Keep. This will keep only Defenders in the green IN Universe and move all others to the red OUT Table View to the right. Notice that the SELECTION Table View has been cleared, pending you next selection.
Let's say you want to put all the English Defenders on the transfer market (don't ask...). In the Sidebar, using the 3rd device labelled Country, click on the category name England. Notice that all other nationalities are X-ed out and all non-English Defenders are moved to the red OUT universe, leaving only the 4 English Defenders remaining in the IN Universe. Now go to the green IN Table View Toolbar, and find the Add to Basket icon right-most on the toolbar. Click the Add to Basket icon, and notice that the gold Table View showing the BASKET Universe now shows the 4 English Defenders.
Click Reset on the Omniscope Main Toolbar. This will return all players to the IN Universe, and empty the OUT universe, but leaves the 4 English defenders in the Basket, as can be seen also on the top/main Omniscope Toolbar Basket icon to the right of the barometer.
Let's save the youngest English Defender for the future. In the gold Table View showing the 4 English Defenders currently in the BASKET Universe, click on the column header Date of Birth. This will set a primary sort (see the orange downward arrow appear in the column header) sorting the players in the basket from youngest to oldest. Double-click on the row header of the youngest player, Daniel Fox. This will display the details window pop-up for Daniel Fox. Now click Remove from Basket to remove Daniel's record from the basket.
To clear the BASKET Universe completely, click on the right-most Clear basket icon in the gold Table View Toolbar, or use the Omniscope Main Toolbar Basket > Clear basket command on the drop-down menu. More on Using the Basket...
