Datasets

A central concept within ClickTracks is the Dataset. A Dataset is analogous to a file in other programs like Word. A Word file contains the text relating to a single project, book, article etc. In the same way a Dataset contains all the information ClickTracks needs to analyze a single website. The term Dataset is used because it's actually a collection of files serving different purposes, and not a single file as it would be in Word.

Each website you analyze will have its own Dataset which will serve to:

1.	Keep data for each website separated from other websites

2.	Imported logfiles become part of the dataset so old logs never need to be imported

3.	Retain a complete historical record for the website, permitting analysis of any period of time

4.	Automatically save all your settings and analysis parameters so when you quit ClickTracks and later reopen, you'll be exactly where you left off.

When you start ClickTracks for the first time, the New Dataset Wizard appears and will guide you through the process of creating a dataset. If you're a consultant you will create many different datasets - one for each client website. You can launch the New Dataset Wizard from the file menu at any time.

ClickTracks always opens the last used Dataset automatically. You will also notice there is no Save command in the File Menu. This is because Datasets are always saved on exit and at various times during analysis.