Imagine your output diagram looks like this:

In this case we compare thirty different items. The uniform shape of the diagram is probably caused by the use of (computer-generated) random numbers. While the diagram itself has certainly become a lot more complicated, reading off the distance between specific endpoints has become almost impossible.

This matrix is not only tilted, but also too big to be analyzed in an easy and time-efficient manner. Follow these steps in order to convert this matrix into a more readable format:

Step 1

Click on the file tab in the upper left corner of your screen, then choose the export option.

Step 2

You are now presented with this screen. Choose the option "Distances" on the left side and "Tabbed Text" on the right side.

Then, specify the location you want the file to be saved in.

Click save.

Step 3

Navigate your explorer to the location where the file is stored and open it. If your computer does not recognize the file type and asks you what program to use, just choose the Editor. You are now presented with a file which probably looks somewhat like this:

Press Ctrl + A in order to Select All and then Ctrl + C to copy.

Step 4

Open the spreadsheet software of your choice (MS Excel, Open Office, Google Spreadsheets). Start a new file and then press Ctrl + V in order to paste the data you have just copied from the original file. Your screen should now look somewhat like this.

Step 5

Delete all data below "Distance matrix as column vector". This is the same data as above just in another format.

Note:

Reading a matrix that only has the upper part can be a challenge, because the relation between one item and all the others cannot be read off one single line or row. Take a look at the following diagram. The parts shaded in red show the relation of 'language_5' with all the other items. For further explanation on how to read matrices that look like this consider visiting chapter 5.2.

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