The second tab in the first step of the Data Import Wizard can be used for importing several files at the same time. The result of the multiple file import will be a composite dataset where all imported files are merged into one. In the top left and right corners of the dialog are buttons for adding (+) and removing (-) files as new lines, new columns or new layers. The buttons to the left lying in the horizontal direction will add a new column, while the buttons in the vertical direction will add a new row. The buttons to the right will add new layers. If new layers are created, the merged outcome will be treated as an image.

In the example below, two extra rows and one extra column have been added. The user can now click on any of the empty six boxes in order to import a file into it. The mouse pointer will change into a hand when it is held above one of the boxes. The user can now browse for a file to import. At the bottom of the dialog there are two check-boxes the user can choose to tick. "Create a Category with class for each file" will automatically create a category where the observations or variables of each imported file will have a class assigned to them. The name of the class will be the same as the filename. New rows will add more observations, while new columns will add more variables. Hence, files added vertically will have an observation category added, while files added horizontally will have a variable category added. If layers are created, a variable category will be created where each variable will have a class assigned denoting the originating file.

Each separate file import of the multiple file import will consist of the normal file importing procedure. The only difference will be that it is not possible to make any changes to the imported file with respect to observation names, variable names, excluded rows etc. The buttons for these actions, normally found to the left, are removed here. Instead, the user will perform modifications to the data after all files have been merged.

When all files have been imported to the multiple import, a graphic respresentation of each file will be shown in the boxes.

Clicking next in the above picture will access the last steps of the file import. The user can here make modifications to the merged imported data. This is described in detail in the normal import procedure.