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+.. _quickstart:
+
+==========
+Quickstart
+==========
+
+
+.. module:: tablib
+
+
+Eager to get started? This page gives a good introduction in how to get started with Tablib. This assumes you already have Tablib installed. If you do not, head over to the :ref:`Installation <install>` section.
+
+First, make sure that:
+
+* Tablib is :ref:`installed <install>`
+* Tablib is :ref:`up-to-date <updates>`
+
+
+Lets gets started with some simple use cases and examples.
+
+
+
+------------------
+Creating a Dataset
+------------------
+
+
+A :class:`Dataset <tablib.Dataset>` is nothing more than what its name implies—a set of data.
+
+Creating your own instance of the :class:`tablib.Dataset` object is simple. ::
+
+    data = tablib.Dataset()
+    
+You can now start filling this :class:`Dataset <tablib.Dataset>` object with data.
+
+.. admonition:: Example Context
+     
+     From here on out, if you see ``data``, assume that it's a fresh :class:`Dataset <tablib.Dataset>` object.
+
+
+
+-----------
+Adding Rows
+-----------
+
+
+Let's say you want to collect a simple list of names. ::
+
+    # collection of names
+    names = ['Kenneth Reitz', 'Bessie Monke']
+
+    for name in names:
+        # split name appropriately
+        fname, lname = name.split()
+        
+        # add names to Dataset
+        data.append([fname, lname])
+
+You can get a nice, Pythonic view of the dataset at any time with :class:`Dataset.dict`.
+
+    >>> data.dict
+    [('Kenneth', 'Reitz'), ('Bessie', 'Monke')]
+
+
+
+--------------
+Adding Headers
+--------------
+
+
+It's time enhance our :class:`Dataset` by giving our columns some titles. To do so, set :class:`Dataset.headers`. ::
+
+    data.headers = ['First Name', 'Last Name']
+
+Let's view the data in YAML this time. ::
+
+    >>> data.yaml
+    - {First Name: Kenneth, Last Name: Reitz}
+    - {First Name: Bessie, Last Name: Monke}
+    
+
+
+
+
+--------------
+Adding Columns 
+--------------
+
+
+Now that we have a basic :class:`Dataset` in place, let's add a column of **ages** to it. ::
+
+    data.append(col=['Age', 22, 20])
+    
+Let's view the data in CSV this time. ::
+
+    >>> data.csv
+    Last Name,First Name,Age 
+    Reitz,Kenneth,22 
+    Monke,Bessie,20
+
+It's that easy.
+
+
+
+------------------------
+Selecting Rows & Columns
+------------------------
+
+
+You can slice and dice your data, just like a standard Python list. ::
+
+    >>> data[0]
+    ('Kenneth', 'Reitz', 22)
+
+
+If we had a set of data consisting of thousands of rows, it could be useful to get a list of values in a column.
+To do so, we access the :class:`Dataset` as if it were a standard Python dictionary.  ::
+
+    >>> data['First Name']
+    ['Kenneth', 'Bessie']
+
+Let's find the average age. ::
+
+    >>> ages = data['Age']
+    >>> float(sum(ages)) / len(ages)
+    21.0
+
+
+
+-----------------------
+Removing Rows & Columns
+-----------------------
+
+data.insert('MI', )
+
+>>> del data['Row Name']
+Fucking easy.
+
+
+
+==============
+Advanced Usage
+==============
+
+And now for something completely different.
+
+---------------
+Dynamic Columns
+---------------
+
+.. versionadded:: 0.8.3
+
+Thanks to Josh Ourisman, Tablib now supports adding dynamic columns. A dynamic column is a single callable object (*ie.* a function).
+For now, this is only supported on :class:`Dataset` objects that have no defined :class:`headers <Dataset.headers>`.
+
+So, let's save our headers for later, then remove them. ::
+
+    _headers = list(data.headers)
+    data.headers = None
+
+
+We can now add a dynamic column to our :class:`Dataset` object. In this example, we have a function that generates a random grade for our students. ::
+
+    import random
+    
+    def random_grade(row):
+        """Returns a random integer for entry."""
+        return (random.randint(60,100)/100.0)
+    
+    data.append(col=[random_grade])
+
+
+Now add the headers back, with our new column. ::
+
+    >>> data.headers = _headers + ['Random']
+
+Let's have a look at our data. ::
+
+    >>> data.yaml
+    - {Age: 22, First Name: Kenneth, Grade: 0.6, Last Name: Reitz}
+    - {Age: 21, First Name: Bessie, Grade: 0.75, Last Name: Monke}
+
+
+Let's remove that column.  ::
+
+    >>> del data['Grade']
+
+
+When you add a dynamic column, the first argument that is passed in to the given callable is the current data row. You can use this to perform calculations against your data row. 
+
+For example, we can use the data available in the row to guess the gender of a student. ::
+
+    def guess_gender(row):
+        """Calculates gender of given student data row."""
+        m_names = ('Kenneth', 'Mike', 'Yuri')
+        f_names = ('Bessie', 'Samantha', 'Heather')
+        
+        name = row[0]
+        
+        if name in m_names:
+            return 'Male'
+        elif name in f_names:
+            return 'Female'
+        else:
+            return 'Unknown'
+
+Adding this function to our dataset as a dynamic column would result in: ::
+
+    >>> data.yaml
+    - {Age: 22, First Name: Kenneth, Gender: Male, Last Name: Reitz}
+    - {Age: 21, First Name: Bessie, Gender: Female, Last Name: Monke}
+
+
+
+.. _seperators:
+
+----------
+Seperators
+----------
+.. versionadded:: 0.8.2
+
+
+Now, go check out the :ref:`API Documentation <api>` or begin :ref:`Tablib Development <development>`.
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