All the functionality of Optimus RP can be conceptually organized in a framework of activities that have to be performed each time you use the program. This framework is called the Optimus RP Basic Workflow and consists of the following activities:

1. Create a new Optimus RP project (or open an existing project).
2. Import one or more data sets into the project.
3. View the imported data in a Spread Sheet Viewer.
4. In the Spread Sheet Viewer identify the specific data rows and columns that are to be used in analysis.
5. Perform the analysis.
6. Export the results of the analysis for publishing.

Optimus RP can be executed in either GUI mode or scripting mode. The GUI mode allows for a ’hands-on’, interactive use of the tool and the scripting mode allows the tool to be used in a ’hands-off’, batch oriented fashion.

The following two tutorials provide a concrete illustration of performing the basic workflow. The first tutorial leads you through the basic workflow for Optimus RP in GUI mode.