In this example, we will compare the forecasted populations of Norway and South Korea. Firstly, from the main menu of the Self Managed Full Variable/Parameter option of IFs, type POP into the Type Name Box. Hit Enter and this variable will be selected. IFs now wants to know what country/region or group you would like to display. For this example, choose Norway. You will see POP[0] Norway Mil People appear in the Status Box for Display. Repeat the above instructions but instead of selecting Norway, choose Korea, South.

When you have one or more variables in the Status Box, you are ready to go to the display menu and actually display these variables. Click on the "Go to Display" button and you will be taken to the Display Menu. Note that the status box on the Display Menu now also indicates the variables you have selected. You now have a number of different options for displaying the variable. Highlight the Table option to create a table from the variables selected. A table will emerge with all of the variables calculated. Any number can be defined, the drivers can be displayed, the equations used to calculate the number can be displayed or the computer code can be reveled. From the Table display, you can also toggle between whole numbers and percentage change from the base, from displaying the results as cumulative or non-cumulative numbers or whether you would like to see the results as a reflection of internal averages. You also have the option of applying various filters: setting general parameters, maximum filters, minimum filters, rate level filters or range level filters. From the Table display, you can also print, save or change the time horizon.

Returning to the Display Menu, you can also begin to present the results as graphs, charts or plots. Clicking on Graph at the top of the Display Menu will present four options. The first option is to create a line graph. Holding the original variables constant, the population growth rates of South Korea and Norway, click on the line graph option.

Experiment with options on the Display Menu. Start with the creation of a table by choosing the Table option. Note that there are options on the menu of the table form for printing the table, saving it to a comma-separated-variable (.csv) file for use in a spreadsheet program like Excel or Lotus, or switching between looking at the "whole" numbers in the table or the percentage changes from year to year. You can also click on the Graph option and pick either Line or Bar sub-options.

Additionally, the Display Menu allows you to explore a differently organized set of variables that some users may find helpful. Click on the Select Names option on the Display Menu and choose Standard Subset (of variables). Learn more about the Standard Subset of Variables.