diff --git a/exampledata.py b/exampledata.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..34cbd27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/exampledata.py
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import numpy as np
+
+
+X = np.arange(100) / 10
+
+exampledata = {
+    "sine":   [X, np.sin(X)],
+    "cosine": [X, np.cos(X)],
+    "exp":    [X, np.exp(X)],
+    "log":    [X, np.log(X+1)]
+}
+
+# due to the appending of xy pairs, data needs to be transposed
+exampledata = {k: zip(*v) for k, v in exampledata.items()}
+
+
+
diff --git a/mainwin.py b/mainwin.py
index b81fa17..31a5353 100644
--- a/mainwin.py
+++ b/mainwin.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-import numpy as np
-
 from PyQt5.QtCore import Qt, pyqtSignal
 from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QMainWindow, QSplitter
 
@@ -7,9 +5,7 @@ import assets
 from dictlist import DictList
 from mdi import MDIArea, MDISubPlot
 from rpcserverthread import RPCServerThread
-
-
-X = np.arange(100) / 10
+from exampledata import exampledata
 
 
 class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
@@ -21,14 +17,7 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         self.setWindowTitle(title)
         self.setWindowIcon(assets.icon())
 
-        data = {
-            "sine": [X, np.sin(X)],
-            "cosine": [X, np.cos(X)],
-            "exp": [X, np.exp(X)],
-            "log": [X, np.log(X+1)]
-        }
-        data = {k: zip(*v) for k, v in data.items()} # due to the appending of xy pairs, data needs to be transposed
-        self.lst = lst = DictList(data)
+        self.lst = lst = DictList(exampledata)
         lst.setAlternatingRowColors(True)
         lst.doubleClicked.connect(self.on_select_list_item)
         self.setCentralWidget(lst)