Data Export
Exporting Data to a File
FlexPro offers you the option of exporting data sets, formulas and related objects in diverse formats.
When saving in CSV or text format, you have the option of exporting several objects below one other or side-by-side to a single file. You have the flexibility to compile header data for export, select different character encodings, specify the decimal separator and whether the formula result or text should be output. CSV stands for Comma Separated Values. In this format the values are not separated by tabs, but are instead separated by commas or semicolons.
The same flexibility also makes it possible for FlexPro to save data sets directly in the Microsoft Excel XLSX format.
Only signals and signal series with two or more signals are suitable for export as an audio file. Signals are treated as mono signals, signal series with two signals are treated as stereo signals, and signal series with more than two signals are treated as multi-channel audio signals. The X component of the data must correspond to one of the following sampling rates supported by the audio file format: 11025 Hz, 22050 Hz or 44100 Hz.
Note: Please note that, depending on the file format, when exporting data, it is possible that data could become lost when rounded. Some file formats save the data using a lower resolution.
The FlexPro data exchange format is similar to that variant of the text format, where the data of several data sets are stored side-by-side and with all of the header information. Here, however, an additional row with a data format identifier is then output. Regardless of the system settings, floating point values are always output with a point as the decimal symbol. Calendar times are also always output in the same format, regardless of the system settings. This format has the following characteristics:
•The structure of the data format is simple, in that it is relatively easy to integrate corresponding export and/or import routines into programs that want to exchange data with FlexPro on a file basis.
•The complete header information including parameter lists is stored. This means that no information is lost when data is exchanged.
•The data format corresponds to a single table in ANSI code. The tab character (09 Hex) serves as column separator. The table is completely square, meaning that all rows have the same number of columns. This is why the format is particularly suitable for exchanging data with spreadsheet programs.
•The data format is independent of the Region and Language system settings. Floating point values are always output with a decimal point, and calendar settings are always output in the format MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM:SS in local time.
•Formulas can either be stored like data sets with data or purely as formulas without data. During import, data sets are created for the first case, and in the second case, formulas are created.
•Data with linearly increasing values can be stored using the two parameters called starting value and increment, which means that in this case the corresponding data columns may remain empty.
The following table describes the data format in detail:
Row |
Contents |
|---|---|
1 |
Version identifier: FlexPro Text Data File Version 5.0 at UTC+/-TimeShift The TimeShift number following UTC specifies the delay in hours relative to UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). This allows calendar times in the file to be converted back to UTC. |
2 |
Names of the data sets and formulas contained inside. The names are shown in the first column of the applicable data set. If a data set has several data columns, several column separators can come between its name and that of the neighbor to the right. |
3 |
String with data structure identifier for each data set. The format of the identifier is <data structure> <number of columns> <number of rows> <Y data type> <Y formatter> <X data type> <X formatter> <Z data type> <Z formatter>. The following keywords are used for the data structure: Scalar, DataSeries, DataMatrix, Signal, SignalSeries, SignalSeriesZ, SignalSeriesX, SignalsSeriesXZ, SpaceCurve and Formula. The X following SignalSeries specifies that it has a two-dimensional X component, i.e. a separate X column exists for every Y column. The Z following SignalSeries specifies that it has a Z component. The number of rows and columns is only shown if the number of dimensions of the data structure requires this. The Formula keyword specifies that only a formula but no data has been stored for the corresponding name. In this case, data types and dimension lengths are not shown. Only the three formatters follow the keyword. This type of formula without data is stored like a space curve with three columns, which, however, remain empty. The following keywords are used for the data types of the individual components: Integer16, Integer32, Integer64, FloatingPoint32, FloatingPoint64, ComplexInteger16, ComplexInteger32, ComplexInteger64, ComplexFloatingPoint32, ComplexFloatingPoint64, Boolean, String, DateTime, DurationHMS, DurationDHMS. If a component contains a data series with linearly increasing real values, the keyword is followed by the starting value and increment for the row in curly brackets, e.g. FloatingPoint64{0 0.1}. The starting value and increment always have to be specified as numerical values, meaning that calendar time values and durations are not allowed. In this case, the corresponding data columns may remain empty, since they are ignored during import. The formatters correspond to the entries on the Formatting tab of the FlexPro Properties dialog box of the data sets. These are output as strings and must be set off by quotation marks. Quotation marks appear as doubled, since the complete data structure identifier is also output as one large string. Data types and formatters for X and Z components are only output if they exist in the corresponding data structure. |
4 |
Comments for the individual components of the data sets and formulas. Output occurs in the order X, Y, Z, with the X and Z component only shown if they are present. The Z component is only output here for space curves and formulas. For signal series with Z components, this is not a column, but a row and its comment is output separately. |
5 |
The hyperlinks assigned to the data sets and formulas. |
6 |
Details on the individual components of data sets and formulas. For the X and Z component, the specifications for Row 4 apply. |
7 |
The description of the physical quantity for the individual components of the data sets and formulas. For the X and Z component, the specifications for Row 4 apply. |
8 |
The lower limit ranges for the individual components of data sets and formulas. For the X and Z component, the specifications for Row 4 apply. The values are formatted as specified under 28. |
9 |
The upper limit ranges for the individual components of data sets and formulas. For the X and Z component, the specifications for Row 4 apply. The values are formatted as specified under 28. |
10 |
Absolute times for the individual components of the data sets and formulas. For the X and Z component, the specifications for Row 4 apply. The values are formatted as specified under 28. |
11 |
Curve colors of data sets and formulas as a 6-digit hexadecimal number of the RGB value in the form of BBGGRR or #NV for "Automatic". |
12 |
Creation date and time of the data sets and formulas are in the format MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM:SS. Output is in local time. |
13 |
Date and time of the last modification to data sets and formulas. |
14 |
Author of the data sets and formulas. |
15 |
Origin of the data sets and formulas. |
16 |
Component selection: None, Y, X, Z Specifies whether a data set contains all data or is to be interpreted as the component of an aggregate data structure. |
17 |
Name of the assigned X data set in case a data set is marked as a Y component. |
18 |
Name of the assigned Z data set in case a data set is marked as a Y component. |
19 |
A list of parameters for each data set and each formula. For each parameter, an expression in the format <data type> <name>{<value>}[<unit>] is output. The data type is coded as specified under 3. The values are formatted as specified under 28. For complex values, however, real and imaginary components are separated with a space, and strings are always set off by quotation marks. These are then doubled, since the whole list is seen as one large string. The unit, if present, is placed in brackets following the value when output. |
20 |
The comments of the Z components of all signal series with a Z component. See also Row 4. |
21 |
The units of the Z components of all signal series with a Z component. See also Row 4. |
22 |
The names of the physical quantities of the Z components of all signal series with a Z component. See also Row 4. |
23 |
The lower range limits of the Z components of all signal series with a Z component. See also Row 4. |
24 |
The upper range limits of the Z components of all signal series with a Z component. See also Row 4. |
25 |
The absolute times of the Z components of all signal series with a Z component and formulas. See also Row 4. |
26 |
The FPScript codes of formulas. |
27 |
The data of the Z components of all signal series with a Z component. The values are formatted as specified under 28. |
28... |
The data of the data sets and formulas. For complex data, the real part is output first and the imaginary part is output to a second column. For signals and signal series, output occurs in the order X, Y. For space curves, the order is X, Y, Z. Signal series with a two-dimensional X component are output in the order X0, Y0, X1, Y1 ... Xn-1, Yn-1. Void values are output as #NV. Floating point values are output with a decimal point. For Boolean values, TRUE or FALSE is output. Calendar time values are shown in local time as MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM:SS. If applicable, seconds are shown with fractional digits. |
All rows are always output, even if they contain nothing but column separators.
The number of columns of the data table not only depends on the number of data sets to be exported, but also on their data structure and data type.
When strings are stored, they are placed in quotation marks if they contain at least one quotation mark or any control character. If a string is placed in quotation marks, all quotation marks contained within are doubled. Control codes within the string are not changed. This means that carriage returns included in a string must not be interpreted as a new row of the FlexPro data table.
The current version of the format is 5.0. The following table shows the version change history:
Version |
Changes |
|---|---|
1.0 |
Initial version. |
2.0 |
The data types Integer64 and ComplexInteger64 were added. |
3.0 |
The rows 7, 8, 9, 22, 23 and 24 specified above were added in which the data range limits and names of physical quantity of the individual components are stored. For parameters with units, they are now appended in brackets. |
4.0 |
The rows 10 and 25 specified above were added in which the absolute times of the individual components are stored. |
5.0 |
The rows 11 and specified above were added in which the curve colors of the data sets and formulas are stored. |
Exporting Data via OLE
OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) is a standard protocol for data exchange in Windows. To export data via OLE, the application that is to receive the data must have an OLE client interface. FlexPro can provide the data in CSV and text formats.
Exporting Data via the Clipboard or via Drag-and-Drop
You can export individual data values or ranges from a data set into other applications using the clipboard or via drag-and-drop. FlexPro provides the data in CSV and text formats.
See Also
Exporting Presentation Objects, Documents or Worksheets as a File
Exporting Presentation Objects, Documents or Worksheets with OLE