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Importing Data

23.08.2021

FlexPro offers you various data import options, which are presented below:

Importing Data from Binary Files

FlexPro supports binary file formats from many different measuring systems and data acquisition programs and can import these directly. A generic import filters for binary data is also available. For most data formats, you can choose whether you want to import individual channels from a file or whether to import the entire file. FlexPro can read several files of different formats in a single step. Optionally, a folder of the same name can be created in the project database for every file to be imported.

Importing Data from Text Files

You can import text files using the Text Import Wizard. All settings that you specify while importing a file can be saved as a new import schema. This allows you to call up any number of files with the same structure at a later stage without having to use the wizard again. You can obtain additional information by accessing help in the Text Import Wizard.

Importing Data from Excel Files

You can use the Excel File Import Wizard to import data that is arranged in columns or rows directly from Microsoft Excel XLS or XLSX files. The wizard works similarly to the Text Data Import Wizard and also supports import schemas. Microsoft Excel does not need to be installed on the machine for this type of file import.

Importing Files from Excel Workbooks

Alternatively, you can copy or link Excel workbooks directly to the FlexPro project database. This type of Excel workbook is managed in the project database as an Excel workbook folder. When the Excel workbook is opened, Excel is launched in the background. As soon as you click on the Excel workbook, the complete Excel workspace with all commands are available to you and you can edit it as usual. A current version of Microsoft Excel must be installed on your computer in order to work with Excel workbooks.

FlexPro uses Excel data link objects to access Excel workbook data in the project database. For all elements that make up a FlexPro data set, you can assign a cell or cell range to the Excel workbook in the Excel data link. The Excel data link reads all information required for a FlexPro data set from the Excel workbook. In addition to data, this includes all header information, such as comments, physical units and descriptions of physical quantities.

You can use this type of Excel data link as you would a normal data set. Whenever FlexPro requests data or other information from the Excel data link, it accesses the assigned Excel workbook. You can also enter elements for which there is no information in the Excel workbook directly in the link.

An Excel data link can include all data structures supported by FlexPro. For example, you can specify the cell ranges for the X and Y components of a signal. Usually you create multiple data links to an Excel workbook. Often a column in the Excel workbook corresponds to an Excel data link.

Excel data links always need to be stored in the Excel workbook folder that you plan to access. It is also not possible to use Excel data links to exchange data between FlexPro and a separately launched Excel application. You need to create OLE data links to do this.

Note: Importing data with the Excel File Import Wizard is faster and easier. Only import complete workbooks when the data is organized in such a way that you cannot import it using the wizard.

Data Link Object

Not only can you copy the data from binary, text and Excel files into the FlexPro project database, but you can also create links to the original data. Links are created via data link objects, which read the data of a channel from a file, if necessary. You can use the data link object as you would a data set or a formula. Data link objects are special formulas that have parameters you can set using a dialog box.

If the file you want to import contains several data sets, such as a multi-column text file, then an individual data link object is set up for each data set. This object only reads the section assigned to it from the file. You cannot to set up the data link objects manually. FlexPro automatically creates these when you select the Create links option during import. FPScript Read...File import functions are available for various data formats that read out a channel from the file. These are used in the formulas of data link objects.

Since data link objects maintain the link to the file to be imported, you can therefore exchange data dynamically between the application that writes to the file and FlexPro. You can transform data link objects into data sets at any time. When updating, the formulas of data link objects are only considered invalid if the external file has been changed since last read in. This ensures that unnecessary re-calculations are avoided.

Some data link objects can read comments and units from the files to which they are linked. You can activate this feature by leaving the corresponding input fields empty in the Properties dialog box of the import object.

Channel Selection Filters

Many FlexPro import filters support saving the current channel selection as a channel selection filter. When importing the same files repeatedly, you can then select this type of channel selection filter when you don’t want to import all of the data in the file.

FlexPro saves the channel selection filters in your personal template database, which you can managed under File > Info > Organizer. Here you have the option to copy a channel selection filter to a different database in order to provide the channel selection filter to all users, for instance. You can import or export a channel selection filter as an XML file as well.

A file-based channel selection filter saved as an XML file can also be used on other computers. To do this you only have to copy the file to the following folder: C:\ProgramData\Weisang\FlexPro\2021\Templates\Import\Filter .

Importing Data from ODBC Data Sources

FlexPro can import data from ODBC data sources.

Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) is an international standard for manipulating relational data using the SQL syntax. ODBC offers a standard interface for accessing relational data sources using what are known as ODBC drivers, which exist for various project database systems.

ODBC is part of MDAC (Microsoft Data Access Components), which is supplied in different versions with the different Windows operating systems. You can view a list of the ODBC drivers available to you by opening the Control Panel, clicking on Administrative Tools and under Data Sources (ODBC) clicking on the Drivers tab. You can download the latest version of MDAC from Microsoft’s website.

Importing Data Using Data Explorer

If the Data Explorer option is installed, FlexPro can index all your data on the hard drive. You can use the Data Explorer to search through the data and import it into the Object List using drag-and-drop, for instance.

Importing Data Using DataQuery

If the Data Explorer option is installed, you can use the DataQuery object to directly access all data that FlexPro has found and indexed on your computer. The object directly imports the data to which the query applies and passes it as a list.

Importing Data from ASAM ODS Data Sources

ASAM ODS is a standard used in the automotive industry for data management. If the ASAM ODS Data Import option is installed, FlexPro can create links to and import data from ASAM ODS conforming data sources.

Importing Data from ISO/TS 13499 MME Data Sets

The ISO/TS 13499 MME format is widely used in the automotive industry as a multimedia format for crash tests. FlexPro can import data, pictures and videos from ISO/TS 13499 MME data sets. Pictures and videos are added as media objects that remain linked to the original files.

Importing Data via OLE

OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) is a standard protocol for data exchange in Windows. To import data using OLE, the application that is to supply the data must have an OLE server interface.

In FlexPro, you use OLE data links to access data from the OLE server, e.g. Microsoft Word. You can use these links like normal data sets within FlexPro. Whenever the data in the OLE data link is accessed, the request is passed on to the server application.

The server application must offer the data in text format so that FlexPro can convert the data. If you transfer a single column, the OLE data link provides this column in the form of a data series. If you link several columns, then they are provided as a data matrix. Values specified with "#NV" are imported as void values.