Importing Data via the Clipboard
a) Importing data into the FlexPro project database
You can import values or ranges of values from other applications directly into the project database. The data will then be stored as new data sets in the Object List. The pre-condition for this is that the external application must be able to provide the values in text format in the clipboard or by using a drag-and-drop operation. To import values from Microsoft Word, for instance, do the following:
1.Start Microsoft Word and open the document where the data you want to import into FlexPro is located.
2.Select the text or the table to be transferred and select Home[Clipboard] > Copy.
3.Switch to FlexPro and click in the Object List.
4.Use the command Home[Clipboard] > Paste.
5.A dialog box now appears where you can specify how the data is to be imported. Select the options you wish to use and close the dialog box by clicking on OK.
...or use drag-and-drop.
1.Start Microsoft Word and open the document where the data you want to import into FlexPro is located.
2.Select the text or table to be transferred.
3.Move the mouse cursor onto the selected area. Hold down the left mouse button and the CTRL key and move the mouse onto the Object List while keeping the CTRL key and mouse button pressed. When the mouse pointer turns to a + symbol, this indicates that the data is being copied.
4.Now release the left mouse button and then the CTRL key.
5.A dialog box now appears where you can specify how the data is to be imported. Select the options you wish to use and close the dialog box by clicking on OK.
Note:
•You can select single values or one or more columns of values and import them in a single operation. If you just selected two columns, you can import them as a signal, for instance. In this case, the first column specifies the X values and the second specifies the Y values of the signal. If you have selected multiple columns, you can import them as a data matrix or as separate data series. A data matrix is a two-dimensional data set that is suitable for a matrix of values, for instance. If you import several data series, then a separate data set is created for each column selected. Here you can specify if a specific column is to be used as an X data set. The name of this data series is then entered as an assigned data set in the headers of all Y data series.
•If you import data series or signals, the first line of the selected text may contain the captions of the columns. FlexPro then uses them as the names of the data sets to be created. As an option, you can append the physical unit set off by square brackets, such as "Temperature [°C]".
b) Importing data into an open data set or the data view of an open folder
You can import values or ranges of values from other applications into an open data set or the data view of an open folder. Also in this case, the values must be provided in text format. To import values from Microsoft Word, for instance, into a data set window, do the following:
1.Start Microsoft Word and open the document containing the data you want to import into FlexPro.
2.Select the text or the table to be transferred and select Home[Clipboard] > Copy.
3.Switch to FlexPro into the data view or the data set window where you want to insert the values.
4.Select the cell that is to represent the top left corner of the range or field to be inserted.
5.Use the command Home[Clipboard] > Paste.
...or use drag-and-drop.
1.Start Microsoft Word and open the document where the data you want to import into FlexPro is located.
2.Select the text or table to be transferred.
3.Move the mouse cursor onto the selected area. Press the left mouse button and move the mouse onto the data view or the data set window where you want to insert the values. The area of insertion is indicated by a rectangular frame.
4.Release the left mouse button after you have selected the insertion point. The values are moved from Word into the selected area or are copied there if you keep the CTRL key pressed as you release the left mouse button.
Note: When importing data from external applications, the import process fails if FlexPro cannot convert the data into the data type of the import target area. In addition, empty lines between the values are imported as void values. Empty lines at the beginning are ignored.