While reference is made to MS Excel, this is applicable in principal to most any spreadsheet.
Exporting to Excel has number of potential uses including; facilitating input or output data comparison across multiple models files or scenarios using Excel formulas, post analysis calculations, specialized graphing or inclusion into an Excel based report.
There are basically two ways to export to Excel;
- Using File/Export Model Data... when the Model Data window is active or, when the Output window is active, using File/Export Output..., or
- Copying a select area of the Model Data or Output window and pasting into Excel.
When using the first option the Export Model Data window or Export Output window will appear where you can select which portions of Model Data or Output to include in the exported file as well selecting the format; comma, space or tab separated. Clicking OK will then save the file in the location and with the name you specify as a delimited text file. To open in Excel, go to File/Open and, from the Files of type drop down list, select *.txt, then browse to and select your exported file.
For the second option, you can select from the Model Data or Output window either by clicking into a single cell, a row, a column or an entire section. For example, to select the entire Pipes section click Pipe in the upper left hand corner. Once the desired area is selected, press Ctl+c, then click into your spreadsheet and press Ctl+v.
While AFT software provide for a large amount of customization of the Model Data and Output windows, exporting to Excel can nicely augment this by providing the free form style of a spreadsheet to meet unique requirements.