Customizing Specs for Save as Excel Common Tasks - Intergraph Smart Instrumentation - Help

Intergraph Smart Instrumentation Help

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Smart Instrumentation Version
13.1

Before you save a specification in Excel format, you need to check the source spec for elements that can cause various display problems in Excel. The following topics describe how to customize your spec page to avoid display some of possible displays problems in Excel.

The Save-as Excel functionality only works with the 32-bit version of Microsoft Excel. You must also have installed from the Microsoft Download center the following file: Microsoft Access 2013 Runtime.exe.

Guidelines for Customizing Pages for Save as Excel

In general, specs based on Smart Instrumentation library pages export accurately to Excel. However, if you want to save specs in Excel format, you might need to familiarize yourself with the following guidelines that enable you to fine- tune you spec pages and save specs accurately in Excel format. After you create forms and specifications based on such pages, you can then save these specs accurately in Excel format.

Guidelines for Customizing PSR Files for Save as Excel

In general, specs based on Smart Instrumentation library pages export accurately to Excel. When you customize .psr pages in InfoMaker, use these guidelines for compatibility with Excel. After you import such pages into Smart Instrumentation, include them in a form, and generate specs based on this form, you can then save these specs accurately in Excel format.

Create an Invisible Vertical Zero Line

Use this procedure to Open a Form Page in InfoMaker and create an invisible vertical grid line for which the X values are 0. If a form upon which specifications are based contains vertical fields, it must fulfill one of the following two conditions for correct export to Excel:

  • The X values of the left-hand vertical grid line must be 0.

  • You create an invisible line for which the X values are 0.

Modifying a form to fulfill either of these conditions can also improve the display of other features, for example, select lists.

Replace Double Lines with Thick Single Lines

There are several situations in which a choice of line elements within a form yields non-standard Excel spreadsheets following a Save as Excel operation. Use this procedure if your specification is based on a form that contains double grid lines. Use of double lines instead of single thick lines can cause a display problem in Excel.

Correct a Line Discontinuity

In general, a spec page is divided into three side-by-side components — parameter categories, field headers, and field values. For correct translation to Excel, perform this procedure so that a horizontal row line that spans more than one vertical component becomes a continuous line rather than separate lines with imprecise continuity.

Correct Horizontal and Vertical Divergence of Grid Lines

Use this procedure to correct horizontal and vertical divergence of grid lines. Lines that are not exactly horizontal or lines that are not exactly vertical can be sources of display problems when you save Smart Instrumentation specifications in Excel format.

Set Value Display Precision for Save as Excel Globally

Use this procedure to set the number of decimal digits that you want to display in the Excel cells after saving specs in Excel format. The default global Save as Excel precision is two decimal places. In general, process data and calculation values that Smart Instrumentation stores in the database are of greater precision than the values that Excel displays in the cells of generated specs. You perform this procedure in Smart Instrumentation.

Set Value Display Precision for Individual Fields

Use this procedure to override the global precision for individual fields in a specific spec page. In general process data and calculation values that Smart Instrumentation stores in the database are of greater precision than the values that Excel displays in the cells of generated specs. When you save a specification as an Excel file, Smart Instrumentation reformats the display precision for Excel. The default global Save as Excel precision is two decimal places. You perform this procedure in InfoMaker.