sheeExport Data dialog box

Use the Export Data dialog box to select the options you want to use when exporting model data to a linked Excel file. For more information, see Setting Up Export Links.

To open the Export Data dialog box, choose Export Data from the Model menu.

Export Links

Each link is shown in a separate row. If no links are defined the dialog will open with an empty link, otherwise use the button to add a new link. Then, use the controls described below to set it up. To remove a link, click on the link you want to remove, and then click on the button.

To edit a link click on it, and then edit it in the field below the list. If you change to a different row, any changes you made to the row you are working on will be incorporated into that list.

Note Most of the columns have corresponding controls, where changes are actually made, as described below. The exceptions are Valid, which is display only, the Active checkbox and the Export button which only appear in the list.

Valid

This column indicates whether the destination you've specified exists and can be read. It will say No until you select a destination, and will also say No if you have an existing link, but the file is missing or unreadable.

Active

Check this option to have the specified used, or uncheck it to effectively turn the link off. When unchecked the link will be ignored when the model is run and when you click on the Export All button described below. You can still perform an export for the link with the Export button appearing at the right.

Destination

This specifies the file to which the software will write the data. Click on this field to open a File Selection dialog and choose a file. If the file can't be used, most commonly because all its worksheets are already specified for importing or exporting data, an error message will appear.

Note: The file should be located in the same directory as the model, or a subdirectory of the model directory, named data. If you use a file from a different location, copying the model to a different computer will likely make the link invalid.

Worksheet

This option is only applicable to Excel files, and the control will not be visible if you choose a csv file. After you've selected the file, the first worksheet it contains and that is not in use will be shown. Click on dropdown list then, click on the name of the worksheet to select the worksheet you want.

Note: You can only choose worksheets not already in use by other import or export links. If there's a single worksheet available, it will be the only one listed in the dropdown; if no worksheets are available you will get a message saying so when you try to choose the file.

Type/Link Type

Data Source

Select the data source from the dropdown. The choices are:

  • Navigate will be enabled only when the data source is a table, and you have not made any changes to the export options in the dialog. In this case clicking on the button will close the dialog and navigate in the model to the table that is being exported. This is a convenient way to locate which tables are being exported, and make changes to them.
  • Orientation/Sheet Orientation

    This specifies the orientation of the destination data. This option isn't available for tables; tables use the orientation of the table.

    Interval

    This specifies the frequency with which you want to export the data. Choose among the following:

    Format

    Select the format you want values to appear in the exported document.

    Export

    Click on the button to export to the designated link. The export will be attempted regardless of the Enabled and Dynamic settings. A message will be shown about the success of, or problems with, the export.

    Export All

    Click this button to export to all of the links that are marked enabled. Links marked both dynamic and on demand will be exported. A message will be displayed showing the results of all the exports. If you have many links, this is a convenient way to check that they're all working as expected.

    Note: "Export all" exports from the most recently made run. If you haven't made a run, names will be exported, but no values will be.

    OK/Cancel

    Click OK to save the changes you've made to links. Click Cancel to discard them. Note that any changes you have made in the editing portion of the dialog will be incorporated into the row you are editing. If you did export any results the files created by that will still exist whether you choose OK or Cancel.