Import tens of thousands of lines of raw data into a model using the import data function.
Summary
1. Select Export Data from the Tools menu. Select the items to export. Click OK.
This will create a data file (model-nameData) and open it in Excel.
2. Use a ProcessModel supplied import sheet that matches the type of data you want to import.
For more information on import sheets see Model Objects below.
3. Follow the instructions on the import sheet and click the Update button.
Detailed Information
The model data import allows users the ability to import their own data into the model. This can be done manually by opening and editing the exported Data file or by using one of the Model Objects provided, that contain the relevant import sheets. Editing of the Data sheet allows importing of many things into the model, like arrivals, interface changes, action logic, and routing information.
See a list below of some of the model objects supporting data import:
- Create an Interface
- Create Weekly Pattern Arrivals
- Daily Pattern Arrivals
- Flexible Workcell Arrivals
- Import and Overall Flow
- Weekly Pattern Arrivals Import
Example usage follows:
Import from Model Objects
ProcessModel provides a host of import capable Model Objects that can be used to import raw data into ProcessModel. Some of these Model Objects are Create an Interface, Create Weekly Pattern Arrivals, Daily Pattern Arrivals, Import & Overall Flow, Import Scheduled Arrivals, Weekly Pattern Arrivals Import, ED1 Arrivals with Acuity, Flexible Workcell Arrivals, Growth Pattern for Hospitals, Growth pattern for Job Shop, Lab Arrivals with Priority, Overall Flow Through Hospital and others.
Using Weekly Pattern Arrivals
1. Click Model Objects and then Select.
2. Select and Insert Create Weekly Pattern Arrivals from the Arrivals category.
- For detailed information on use, click Open instead.
3. Connect the arrival route and the exit route from the black box as required.
4. Right-click on Weekly Pattern Arrivals Sheet folder and click the third option from the bottom to open the Excel Macro.
5. Add your arrival data and follow the instructions provided.
Using Create an Interface
1. Click Model Objects and then Select.
2. Select and Insert Create an Interface from the Arrivals category.
- For detailed information on use, click Open instead.
3. Right-click on Scenario Input Sheet folder and click the third option from the bottom to open the Excel Macro.
4. Follow the steps provided to use the interface file.
Mass Changes
Make repetitive changes to the model using Excel. For example, if a variable name and action logic in many places needed to change at the same time, the model could be exported to Excel, and the “Find and Replace All” feature used to mass change all instances in seconds. After making changes to the exported file, import the data into ProcessModel.
Import Model Data
Summary
1. Make changes to the model Data file manually or use a Model Object to make the changes.
2. Select Import Data from the Tools menu. Click OK.
Detailed Information
After you export the data from your model, ProcessModel allows you to modify the data and import it back into the model. You can simplify massive data changes to large file by first exporting the data, making the changes in Excel and importing the file into ProcessModel.
Limited by available memory and system resources; The maximum number of columns that can be imported is over 100,000, the maximum number of rows is over 100 and maximum characters per cell is 30,000.
With the exception of Scheduled Arrivals, the import data option allows you to edit existing data only from Excel and will not recognize new entries (i.e. new entities, new activities, new resources, etc.). Only the data associated with an item may be edited. For example, you can change the number of resources, but you may not change the name of the resource. As noted above, you may add new Scheduled arrivals as long as the format of the new row in Excel matches an already-existing row. In order to add new arrivals, you must have added at least one scheduled arrival from ProcessModel prior to exporting which will add the Schedule Arrival worksheet tab in Excel.
Before changing the exported data for scheduled arrival, open the datasheet of the model. Observe the formatting for cell in the row. When adding new lines make certain that the same formatting is followed. Although the time may appear to be the problem other cells may actually be the culprit. The Time cell must be formatted correctly, as well as the Week and Quantity cells. If this is not properly done, some or all of the arrival times change to 12:00 AM.
You will notice that the Week and Quantity fields use a tic mark (apostrophe) before the number to make the entry a text entry. Your entries will need to use the same format.
Import & Run
Summary
1. Set up the Excel file by exporting the model data. See “Export Model Data” above.
2. Modify the data as needed. Any referencing of data to other Excel worksheets, VBA or outside sources is allowed. Only the value of the reference will be imported.
3. Press the Import and Run button.
Detailed Information
After creating an Export of the model file, the Excel file can be modified and imported with the new information. The Excel file could be linked to a “live” database and updated in real time. All the user would do to run the updated file is to press the Import and Run button located on the toolbar.
