Import Data into Arrays

Defining a Process > Defining Model Elements and Advanced Elements > Arrays > Import Data into Arrays

Import Data into Arrays

When you import data from a Microsoft Excel^® spreadsheet into an array, Process Simulator loads the data from left to right (i.e., within a row), and then from top to bottom (i.e., within a column). The limit to the number of rows and columns your arrays have depends upon the version of Excel you are using, the type of array defined (integer, real, expression), and the memory limits of your computer and operating system.

Steps to import Excel spreadsheet data into an array:

Click Arrays from the Model Elements dialog box.
Click the array for which you want to import data.
Click the Import File button.
Either double-click the Import File box, or click the ellipsis icon in the box, to cause the Array Import dialog box to appear.
In the File box of the Array Import dialog box, type the name of the Excel file that you want to use. Alternatively, you may click the Browse button to navigate folders to find and select the Excel file.
In the Sheet box, type the exact name of the worksheet within the Excel file that contains the data you want to use.
In the Cell Start box, type the cell reference of the starting location of the data. The value stored in this cell will occupy the first position (i.e., the first row and first column) in the array. Type the cell reference (e.g., B50), which is the column letter and row number in the worksheet.
In the Cell End box, type the cell reference of the ending location of the data. The value stored in this cell will occupy the last position (i.e., the last row and last column) in the array. Type the cell reference (e.g., E100), which is the column letter and row number. Note: the number of rows and columns of the data to be imported should be no greater than those numbers for the size of the destination array. The data to be imported can be a subset of the full data set in the Excel worksheet.
Click OK.

Below are descriptions of the fields in the dialog box.

File — the name of the Excel file from which you want to import data. You may type either a fully qualified path to your Excel file or a path relative to your Visio^® file. For example, if your Excel file is in the same directory as your Visio file, simply enter the name of the Excel file into this field.

Sheet — the name of the worksheet in the Excel file from which you will import the array data.

Note: If your spreadsheet contains only a single data set, Process Simulator will automatically load the data into the array. You do not have to define any cell information unless you want to limit the contents of the array to a portion (i.e., a subset) of the import data set. Importing data into an array requires Microsoft Excel 97 or later.

Cell Start — the cell in the spreadsheet with the first piece of data to import into the array.

Cell End — the cell in the spreadsheet with the last piece of data to import into the array. Note: the column letter and/or the row number for this cell must be greater than that provided in the Cell Start box.