Guidelines for Customizing PSR Files for Save as Excel - Intergraph Smart Instrumentation - Help

Intergraph Smart Instrumentation Help

Language
English
Product
Intergraph Smart Instrumentation
Search by Category
Help
Smart Instrumentation Version
13.1

Graphic Limitations of the Excel Environment

InfoMaker allows you to modify existing Smart Instrumentation spec pages, with few limitations on the layout of text, value, line, and other objects. When designing InfoMaker pages for Excel compatibility, it is important to keep in mind that an Excel worksheet is basically a grid of cells. Although a standalone Excel spreadsheet supports random placement of text, value, and line objects, Save as Excel works best if you imagine an Excel grid underlying your InfoMaker page. You cannot create an entirely new page in InfoMaker.

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.

Fine-Tuning the Grid and Lines

Although you can use the mouse to create and place lines, you must fine-tune the grid by referring to the Properties > Position tab for each line object. Verify the following:

  • All lines are either exactly vertical lines or exactly horizontal.

  • For every vertical line, X1 = X2.

  • For every horizontal line, Y1 = Y2.

  • Left/right external border lines share common Y1 (top) and Y2 (bottom) values.

  • Top/bottom external border lines share common X1 (left end) and X2 (right end) values.

  • When one line ends by running into another, make sure that they share an X value or a Y value. This prevents overshooting and undershooting.

  • Create as much of the grid as possible before creating text and value objects.

  • Although there is no requirement for every line to run the entire length or width of the page, imagine an Excel grid underlying your InfoMaker page. For example, if you inserted a vertical line near the top of the page at X = 500 PBU, if your mouse placement of a vertical line near the bottom of the page ended up at X = 505, make the X values consistent for both lines.

  • Similarly, if you inserted a horizontal line towards the left of the page at Y = 700 PBU, if your mouse placement of a horizontal line towards the right of the page ended up at Y = 705, make the Y values consistent for both lines.

Left-Aligning Fields to Lines

After you set the major lines of the page grid, you can insert data fields and field headers, computed fields, fields displayed as select lists, check boxes, or option buttons. During the process of export from Smart Instrumentation to Excel, the software associates each field with a vertical line to the left of the field. To ensure accurate display, the X1 value of a field should equal the X values of the line to its left. The following lines are acceptable:

  • A visible vertical line on the left edge of the field

  • A visible vertical line, with X value equal to the X1 value of the field, but on a higher or lower part of the page

  • A vertical grid line, with X value equal to the X1 value of the field, and on the Properties > General tab, the Visible check box is cleared. Even for such an invisible line, imagine an Excel grid underlying your InfoMaker page. For example, if you inserted an invisible vertical line in one part of the page at X = 500 PBU, if your field placement at another part of the page ended up at X1 = 505, make the X values consistent for both lines. For each invisible line, make sure that the icon to the right of Visible is displayed as PPM All Outputs Graphic. If the icon is displayed as PPM All Outputs Graphic, select it, and in the dialog that opens, delete the contents of the Expression pane, and then select OK.

Fine-Tuning Adjacent Fields

  • To prevent text cut-off, leave at least 5 PBU between adjacent fields. The requirement to left-align fields to lines also applies to fields to the right of other fields.

  • For multiple fields between horizontal lines, set constant Y1 and Y2 values for all the fields. The Y1 value should be several PBU greater than the Y values of the line above, and the Y2 value should be several PBU less than the Y values of the line below.