82.9 Exchanging data between Abaqus/CAE and Microsoft Excel

The Excel Utilities plug-in enables you to import amplitude data or X–Y data from a Microsoft Excel workbook and to export either type of data from Abaqus/CAE to a Microsoft Excel workbook.

Note:  The Excel Utilities plug-in is available only for Windows.

Start the plug-in by selecting Plug-insToolsExcel Utilities from the main menu bar. Enter the following in the Excel Utilities dialog box:

Object

Choose XY Data to transfer an X–Y data object, or choose Amplitude to transfer an amplitude definition.

Transfer Direction

Choose From Abaqus/CAE to Excel to export data from Abaqus/CAE to Microsoft Excel, or choose From Excel to Abaqus/CAE to import data from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet into the current session or one of the open model databases.

Options for data import from Excel

To import amplitude data or X–Y data from Microsoft Excel, specify the name of the Excel file from which you want to import data, select one of the worksheets within the file, and identify the starting location of the data you want to import. By default, the plug-in imports only two columns of data—the data in the column you select and the data in the column immediately to its right—but if you toggle on Import multiple curves while importing X–Y data, the plug-in imports data in pairs of columns, creating an amplitude definition or an X–Y data object for each pair. If you are importing amplitude data, specify whether the amplitude data object you create should be a tabular or smooth step amplitude.

Amplitude objects are saved into the current model, while X–Y data objects are made available to the current session.

Options for data export to Excel

To export amplitude data to Microsoft Excel, select the model in which the data resides, then select one or more amplitude definitions and click OK. Abaqus/CAE creates a new Excel file and displays the exported data in a worksheet. If you are exporting a single amplitude object, Abaqus/CAE also plots the data in a chart; a chart is not created if you export multiple amplitude objects. Only tabular or smooth step amplitude definitions are available for export.

To export X–Y data to Microsoft Excel, select one or more X–Y data objects and click OK. Abaqus/CAE creates a new Excel file and displays the exported data in a worksheet. If you export a single X–Y data object, Abaqus/CAE also plots the data in a chart; a chart is not created if you export multiple X–Y data objects. You can export any X–Y data object in your session, including any temporary objects or the data that are currently displayed in the viewport.