Creating Charts with External Data

We can also create charts based on external data, including (but not limited to) Excel files, text files, data collectors, coordinate measuring machines, LIMS and MRP systems.

Using the Excel File option in the File / Open menu , select the Sample.xls file in your installation folder. Use the OK button to proceed to the Open MS Excel File dialog box.

Hint: Instead of using the File/Open dialog, you can drag and drop files directly into the right pane of the application window.

Select Sheet2$ from the Select an Excel Worksheet list box to define the data source. Select the Treat first row as column names checkbox (so it is checked). Use the OK button to view the Excel file’s data in an Explorer view spreadsheet.

The spreadsheet is now linked to the Excel file.

Select the New Chart button , or the New Chart option from the right mouse menu.

Select Length as the Characteristic to be charted in the left-hand list;

Select the Fields button. In the New Chart Field dialog box, select Date in the Date Field list, then select Job Number in the Select the Traceability Fields list box. Select OK.

Set Subgroup Size to 5; select X-Bar and Range Chart in the right-hand list, then select OK to open the chart shown below.

Close the chart and spreadsheet. Select the Yes button when prompted to maintain the data in the database.

In this example, we actually saved a link to the Excel file. After saving the link, creating an updated chart is as easy as shown earlier in the Order Processing-Processing Time example: select the Characteristic from the Process branch, then select New Chart. Linking to the Excel file is the preferred option if we intend to continue making changes from within the Excel file (i.e. outside of this application). When we link to the data, our charts are always based on the most current data in the external data source. Our other option is to import the Excel data using the Import to Characteristic option from the spreadsheet’s right mouse menu. Importing is preferred to linking if we won’t be adding or editing the data within the Excel file. Once imported, we will make all changes to the data from within this software, and the Excel file can be discarded.