Importing Data from a File

You can import data from a text file or an Excel worksheet into the Runtime Gateway. Once imported, you can use a subset of the Runtime Gateway’s tools to analyze and visualize the data including graphs, approximations, and the Engineering Data Mining (EDM) tool.

You can import any of the following file types: *.txt, *.csv, *.db (including iSIGHT database files), *.xls, *.dat, and *.xlsx.

Before you begin: The data file being imported must be in the following format:

  • The data must be in tabular form.

  • The rows must be oriented so that there is one line per data point with an unlimited number of columns. The data do not need to start on the first row.

  • The columns must be delimited.

  • Parameter names may be inferred from a row of column names preceding the initial data row. If there is no such row, or it is not selected, default parameter names are created.

  1. From the Runtime Gateway, select File > Import from Data File.
  2. Navigate to the file you want to import, and click Open.
  3. If you are importing an Excel worksheet, specify which sheet on the worksheet you want to import, and click OK.
  4. If desired, from the Import From File wizard that appears displaying information that Isight has attempted to determine about the data, change any of the following settings to specify which data points to import:
    OptionDescription
    Delimiter Specify a pre-set delimiter character using the corresponding list. If you want to use a delimiter that is not provided, select Other; then type the delimiter character in the text box below the list.

    When the delimiter is changed, Isight updates the data table to show the resulting columns.

    Note: If you select the Space delimiter, contiguous instances of a space count as a single delimiter. For all other delimiters, contiguous instances count as distinct delimiters.

    Initial Data Row Specify the row that contains the first line of parameter data. Isight displays the specified row in red.
    Parameter Names Row Specify the row that contains the column names. If specified, this row must precede the initial data row. Isight displays the specified row in yellow. This row can contain index expressions (in which case it is assumed that the corresponding parameters are arrays) or periods (in which case it is assumed that the corresponding parameters are aggregates). If column names are not present in the data file, the inferred parameters are automatically named based on their column position (e.g., Column0, Column1, etc.).
    Number of Inputs Specify how many input columns to extract from the file (not the number of input parameters). These two values are not the same when arrays and aggregates are imported.
    Skip Bad Rows Specify if you want Isight to skip rows that contain bad data during the import. Bad data can occur in imported data files for several reasons:
    • The data file may contain blank lines between or following the data rows. More broadly, the data rows may be only a portion of a larger body of general text.
    • The data type of each column is determined from only the top 100 data rows. Rows that follow the 100th row can invalidate this determination (e.g., a column of Real values where the first 100 appear as Integer values).
    • The delimiter may be chosen incorrectly causing the data rows to not all split into the same number of columns.
  5. Click Next.

    The Configure the Parameters screen appears.

    The input and output parameters extracted from the data file are listed. By default, all the parameters are selected for import (indicated by a check mark in the Import column).

    Note: Sometimes the splitting of the column names row yields column headers that cannot be used as parameter name or that appear over more than one column. When this situation occurs, column-position names are used instead, and the affected parameters are (initially) not selected for import.

  6. If desired, do any of the following.

    • Customize the displayed parameter information by selecting one of the following:

      Removes any filtering that was applied to the table and returns the table to its original state.
      Applies filtering to the table. When clicked, the Table Filters dialog box appears, which allows you to filter based on the parameter’s name, mode, or type.
      Allows you to display or hide certain columns. The Name column is always displayed.

      This customization only affects the display, it does not affect the import.

    • Select the parameters to import by checking or clearing (unchecking) the check boxes in the Import column.

    • Change the name, mode, or type setting of any parameter using the corresponding columns.

  7. Click Finish.

    Isight imports the data into the Runtime Gateway.



    The Runtime Gateway has been slightly altered. The model explorer is no longer visible, only a subset of the typically displayed tabs are available, and several options (including the Run button) have been removed from the toolbar. Because you are viewing raw data instead of an Isight model, all model-related options are hidden.

  8. Analyze and visualize the data using any of the following options:
  9. If desired, repeat the above steps to import more data files. You can switch between files by selecting the file from the Jobs menu. The data file will be given an example_ext name (where example is the name of the file and ext is the extension).