MTS TestSuite. Reporter Add-In User Guide H

Transcription

1 MTS TestSuite Reporter Add-In User Guide H

2 2015 MTS Systems Corporation. All rights reserved. MTS Trademarks MTS, be certain., Bionix, Echo, ElastomerExpress, FlatTrac, FlexTest, Just In Case, Landmark, Level Plus, MTS Acumen, MTS Criterion, MTS Echo, MTS EM Extend, MTS Exceed, MTS Insight, MTS Landmark, MTS TestSuite, RPC, SWIFT, Temposonics, TestWare, TestWorks are registered trademarks of MTS Systems Corporation within the United States. Acumen, AdapTrac, Advantage, Aero ST, Aero-90, AeroPro, Criterion, crpc, Exceed, First Road, Landmark, MAST, MicroProfiler, MPT, MTS Exceed, MTS Fundamentals, MTS TestSuite, ReNew, SilentFlo, TempoGuard, TestLine, Tytron, Virtual Test Lab, and VTL are trademarks of MTS Systems Corporation within the United States. These trademarks may be registered in other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders. Proprietary Software Software use and license is governed by MTS End User License Agreement which defines all rights retained by MTS and granted to the End User. All Software is proprietary, confidential, and owned by MTS Systems Corporation and cannot be copied, reproduced, disassembled, decompiled, reverse engineered, or distributed without express written consent of MTS. Software Verification and Validation MTS software is developed using established quality practices in accordance with the requirements detailed in the ISO 9001 standards. Because MTS-authored software is delivered in binary format, it is not user accessible. This software will not change over time. Many releases are written to be backwards compatible, creating another form of verification. The status and validity of MTS operating software is also checked during system verification and routine calibration of MTS hardware. These controlled calibration processes compare the final test results after statistical analysis against the predicted response of the calibration standards. With these established methods, MTS assures its customers that MTS products meet MTS exacting quality standards when initially installed and will continue to perform as intended over time. Manual Part Number Publication Date Release H (English) August 2015 MTS TestSuite MP or TW 4.1 or later G (English) F (English) E (English) D (English) October 2014 MTS TestSuite MP or 3.0 February 2014 MTS TestSuite MP 2.6.4/TW December 2013 MTS TestSuite MP 2.6.3/TW August 2013 MTS TestSuite MP 2.6/TW 2.3

3 Contents Technical Support 5 How to Get Technical Support 5 Start with your manuals 5 Technical support methods 5 Outside the U.S. 5 Before You Contact MTS 5 Know your site number and system number 5 Know information from prior technical assistance 6 Identify the problem 6 Know relevant computer information 6 Know relevant software information 6 If You Contact MTS by Phone 7 Identify system type 7 Be prepared to troubleshoot 7 Write down relevant information 7 After you call 8 Problem Submittal Form 8 Preface 9 Before You Begin 9 Safety first! 9 Other MTS manuals 9 Documentation Conventions 9 Hazard conventions 9 Other special text conventions 10 Special terms 10 Illustrations 10 Electronic manual conventions 10 Hypertext links 10 Working With Test Reports 11 Reports 12 Reports Overview 12 Report Template Overview 13 MTS TestSuite Reporter Excel Add-In 14 Report Templates 14 Open a Template 15 Link to the Test that will use the Report Template 16 Select the Test Run or Analysis Run Used to Generate Report Previews 17 Insert Single Variable Values into Report Template 17 MTS TestSuite 3

4 Contents Insert Variable Tables 19 Insert Chart Images 22 Insert Monitor Views 22 Insert Raw Data 23 Appending Data to a Single Report 23 Use Excel Formatting to Customize the Report 26 Setting the Default Table Style 26 Generate a Report 26 Generating a Report Using the Excel Reporter Add-In 27 Create Variables for Reports 27 Index 33 4 MTS TestSuite

5 Technical Support Technical Support How to Get Technical Support Start with your manuals The manuals supplied by MTS provide most of the information you need to use and maintain your equipment. If your equipment includes software, look for online help and README files that contain additional product information. Technical support methods MTS provides a full range of support services after your system is installed. If you have any questions about a system or product, contact Technical Support in one of the following ways. Type of Support Web site Telephone Details > Contact Us > In the Subject field, choose To escalate a problem; Problem Submittal Form Worldwide: tech.support@mts.com Europe: techsupport.europe@mts.com Worldwide: toll free in U.S.; outside U.S. Europe: , International toll free in Europe Outside the U.S. For technical support outside the United States, contact your local sales and service office. For a list of worldwide sales and service locations and contact information, use the Global MTS link at the MTS web site: > About MTS Systems > Global Presence > Choose a Region Before You Contact MTS MTS can help you more efficiently if you have the following information available when you contact us for support. Know your site number and system number The site number contains your company number and identifies your equipment type (such as material testing or simulation). The number is typically written on a label on your equipment before the system leaves MTS. If you do not know your MTS site number, contact your sales engineer. Example site number: MTS TestSuite 5

6 Technical Support When you have more than one MTS system, the system job number identifies your system. You can find your job number in your order paperwork. Example system number: US Know information from prior technical assistance If you have contacted MTS about this problem before, we can recall your file based on the: MTS case number Name of the person who helped you Identify the problem Describe the problem and know the answers to the following questions: How long and how often has the problem occurred? Can you reproduce the problem? Were any hardware or software changes made to the system before the problem started? What are the equipment model numbers? What is the controller model (if applicable)? What is the system configuration? Know relevant computer information For a computer problem, have the following information available: Manufacturer s name and model number Operating software type and service patch information Amount of system memory Amount of free space on the hard drive where the application resides Current status of hard-drive fragmentation Connection status to a corporate network Know relevant software information For software application problems, have the following information available: The software application s name, version number, build number, and (if available) software patch number. This information can typically be found in the About selection in the Help menu. The names of other applications on your computer, such as: Anti-virus software Screen savers Keyboard enhancers Print spoolers Messaging applications 6 MTS TestSuite

7 Technical Support If You Contact MTS by Phone A Call Center agent registers your call before connecting you with a technical support specialist. The agent asks you for your: Site number address Name Company name Company address Phone number where you can be reached If your issue has a case number, please provide that number. A new issue will be assigned a unique case number. Identify system type To enable the Call Center agent to connect you with the most qualified technical support specialist available, identify your system as one of the following types: Electrodynamic material test system Electromechanical material test system Hydromechanical material test system Vehicle test system Vehicle component test system Aero test system Be prepared to troubleshoot Prepare to perform troubleshooting while on the phone: Call from a telephone close to the system so that you can implement suggestions made over the phone. Have the original operating and application software media available. If you are not familiar with all aspects of the equipment operation, have an experienced user nearby to assist you. Write down relevant information In case Technical Support must call you: Verify the case number. Record the name of the person who helped you. Write down any specific instructions. MTS TestSuite 7

8 Technical Support After you call MTS logs and tracks all calls to ensure that you receive assistance for your problem or request. If you have questions about the status of your problem or have additional information to report, please contact Technical Support again and provide your original case number. Problem Submittal Form Use the Problem Submittal Form to communicate problems with your software, hardware, manuals, or service that are not resolved to your satisfaction through the technical support process. The form includes check boxes that allow you to indicate the urgency of your problem and your expectation of an acceptable response time. We guarantee a timely response your feedback is important to us. You can access the Problem Submittal Form at > Contact Us (upper-right corner) > In the Subject field, choose To escalate a problem; Problem Submittal Form 8 MTS TestSuite

9 Preface Preface Before You Begin Safety first! Before you use your MTS product or system, read and understand the safety information provided with your system. Improper installation, operation, or maintenance can result in hazardous conditions that can cause severe personal injury or death, or damage to your equipment and specimen. Again, read and understand the safety information provided with your system before you continue. It is very important that you remain aware of hazards that apply to your system. Other MTS manuals In addition to this manual, you may receive additional manuals in paper or electronic form. You may also receive an MTS System Documentation CD. It contains an electronic copy of the manuals that pertain to your test system. Controller and application software manuals are typically included on the software CD distribution disc (s). Documentation Conventions The following paragraphs describe some of the conventions that are used in your MTS manuals. Hazard conventions Hazard notices may be embedded in this manual. These notices contain safety information that is specific to the activity to be performed. Hazard notices immediately precede the step or procedure that may lead to an associated hazard. Read all hazard notices carefully and follow all directions and recommendations. Three different levels of hazard notices may appear in your manuals. Following are examples of all three levels. (for general safety information, see the safety information provided with your system.) Danger: Danger notices indicate the presence of a hazard with a high level of risk which, if ignored, will result in death, severe personal injury, or substantial property damage. Warning: Warning notices indicate the presence of a hazard with a medium level of risk which, if ignored, can result in death, severe personal injury, or substantial property damage. Caution: Caution notices indicate the presence of a hazard with a low level of risk which, if ignored, could cause moderate or minor personal injury or equipment damage, or could endanger test integrity. MTS TestSuite 9

10 Preface Other special text conventions Important: Important notices provide information about your system that is essential to its proper function. While not safety-related, if the important information is ignored, test results may not be reliable, or your system may not operate properly. Notes provide additional information about operating your system or highlight easily overlooked information. Recommended: Recommended notes provide a suggested way to accomplish a task based on what MTS has found to be most effective. Tip: Tips provide helpful information or a hint about how to most efficiently accomplish a task. Access: Access provides the route you should follow to a referenced item in the software. Example: Examples show specific scenarios relating to your product and appear with a shaded background. Special terms The first occurrence of special terms is shown in italics. Illustrations Illustrations appear in this manual to clarify text. They are examples only and do not necessarily represent your actual system configuration, test application, or software. Electronic manual conventions This manual is available as an electronic document in the Portable Document File (PDF) format. It can be viewed on any computer that has Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. Hypertext links The electronic document has many hypertext links displayed in a blue font. All blue words in the body text, along with all contents entries and index page numbers, are hypertext links. When you click a hypertext link, the application jumps to the corresponding topic. 10 MTS TestSuite

11 Working With Test Reports Reports 12 Report Templates 14 Generate a Report 26 MTS TestSuite 11

12 Reports Reports Overview The Reporter Add-In is a licensed option that can be used to create report templates and generate reports for test runs or analysis runs. You can generate reports for a single test run or for a group of test runs. To generate a report, you must select a report template file that defines what information is shown in a test report and how that information appears in the report. The report template and the resulting report are Microsoft Excel files. A report can be generated without Excel installed. The Reporter Add-In is required to create report templates. System Requirements To create report templates and view reports, the Reporter Add-In requires Microsoft Office (Excel) 2007 or Example: Test Report Template Example of Test Report Template 12 MTS TestSuite

13 Example of Test Report Generated From Report Template Report Template Overview A report template is an Excel template file that defines what information is shown in a test report and how that information appears in the report. You can design report templates to generate reports for a single test run, and when used with MTS TestSuite Software, reports for a group of test runs. Templates for both types of reports are created in the same way. Because the report template defines the information that appears in the report, different test types (with unique sets of variables and other information) may require their own custom report templates. Another use of report templates is to customize the type of information shown for a specific audience. Creating report templates Report templates are created and modified using the MTS TestSuite Report tab that appears in the Microsoft Excel application. When the MTS TestSuite application is installed, an MTS TestSuite Report tab appears in the Microsoft Excel application. You create or edit report templates by dragging test information, in the form of charts and variables, into the area of the report template where you want it to appear. Once information is added, you can format it by selecting the cell and using the Properties tab to further define the information. MTS TestSuite 13

14 Using report templates to generate reports After a test is run, the MTS TestSuite application creates a test report by taking the report template assigned to the test, populating it with the data from the test run, formatting the data, and saving the report as a separate report file. MTS TestSuite Reporter Excel Add-In The MTS TestSuite Report ribbon contains all the controls required to create report templates and generate reports that include test-run data. Report Ribbon Number Function Description Report Ribbon Functions 1 Link Link to an existing test to provide access to variables, and preconfigured monitor views and other charts and tables that you can add to the report template. 2 Insert Insert and configure variables, charts, and monitor views. 3 Generate Generate a report to preview changes made to a report template, by selecting an analysis run or test run and clicking Report. To access online help for the MTS Reporter Add-In, click the help button in the ribbon. Report Templates Creating a report template is an iterative process that follows this basic outline: 14 MTS TestSuite

15 1. To begin, open an existing template file or create a new one and link it to a test. Important: MTS-supplied templates often have preconfigured data acquisition activities and variables that save data for use in various charts/tables that appear in the test, report templates, and post-test analysis. If you are creating your own tests, you must create data acquisition activities and variables to save the data. 2. Use the controls on the MTS TestSuite Report ribbon to perform a task, such as inserting a variable table or inserting a chart image. Template cells that contain inserted variable values, tables, or charts are indicated by a light blue color. 3. Select a source and click the Report button to generate a report based on an actual test run or analysis run. Important: The Reporter Add-In does not support Excel s Undo command so you are given the yes/no choice of saving the template when you generate a report. 4. View the report to preview the template changes and correct any errors. 5. Iterate until the report template is complete. For detailed information on how to create report templates, see the following tasks: Open a Template on page 15 Link to the Test that will use the Report Template on page 16 Select the Test Run or Analysis Run Used to Generate Report Previews on page 17 Insert Single Variable Values on page 17 Insert a Variable Table on page 19 Insert Chart Images on page 22 Insert Monitor Views on page 22 Insert Raw Data on page 23 Use Excel Formatting to Customize the Report on page 26 Open a Template When creating a report template, you can either open an existing template or start with a new (blank) template. From the Excel application If you launch Excel as a stand-alone application, use this procedure to open a template. MTS TestSuite 15

16 1. Start the Excel application. 2. From the Office button, open an existing template file. 3. Optional: Save the template file (as an Excel Template) with a different name if you are creating a new report template from an existing template. From an MTS TestSuite application To open a template from an MTS TestSuite application: 1. In the MTS TestSuite test application, open a test. 2. Click the Report Templates tab. 3. Open a template. To edit and save an existing template: A. In the template list, select an existing template and click the Edit icon. B. The Excel application starts automatically and opens the template. The test is automatically linked to the template. To create a new template To create a new template: 1. On the Report Templates toolbar, click the New icon. 2. Type a name for the new template and click OK. The new template is added to the template list. 3. In the template list, select the new template and click the Edit icon. 4. The Excel application starts automatically and opens the template. The test is automatically linked to the template. Link to the Test that will use the Report Template Report templates are typically created for specific tests that use unique sets of variables and other information. When a test is linked, the Excel Add-In parses the selected test file to determine the variables and monitor views used in the test. Important: Only the variables and monitor views that are available in the test can be added to the report template. From the Excel application If you launch Excel as a stand-alone application, use the following procedure to open a test: 1. At the top of the Excel window, click the MTS TestSuite Report tab. 2. In the Link area of the MTS TestSuite Report ribbon, click Test and select the test or analysis definition that you want to use to build the report template. 16 MTS TestSuite

17 You can also link to an Analysis Definition when using the Reporter Add-In with MTS TestSuite Multipurpose Software and an Analyzer application. Once a definitions file is selected, the charts and variables defined in the file are available for use in a template. From an MTS TestSuite application If you open a test in an MTS TestSuite application and use that application to open an existing template or create a new template, the test selection is automatically linked to the template. Select the Test Run or Analysis Run Used to Generate Report Previews Before you can generate a report, you must define the test run or analysis run that the template will use to generate reports. The test run that you select should be representative of the types of tests that will use the report template. Each time you click Report, the Reporter Add-In will use data from the test run to populate the various charts and tables that are in your template. This allows you to preview the template changes and correct any errors. 1. On the MTS TestSuite Report ribbon, click Source. 2. From the list, click the test run or analysis run that you want to use to generate reports. Analysis runs are only available when using the Reporter Add-In with MTS TestSuite Multipurpose Software in conjunction with an Analyzer application. Insert Single Variable Values into Report Template Click the Single Variable Value button to show a Variables panel that lists all the variables and variable categories that appear in the test that is linked to the template. To add single variables to the report template, click-and-drag the desired variable (or an entire variable category) from the Variables list to the desired location in the template. Once a variable is added, you can format it by selecting the cell and using the Properties tab to further define what appears in the cell. Only variables that are used in the test or analysis definition that you linked the template to will appear in the Variables panel. Insert Single Variable Values To insert a single variable value: 1. Open a report template that you want to edit, or open a new template. 2. Click the MTS TestSuite Report tab in the Excel ribbon. 3. Click Single Variable Value. 4. From the Variables panel, drag a single variable or an entire category of variables to an Excel cell location. MTS TestSuite 17

18 If you add a variable category, each variable in that category will occupy a separate cell filling down from the current cell location. 5. Define the Display properties for the variable. A. Select the variable cell. B. On the Properties tab, define what appears in the cell(s) when the report is generated. 6. Define the Unit Name properties for the variable (if applicable). On the Properties tab s Unit Name list, select the unit that will appear in the cell(s) when the report is generated. 7. To preview the changes made to the template, click Report, and check for any errors. Variable Properties Property Description Display Name Display name, value with unit in adjacent cells Unit Value Value with unit in a single cell Value with unit in adjacent cells Value Shows the variable description defined in the test. Shows the variable name defined in the test. Places the display name, value, and unit in separate cells. Shows the unit name defined in the report variable Properties tab. Shows the variable value from the test run. Combines the variable value from the test run with the unit values defined in the test into a single cell. Places the variable value from the test run into the selected cell(s) and places the unit into an adjacent cell(s). Only variable values that appear in a separate cell can be used in Excel calculations. Examples To create three separate cells that show the Specimen Thickness variable s display name, value, and units: 1. Drag Specimen Thickness from the Reports Variables window to a cell. On the Properties tab, select Display Name from the Display list. 2. Drag the same variable (Specimen Thickness) to a second adjacent cell. On the Properties tab, use the default Value with unit in adjacent cells display setting. This places the variable value in the second cell and automatically places the variable unit in the adjacent cell. If the specimen had a thickness of 44 mm in the test run data, the report that is generated will have specimen thickness shown in the first cell, 44 shown in the second cell, and mm shown in the third cell. 18 MTS TestSuite

19 To show the same information using two cells: Specimen Thickness 44 mm Set the second cell s Display property to Value with unit in a single cell. This combines the value with the unit in a single cell. The same information is shown using two cells. Specimen Thickness 44 mm Insert Variable Tables The Variable Tables control allows you to insert the following types of variable tables into the report template: Variable Table includes single-value variables and variable groups in a table format. Block Table includes user-selected single-value variables with the ability to use the data acquisition blocking defined in the test and a block decimation filter to further refine the data that appears in the table. Array Table includes user-selected array variables. A blocking option allows you to show array value for a single block of data. Insert a Variable Table To insert a variable table: 1. Select the cell where you want the table to appear in the generated report. When a report is generated, the rows required for the table are automatically inserted and any variables below the table are shifted down. 2. In the MTS TestSuite Report ribbon, click Variable Table and then click Variable. 3. In the Title box, type the title that you want to appear in the report template. 4. Optional: select the Test View option. Select the Test View check box to show all test variables in the report and recalculate all variables in the common category. Clear the Test View check box to show all variables for each test run in the report. 5. Use the following settings to define the variables that will appear in the variable table. Select All Variables these check boxes are variable property settings that were defined in the test. Selecting these check boxes creates an AND function. For example, if you select the Result and Calculation check boxes, only the variables that have the Result AND the Calculation check box selected will appear in the table. Select Category or Categories the category selections determine the type of variables that appear in the variable table. If none of the check boxes are selected, the table will contain all of the categories. Selecting any of these check boxes creates an OR function. MTS TestSuite 19

20 For example, if you select both the Common and Specimen category check boxes, variables that are part of the Common category OR the Specimen category are available to appear in the table. Insert a Block Variable Table To insert a block variable table: 1. Select the cell where you want the table to appear. When a report is generated, the rows required for the table are automatically inserted and any variables below the table are shifted down. 2. In the MTS TestSuite Report ribbon, click Variable Table and then click Block. 3. In the Title box, type the title that you want to appear in the report template. 4. From the Display list, select the way each variable appears in the table. This setting applies to all of the cells in the table. Only variable values that appear in a cell formatted with the Value setting can be used in Excel calculations. 5. Configure the block settings: The Name list contains all the blocks that were defined in the test s data acquisition activities. Click Select Blocks to set up a Block Decimation Filter to further filter the variables that appear in the table. 6. Use the Variable list to select the variable types that will appear in the table. For more information on setting up the Block Decimation Filter, see the Data Acquisition chapter in the User Guide for your test application. Insert a Variable Array Table Each variable that you add to the table appears as a column heading in the generated report. Each row in the table represents the index where data was collected. 1. Select the cell where you want the table to appear in the generated report. When a report is generated, the rows required for the table are automatically inserted and any variables below the table are shifted down. 2. In the MTS TestSuite Report ribbon, click Variable Table and then click Array. 3. In the Title box, type the title that you want to appear in the report template. 4. From the Display list, select the way each variable appears in the table. This setting applies to all of the cells in the table. 20 MTS TestSuite

21 Only variable values that appear in a cell formatted with the Value setting can be used in Excel calculations. 5. Optional: select the Show Index Column check box to add an index column to the generated report. 6. Optional: if the test s data acquisition included blocking, you can use the Blocking settings to further define what appears in a report. Blocking (Optional) In the Name list, select the type of block that you want to define. For cyclic tests, this is typically the CycleCount block. In the Number text box, enter the block number (or variable) for the data that you want to show in the report. When a report is generated, the values of the selected variables for the block number that you enter appear in the report. You can use the Numeric-Variable button to toggle this direct numeric entry or a variable that represents a block in the test. 7. Add variables to the table. A. In the Array Variables window, click the Add a new item (+) icon. B. In the Available Variables list, select the array variables that you want to appear in the table and use the arrow controls to move them to Selected Variables. Only array variables appear in the list. If desired, select a variable in the Selected Variables list and use the up and down arrows to rearrange the order that they appear in the table. C. Click OK. 8. In the Insert Table window, click OK. 9. Click Report, check for any errors, and preview the resulting report. Edit a Table 1. If the Properties tab is not shown, in the Edit area of the MTS TestSuite Report ribbon, select the cell that you want to edit and click Properties. 2. Click the cell where the Table label appears. 3. Edit the table properties as required. 4. Click Report, check for any errors, and preview the resulting report. For more information on creating tables and table properties, see the documentation provided with the MTS TestSuite test application. MTS TestSuite 21

22 Insert Chart Images The Chart Images button allows you to insert a number of chart types into your report. Each chart (except monitor views) includes a set of properties that you can use to define the variables used in the chart and to customize the appearance of the chart. When you generate a report, data from a test run or analysis is shown in the chart. Important: MTS-supplied templates often have preconfigured data acquisition activities and variables that save data for use in various charts/tables that appear in the test, report templates, and post-test analysis. If you are creating your own tests, you must create data acquisition activities and variables to save the data. Add Charts to a Report Template To add a chart to a report template: 1. Select a cell in the area where you want the chart to appear. 2. On the MTS TestSuite Report tab, click Chart Images, and then click the chart type that you want to insert. 3. Define the chart area by dragging the mouse across an area of cells in the worksheet, and then click OK in the Define Chart Area window. 4. On the Properties tab to the right, specify the properties for the type of data you want shown in the chart. 5. Click Report, check for any errors, and preview the resulting report. For more information on creating charts and chart properties, see the documentation provided with the MTS TestSuite test application. Insert Monitor Views This option allows you to add a monitor view, such as a chart or table, from a test to a report template. When a report is generated using the report template, the monitor view appears in the report as an uneditable graphic image that includes data from the test run. Important: To change the appearance of the image, you must edit the monitor view properties in the test. Insert a Monitor View To insert a monitor view: 1. Select a cell in the area where you want the monitor view to appear. 2. On the MTS TestSuite Report ribbon, click Monitor Views, and then click the monitor view type that you want to insert. Only the monitor views defined in the test appear in the list. 3. Define the chart area by dragging the mouse across an area of cells in the worksheet, and then click OK in the Define Chart Area window. 22 MTS TestSuite

23 4. Click Report, check for any errors, and preview the resulting report. For more information on creating monitor views, see the documentation provided with the MTS TestSuite test application. Insert Raw Data Adding raw data to a report is a convenient way to insert test data into an Excel file. 1. Select the cell where you want the raw data to appear in the generated report. 2. On the MTS TestSuite Report ribbon, click Raw Data. 3. Use the Insert Raw Data window to select and configure the data that you want to show in the report. A. In the Data Acquisition box, select the data acquisition activity that includes the raw data that you want to add to the report. B. Optional: if the selected data acquisition activity includes block information, use the Block settings to further define what raw data is inserted into the report. C. In the Signal list, click the Add a new item (+) icon to add the signal data that you want to insert. Use the Select Signals list to select the variables that you want to appear in the table. To rearrange the order that the signals appear in the report, select a signal in the Select Signals list and use the up and down arrows to change the order. Appending Data to a Single Report In many cases, each time you generate an Excel report, a new report file is generated. While this ensures that the data from each test run is kept in a separate file, you may end up with a large amount of individual files if you are running multiple test runs. Using the Write Options on the Report Templates tab, you can write report results to a single Excel file. You can append test run data to either a single Excel worksheet, or you can append new test run data as a new Excel worksheet for each test run. After appending data from multiple test runs into a single report file, you can take advantage of statistical analysis tools available in Excel. 1. Navigate to the Report Templates tab. 2. Select an existing report template or create a new report template that contains the data that you want appended to the report file for each test run. 3. In Write Options, select either: Append to Existing Worksheet Appends the data in each new report into a separate worksheet in the Excel file. Add a New Worksheet Adds a new worksheet to the Excel file each time the report is generated. MTS TestSuite 23

24 When selecting this option, keep in mind that each time the report is generated, a duplicate of all existing worksheets in the Excel file will be created in the report file. While this can be helpful if your report contains multiple worksheets, it is important to delete the default Excel worksheets named Sheet2 and Sheet3 if you are only using one worksheet. If you do not delete these extra empty worksheets, they will be copied into the Excel file every time a report is generated. This can add clutter to your appended report. 4. In Report Location, enter the full path to the location of the report including the name of the report and the file extension. If the report name does not exist, a new report with the name you specify here will be created. For example, if you enter C:\Users\YourName\Desktop\AppendedReport.xlsx, a new Excel file named AppendedReport.xlsx will be created and saved to your desktop. 5. At the end of the test procedure (or in the Finish section), add a Run Report activity. 6. In the Report Template section of the new Run Report activity, select the name of the report template in the Name drop-down list. 7. Save the modified test. When the Run Report activity is encountered during each test run, the results will be appended to the single Excel file. Example: Appending Raw Data You can append raw data from multiple test runs into a single test report. This allows you to consolidate your raw data information into one location and to take advantage of the statistical analysis tools available in Excel. The following example walks you through setting up a very basic test report and adding the report template to your test. 1. Add a default test run report template to the test. A. On the Report Templates tab, click the + sign. B. Select the Default Test Run Report. C. Click Open. The template now appears on the Report Templates tab with the Template Name "<Report Templates>\Default Test Report.xltx." 2. Modify the default test run report template to include raw data. A. Double-click <Report Templates>\Default Test Report.xltx to open the report editor. B. Delete the Test Run Review Graph, Test Run Results, or any other objects in the report template. When you are finished, only the header information should be remaining. C. Delete the Sheet2 and Sheet3 tabs at the bottom of the spreadsheet. These tabs will not be used. D. Click the MTS Test Suite Report tab, which is located above the Excel ribbon. E. Select a row under the header information in the spreadsheet. F. Click Raw Data, which is located in the Excel ribbon. 24 MTS TestSuite

25 G. On the left side of the Data Acquisition field, click the button. H. Select a data acquisition activity, such as DAQ: Crosshead, I. Click OK. J. In the Signal List, click the + icon. The Select Signals window appears. K. Move a few signals to the list of selected variables on the right side of the window, such as _Load and _Time. L. Click OK to close the Select Signals window. M. Click OK to close the Insert Raw Data window. At this point, your template should look like the following: N. In Excel, click File > Save As. O. Rename the report template to "Default Report with Raw Data." P. Close Excel. 3. Add the modified report template to the test. A. On the Report Templates tab, click the plus sign icon. If you are using TWE, click the icon located in the Test Run area not the Test area. B. Select the Default Report with Raw Data.xltx template and click Open. The report template now appears on the Report Templates tab as <Report Templates>/Default Report with Raw Data.xltx. Now that you have created the appended raw data report template and added it to your test, you can follow the steps described in Appending Data to a Single Report on page 23 to incorporate this report template into your test procedure. When you successfully run the test, you will receive a report containing raw data appended from each test run into a single Excel file. MTS TestSuite 25

26 Use Excel Formatting to Customize the Report You can apply many of the Excel formatting options to the report template to customize the appearance of the generated report. These options include, but are not limited to: Character formatting Footers/headers Borders Table styles Imported graphics (such as company logos) Landscape/portrait Cell shading Margins Excel calculations Excel calculations that use data from the test report cannot be entered in a report template. These type of calculations must be added after the report is generated. Setting the Default Table Style All tables within a report rely on a table style to determine the appearance of the cells within the table. You can use Excel to change this default table or to create a new custom table style. 1. Select an empty cell in the report template. 2. Click the Home tab. 3. Click Format as Table. 4. Right-click the desired table style from the list of available table styles. To create a new table, style, click New Table Style. 5. Click Set As Default. Generate a Report Various MTS TestSuite applications provide multiple methods to generate reports. These include using: Reporter Excel Add-In (for details, see Generating a Report Using the Excel Reporter Add- In on page 27) Fatigue and Fracture Analyzer applications (for details, see the MTS Fatigue Analyzer User Guide or MTS Fracture Analyzer User Guide) MTS TestSuite application (for details, see your application operator guide or user guide) MTS TestSuite Run Report activity, which you add to your test procedure to automatically 26 MTS TestSuite

27 generate a report at the end of the procedure (for more information, see your application user guide) Generating a Report Using the Excel Reporter Add-In To generate a report using the Excel Reporter Add-In, you must have purchased a separate license for the Reporter Add-In product. It also requires the installation of Microsoft Excel software or another suitable Microsoft Excel reader. 1. Open a report template in Excel (MTS templates are located in C:\MTS TestSuite\Report Templates). 2. Click the MTS TestSuite Report tab in the ribbon. 3. Click the Test icon in the ribbon and open the test that contains the test run that requires a report. 4. In the Generate section of the ribbon, click Source and select the test, test run, or analysis run that you want to use to create a report. 5. Click the Report icon on the ribbon. 6. The system will launch another instance of Microsoft Excel and show the newly generated report file. Create Variables for Reports Most information that you want to include in a report must be saved in a variable. Some variables are automatically created and mapped by the application and others must be created by the user. MTS-supplied templates include preconfigured data acquisition activities and variables that save data for use in various charts/tables that appear in the test, report templates, and post-test analysis. If you are creating your own tests, you must create data acquisition activities and variables to save the data. Test data If you are creating your own tests and want to include test data in reports, you must create data acquisition (DAQ) activities to collect the data and create variables where the DAQ activity will save the data. In some instances, this could be as simple as configuring a data acquisition activity to automatically map signals to variables (a process that automatically creates the variables required to store the data). In other instances, you may have to create data acquisition activities that store signal data in array variables, and then create an array variable that performs calculations on the signal data and stores the result. For example, a stress array variable could include a stress calculation that uses data from a load array variable. In either case, if you want to show test data in a report, your test must include a data acquisition activity that will collect the data and save it to a variable. MTS TestSuite 27

28 Other variables In addition to test data variables, reports can include other single-variable values that are not associated with data acquisition. For example, there are specimen variables (such as geometry type, diameter, and area) and system variables (such as test run name, user name, and test name) that you can add to your report. About Variables in Reports Most information that you want to include in a report must be saved in a variable. Some variables are automatically created and mapped by the application and others must be created by the user. MTS-supplied templates include preconfigured data acquisition activities and variables that save data for use in various charts/tables that appear in the test, report templates, and post-test analysis. If you are creating your own tests, you must create data acquisition activities and variables to save the data. Test data If you are creating your own tests and want to include test data in reports, you must create data acquisition (DAQ) activities to collect the data and create variables where the DAQ activity will save the data. In some instances, this could be as simple as configuring a data acquisition activity to automatically map signals to variables (a process that automatically creates the variables required to store the data). In other instances, you may have to create data acquisition activities that store signal data in array variables, and then create an array variable that performs calculations on the signal data and stores the result. For example, a stress array variable could include a stress calculation that uses data from a load array variable. In either case, if you want to show test data in a report, your test must include a data acquisition activity that will collect the data and save it to a variable. Other variables In addition to test data variables, reports can include other single-variable values that are not associated with data acquisition. For example, there are specimen variables (such as geometry type, diameter, and area) and system variables (such as test run name, user name, and test name) that you can add to your report. Example: Add a Max Load Value to a Report Template To include a max load value in a report, the data must be stored in a variable that will appear in the Reporter Add-In Single Variable Values list. Signal and variable names used in the following example may vary depending on the type of MTS test software that is used. 28 MTS TestSuite

29 1. If necessary, add the Max/Min DAQ activity in parallel with the command activity where you want to acquire data. 2. Configure the Max/Min DAQ activity: A. Add the Load signal to the signal list. B. On the Reference Signal list, click Load. C. Select the Maximum Values check box. D. On the Save data to variables? list, click Yes, automatically map variables. The Maximum Load calculation value (derived from the Load signal in the Max/Min DAQ activity) is automatically mapped to the _LoadMaximum variable. The automatic mapping process creates the _LoadMaximum variable. 3. Click Configure to verify that the Maximum Load Signal was automatically mapped to the _ LoadMaximum variable. 4. When a report template is linked to the test, the _LoadMaximum variable will appear in the Single Variable Values list (under the Variables category). This allows you to add that variable to the template. Example: Add a Calculated Stress Array Variable to a Report Template To include calculated stress data in a report, the load data used to calculate stress must be acquired using a data acquisition activity and stored in an array variable. In addition, a new stress array variable (that includes the stress calculation) must be created and the data acquisition activity must list the stress array variable in the Additional Variables to Calculate list. Some MTS-supplied templates are preconfigured to include stress array variables and the data acquisition settings described below. 1. If necessary, add a DAQ activity in parallel with the command activity where you want to acquire data. 2. Select the DAQ activity and configure the DAQ properties: Signal and variable names used in the following example may vary depending on the type of test software that is used. A. Select the triggers that you want to use. B. Add the Load (force) signal to the signal list. C. Add additional signals as required. MTS TestSuite 29

30 3. On the Save data to variables? list, click Yes, automatically map variables. The application automatically creates a new LoadArray variable and maps it to the Load signal. 4. Create a StressArray variable. A. Display the Variables tab. B. Click the Add new variable icon. C. In the New Variable window, type StressArray. 5. Configure the properties for the StressArray variable: A. In the Type list, click Array of Numbers. B. In the Dimension list, click Stress. C. Select the Is Calculated check box. D. Click the [...] button to show the Calculation Editor window. In the Functions area, double-click the Stress function. In the Stress calculation, replace the forcearray text with the LoadArray variable and replace the specimenarea text with the Area variable. 6. Configure the data acquisition activity to run the StressArray calculation as load data is acquired. A. Display the test procedure and select the data acquisition activity. B. On the Save data to variables? list, click Yes, manually map variables. C. In the data acquisition properties, click Configure. D. In the Additional Variables to Calculate area: Select Signal Dependent Variables. Use the arrow buttons to move the StressArray variable to the Additional Variable Calculations side of the window. This ensures that the stress calculation is performed and saved in the stress array as new values of the Load signal are added to the LoadArray. Using a Variable for the Report Location Instead of defining a specific report location in which a report will be saved, you can use a variable to store the report location. By using a variable to store the report location, you can allow test operators to define where the test report will be saved as a step when they are running the test. 1. Create a new variable for the report location: A. Select the Variables sub-tab of the Define tab. B. Click the plus sign to add a new variable. The New Variable window appears. C. Enter the name ReportLocation as the variable identifier. D. Click OK. The variable is added to the list of variables on the Variables sub-tab. 30 MTS TestSuite

31 2. Configure the properties of the new ReportLocation variable as follows: A. Set the variable Type to Text. B. Set the Default Value to an appropriate default location in which the report will be saved. For example, if you enter "C:\Users\[Your Name] \Desktop\MyAppendedReport.xlsx", a new Excel file named MyAppendedReport.xlsx will be created and saved to your desktop. C. Set the Default Option to Use Previous Test Run Value. D. In the Availability section, select Pretest. 3. Configure the Test Run to use the ReportLocation variable as the report location: A. Select the Report Templates tab. B. Select the desired report template. C. Select the cell for the report template under the Report Location column. D. Click the small Toggle icon that appears on the left side of the Report Location text field. This changes the report location to a variable selection and changes the cell to a drop-down list. E. Expand the drop-down selection and select the ReportLocation variable. 4. At the end of the test procedure (or in the Finish section), add a Run Report activity. 5. In the Report Template section of the new Run Report activity, select the name of the report template in the Name drop-down list. The ReportLocation variable will be identified in the name of the report template. For example, if you are using a default test template, the template name will appear as the following: <Report Templates>\Default Test Run Report.xltx (Excel Workbook), "ReportLocation" 6. Add a new Input Variables activity that immediately precedes the Run Report activity. 7. Create a custom Message for the Input Variables activity. For example, the text "Enter the location in which the report will be saved" would be appropriate. 8. In the Variable list, click the plus sign icon. The Variables Selection window appears. 9. Move the ReportLocation variable to the list of selected variables on the right side of the window. 10. Click OK. When the test is run, the test operator will be prompted to enter a custom report location. MTS TestSuite 31