SMS:Export Tabular File

SMS can export much of the data managed and displayed int the system to a tabular data format. This type of file is sometimes referred to as a ".csv" or comma separated values file. In actuality, the delimiter may be commas, spaces, tabs, or other typical white space characters.

The data to be exported depends on the active module when the command is issued. For example, when the Mesh module is active, mesh nodes will be saved and when the Scatter module is active, scatter vertices will be saved. The user supplies the file name to contain the data.

If data points are selected when the command is issued, the option is given to output all data points of the defined type, or only the selected points. A default header is provided which defines the number of data points represented.

The user then selects the nubmer of columns and number of digits of precision to save each value. For each column the user then selects the data to be stored in that column. This can include the x location, the y location or any data set currently loaded into SMS for that data type. Transient data sets may be saved in a range of columns.