Exporting a COSMOS Graph to Excel

Share nonlinear, transient thermal, and drop test response test data with non-FEA users

Julien Boissat -- Design News, November 20, 2005

COSMOS users often want to plot FEA results and experimental results curves on the same graph, and share the data with non-FEA users. Until recently, they have not been able to export nonlinear, transient thermal, or drop test response result data to Excel to create the joint graphs.

Users can probe results plots to derive tabular lists of results, but because the more advanced analysis results mentioned can only be graphically displayed, we had to find another way to save the data in an Excel-compatible format. Being able to export the FEA results to Excel allows for better documentation of results, and the ability to do such additional post-processing as comparison with experimental measurements, calculating interpolations, derivatives, integrals, or averages.

In response to customer requests, the COSMOS Technical Support Group created a short procedure that makes it possible for users to export their response graphs. First they display the response graph and right click on the window to open a "2D Chart Control Properties" dialog box. Next they go to the "ChartGroups" tab, and the "Data" sub-tab, and click the "Save" button. This saves the chart in .dat format, an ASCII format specific to the graphing tool, which can't be read directly in Excel. It can, however, be viewed in Notepad, and manually edited if so desired. To convert the .dat file to a more Excel-friendly .csv (comma separated values) file, users need to download the COSMOS File Manipulator from: http://rbi.ims.ca/4401-530. To view the instructions on how to convert the COSMOS file to CSV, click here.

The tool may be used to make the conversion automatically. Then, the user just has to browse to the .dat file, select the 2D Chart to .csv option, and click "Run."

You need this trick if: you use COSMOSWorks or COSMOSDesignSTAR and want to export calculated response results to Excel for further analysis and sharing.

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