File Formats: Table Data File

Description

Stores user-defined table data in a .TXT text file that can be imported into LAYOUTS: Tables.

Floating point data can be entered in either fixed format (e.g., 23.454) or exponential format (e.g., 2.3454E1). The exponent character can be either 'e' or 'E'. The decimal separator can be either a period (.) or a comma (,). Either character can be used as the decimal separator without having to specify it, as long as the file contains one or the other, not both. Both period and comma are allowed in the table name.

Table Data File Format

Fixed format

This format is used when the difference in the X value in the table is not constant. The text file consists of two columns of data and two header lines. The first line gives the name of the table. The second line defines the units for the columns, as appropriate. The first column lists the X values and the second column lists the Y values. The values on each row are separated by space or tab characters.

The following text is a sample of a table data file in this format:

TABLE NAME: Factor vs Temperature Table

Temperature:[C] Factor

0.0000E+0 1.0000E+0

1.0000E+0 0.8750E+0

2.7000E+0 0.5000E+0

5.2000E+0 0.4800E+0

Free format

This format may be used when the difference in the X values in the table is constant. The format is usually produced by vibration measurement equipment that sample at regular time intervals. The text file consists of one column of data together with three header lines. The first line gives the name of the table. The second line defines the units for the column, as appropriate. The third line defines the increment, DX, in the X values between rows. The X values must not be specified in the file. The first value is assumed to be at X=0; each subsequent X value is incremented by DX.

The following text is a sample of a table data file in this format:

TABLE NAME: Earthquake Time History

[s]

DX=0.001

1.000E+0

1.002E+0

1.200E+0

2.200E+0

2.502E+0

1.803E+0

If this table is imported, the X values will be defined as 0.000, 0.001, 0.002, 0.003, etc.