Problem:

AutoPIPE can model more than one support at a node point. When reviewing the support report each support has individual Forces and Moments on the Global Axis. Can the program automatically combine all the individual supports into one set of results?

Example: See image where 3 supports are inserted at one node point (ex. B01). 

AutoPIPE's reports the following information for all supports at one node point (ex. A00):

How to use AutoPIPE to sum these values automatically?

Solution:

Yes, this task can be accomplished by using AutoPIPE's Report Manager - Excel Reports. 

From AutoPIPE help:

Excel Reports enables user to create SQLite DB data reports with the information that is important to your teams. AutoPIPE can export all Input Listing and Output Results to an SQLite database. The SQLite Report Manager enables you to browse and produce reports from the SQLite database. It can be used to produce reports in Excel or text format. The reports can also be exported to another SQLite DB file.

With this knowledge let's investigate how to Automatically sum the results into one set of values for the node point imaged above. 

Follow these steps:

1. Suggest downloading and installing a Database application that can work with AutoPIPE's DB files (ex. DB Browser for SQLite).
2. Open AutoPIPE model, run analysis, and generate results. 
3. Select Excel Reports command (Result > Report Manager > Excel Reports).
4. The following dialog will appear:
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5.  At this point, Excel Reports tab is displayed by default. Take a few moments to review all the tables in the left column looking for one or more containing all of the data needed to achieve the end goal of summing all the support forces and moments at a node point (note: select the "+" to expand the table to see all options available in a single table).
6. Find Restraint_Loads and Support_Forces tables contains all of the value necessary to complete this goal. This example will focus on the Restraint_Loads report.
7. With Restraint_Loads table selected in the left column, press the blue single chevron button at the bottom of the column () to move this entire report to the center column.  
8. Confirm data in the Center column contains all of the necessary values by pressing the Green Lightning bolt () in the toolbar to process an Excel file, when the Excel grids button turns green ( ) press it to open the Excel file. Imaged below - columns in Yellow contain the necessary information for this task. 
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9. Question: How to apply mathematical operations to the data?
10. Answer: Take a bit of time to review AutoPIPE's Help for limitations on Report Manager and specific features available for each tab. The takeaway is Selected Tables/Column tab can apply a number of filtered queries but cannot perform any mathematical operations. After reading about the SQL tab, learn SQL is a special-purpose programming language designed for managing information in a relational database management system (RDBMS). Users can enter a custom SQL query in the Enter Query text box (note, for those not familiar with SQL language see site HERE). SQL can perform some mathematical operations.
11. Select SQL tab, enter SQL syntax required to group data and perform math operation to achieve the goal of combining support results at one node point.  

Consider one or more of the following suggestions to enter the correct syntax on the SQL tab :

Option #1: Contact SQL programmer

People who possess SQL programming expertise will efficiently complete this task by crafting a line of code to execute the required operation.

Option #2: Use DB Browser to help develop the correct syntax needed. 

1. Open DB database application (ex. DB Browser for SQLite), and open DB file in same folder as the model (note, in some instances, after opening the file, press the Refresh button in the DB software to correctly see the DB data). 
2. Pick the Browse Data tab and select the Restraint_Loads table from the dropdown listing to see the DB data for this table. 
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3. When crafting a new SQL operation, pick the Execute SQL tab.
4. The syntax will need basic information, SELECT information FROM a specific Table, and do something (ex. Group By).
   1. Example:
   2. SELECT Point_Name FROM Restraint_Loads Group By Point_Name;
   3. Pressing the execute button will show the information retrieved from the database. 
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   4. This small example helps confirm the database is loaded into the software and that the syntax correctly retrieves information from the Retraint_Loads table. 
5. Next, add to this expression:
6. Example #2, again, the first operation is to Select the data to be shown in the final report. In this example go back to the Restraint_Loads table and write all the columns to be shown in the Excel sheet
   • Point_Name
   • Load _Combination
   • Forces_X
   • Forces_Y
   • Forces_Z
   • Moments_X
   • Moments_Y
   • Moments_Z
7. Next identify where the data is coming FROM (has not changed):
   • Restraint_loads
8. Next Group the data by:
   • Point_Name
   • Load _Combination
9. The Syntax would appear like this:
   • SELECT Point_Name, Load_Combination,Forces_X, Forces_Y, Forces_Z, Moments_X, Moments_Y, Moments_Z FROM Restraint_Loads Group By Point_Name, Load_Combination;
10. Executing this line displays the following results:
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11. Next, apply SUM mathematical expressions to this Syntax to sum all the forces and moments:
    • SELECT Point_Name, Load_Combination, SUM(Forces_X), SUM(Forces_Y), SUM(Forces_Z), SUM(Moments_X), SUM(Moments_Y), SUM(Moments_Z) FROM Restraint_Loads Group By Point_Name, Load_Combination;
12. Pressing Execute button on this expression will result in:
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13.  Always confirm the results are correct, before using this expression in production.
14. Assuming the summation was performed correctly, copy this expression back to AutoPIPE's SQL tab and paste it.
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15. Press "Generate report" button, and in a moment press "Open Generate report" button
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16. Done. 

Option #3: Use Artificial intelligence (AI) to generate SQL syntax

1. Open an AI application and enter the following:
2. write a SQL query for Restraint_Loads table that prints the Point_Name, Load_Combination, Sum of Forces_X, Sum Forces_Y, Sum Forces_Z, Sum Moments_X, Sum Moments_Y, Sum Moments_Z
3. Wait for the response: