Getting Consistent Reports - Controlling Display of Rows and Columns in MAXSURF Stability Tables


Product(s):MAXSURF Stability
Version(s):varies
Area:Tables Customization

Problem

How can I customize my reports?

Solution

Whenever we copy a table from MAXSURF into a report or Excel, we copy out the data as viewed in MAXSURF. We can customize the look of those tables by adding removing columns and rows. But how do we get a repeatable and consistent look across time and users.

 

Firstly, lets look at how to customize the display:

To change the visible information, we can use Display | Data Format. This brings up a dialog that allows us to add or remove columns from display.

Change the displayed items so that only the right data for the analysis type is shown.

 

Once we have the necessary data displayed, we can copy the tables and graphs to other packages such as Excel or Word.

Remember that Ctrl-C will copy the table, Shift-Ctrl-C will copy the table with headers.

 

Now that we have the look we want, we can learn how to share the settings to other users or how to reinstate them later.

If we want to be able to recall these settings later then we can save or import them.

We use File | Settings | Import Data Format or File | Settings | Save Data Format

   

There is no limit for how often you reload these settings. In a Stability Booklet, you may have one table that provides detailed hydrostatics and another that provides only summary data. So you could load different settings files prior to each copy.

 

You can use VBA COM to access the Import Data Format method. Note that as we can’t control the display of individual items via COM, the ability to save data format is not implemented.

 

 

See Also