Overview of Automate from Excel
Automate from Excel can quickly generate results from inputs read in from Excel files. Numerical input data is read in to the RocPlane computation engine from a formatted Excel file and results are generated for each defined case without the need to create a separate RocPlane model file for each.
WARNING: The Automate from Excel feature is dedicated to advanced users who are familiar with the user interface, inputs, and assumptions of the program. Invalid input data will generate invalid results.
To access the Automate from Excel feature of RocPlane:
- Select File > Automate Compute > Automate from Excel from the menu.
- The Automated Compute dialog will appear allowing you to:
- Add files to the File Queue for computing
- Select an Output File Format
- Optionally select if you you want to save each computed case as a model file by checking the Save As RocPlane File(s) checkbox
- See the progress of Completed Files
- See if any issues occurred during reading, computing, or writing under Warnings
Input File
The formatting of the input Excel files is specific to program and Analysis Type.
Formatted Excel templates are provided for you and can be accessed by selecting Deterministic Excel Template, or Probabilistic Excel Template from the File > Automate Compute submenu. Each RocPlane Excel template is formatted specifically for use with the corresponding RocPlane analyses.
Automate Compute several Deterministic, and/or Probabilistic analysis cases using saved Excel files created from RocPlane Excel templates.
To add Excel files to the File Queue:
- Select the Open
button to choose individual model files.
NOTE: Only use RocPlane Excel templates provided. Ensure that the correct template type (i.e., Deterministic Excel Template , or Probabilistic Excel Template) is used, which corresponds with the Analysis Type (i.e., Deterministic, or Probabilistic) set in RocPlane Project Settings.
For more information, see the Automate from Excel Deterministic Analysis, and Probabilistic Analysis topics.
Output File
When Automate Compute is run, a directory by the same name as the input model file will be created in the same directory as the input model file.
The results of each model file can be output to either:
- Comma delimited text file (.txt), or
- Excel (.xlsx) format
The text output file will be saved inside the Automate Compute Results Text Files subdirectory. The Excel output file will be saved inside the Automate Compute Results Excel Files subdirectory. At least one "Results" file is generated per case computed.
In a Deterministic analysis, one "Results" file per Excel input file is generated.
In a Probabilistic analysis where more than one wedge can be considered, one "Results" file per input case is generated. The result file is formatted to write one wedge per row.
The output file contains the following data:
- Wedge ID
- Safety Factor
- Wedge Weight
- Normal Force
- Driving Force
- Resisting Force
- Failure Plane Length
- Upper Face Length
- Tension Crack Depth
- Wedge Volume
- Wedge Height
- Spill Width
- Effective Normal Stress
- Shear Strength
- Slope Height
- Slope Angle
- Unit Weight
- Upper Face Angle
- Bench Width
- Failure Plane Angle
- Tension Crack Angle
- Tension Crack Distance
- Friction Angle
- Cohesion
- Ponded Depth
- Percent Filled
- Failure Plane Water Pressure
- TC Water Pressure
- Seismic Coefficient
- Seismic Force Angle
- JRC, Joint Roughness Coefficient
- JCS, Joint Compressive Strength
- Phir, Residual Friction Angle
- UCS, Unconfined Compressive Strength
- Hoek-Brown m
- Hoek-Brown s
- Hoek-Brown a
- Coefficient a
- Coefficient b
- Coefficient c
- Waviness
- Maximum Persistence
NOTES:
- If no valid wedge is formed, Safety Factor = N/A and any computed values will also be N/A.
- The applicability of some computed values depend on the geometry, strength, force, and water options selected (e.g., any parameter involving the Tension Crack will be N/A if no Tension Crack exists).
Model File
If Save As RocPlane File(s) checkbox is selected, RocPlane will create a model file per case computed, based on the Excel Template inputs. The model files are placed a directory by the same name as the input model file, in the same directory as the input model file (same as where the results files are placed).
Error Log
An Error Log text file (Automate Compute Error Log.txt) is generated for each input Excel file after Automate Compute.
The Error Log reports the total number of errors found (if any), the cell(s) where the error occurred, and the reason why an error occurred. An error will occur if a required parameter cell:
- Is Blank, or
- Has a value outside the valid range
NOTE: The Error Log should always be inspected to ensure "No errors found".