Interacting with Spreadsheets

The spreadsheet format option is offered to assist in the interaction between Output Views and spreadsheets. Spreadsheet format is selected in the Output Wizard: Further Options.

Spreadsheet format arranges tables such that all output for a given entity is output on one line, concatenating what would otherwise be several lines. Note that when copying data in order to paste it into a spreadsheet it is advisable either to copy from a Grid Output View if you want to target specific columns. Otherwise, copying from a Standard Output View would work as well. See Output View table format for details.

The export option in the Output Settings dialog box writes the output as currently specified (but not necessarily currently displayed) to file in either tab or comma delimited text format. Note that it is possible to use this option without displaying the output in an Output View. Do this by giving the “New Output View” command, then, in the Output Settings dialog box, selecting the required output, exporting, and then cancelling from the dialog box.

The “Output | Export Output” menu command writes the output as currently displayed to file in either tab or comma delimited text format.

Copying a selection from the Output View, using “Edit | Copy” (Ctrl+C), copies the selected data onto the clipboard in a format that is acceptable by most spreadsheet programs.