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 RocTopple computation engine from a formatted Excel file and results are generated for each defined case without the need to create a separate RocTopple 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 RocTopple:
- Select Analysis > 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
- See the progress of Completed Files
- See if any issues occured 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 Analysis > Automate Compute submenu. Each RocTopple Excel template is formatted specifically for use with the corresponding RocTopple analyses.
Automate Compute several Deterministic, and/or Probabilistic analysis cases using saved Excel files created from RocTopple Excel templates.
To add Excel files to the File Queue:
- Select the Add Files button to choose individual Excel files, or
- Select the Add Folder button to choose a folder containing Excel files
NOTE: Only use RocTopple 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 RocTopple 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 topple analysis per row.
The output file contains the following data:
- Topple ID
- Safety Factor
- Rock Unit Weight
- Rock Unit Weight
- Slope Height
- Slope Angle
- Upper Slope Angle
- Upper Slope Width
- Overall Base Inclination Angle
- Toppling Joint Spacing
- Toppling Joint Dip
- Point of Application (Block Above is Sliding)
- Point of Application (Block Above is Shearing)
- Point of Application (Block Above is Flexurally Bending)
- Base Joint Friction Angle
- Base Joint Cohesion
- Base Joint Tensile Strength
- Base Joint JRC
- Base Joint JCS
- Base Joint Phir
- Toppling Joint Friction Angle
- Toppling Joint Cohesion
- Toppling Joint Tensile Strength
- Toppling Joint JRC
- Toppling Joint JCS
- Toppling Joint Phir
- Internal Rock Friction Angle
- Internal Rock Cohesion
- Internal Rock Tensile Strength
- Internal Rock JRC
- Internal Rock JCS
- Internal Rock Phir
- Water Percent Filled
- Change in Pressure Head
- Water Unit Weight
- Horizontal Seismic Coefficient
- Vertical Seismic Coefficient
- Number of Blocks Stable
- Number of Blocks Toppling
- Number of Blocks Flexural Bending
- Number of Blocks Shear
- Cumulative Weight Stable
- Cumulative Weight Failing
NOTES:
- If no valid toppling geometry is formed, Safety Factor = N/A and any computed values will also be N/A.
- The applicability of some computed values depend on the toppling model, geometry, strength, force, and water options selected.
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".