Overview of Automate from Excel
Automate from Excel can quickly generate results from inputs read in from Excel files. Numerical input data is read into the SWedge computation engine from a formatted Excel file and results are generated for each defined case without the need to create a separate SWedge 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 SWedge:
- 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
- Optionally select if you want to save each computed case as a model file by checking the Save As SWedge 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, Probabilistic Excel Template or Combinations Excel Template from the File > Automate Compute submenu. Each SWedge Excel template is formatted specifically for use with the corresponding SWedge analysis. You can Automate Compute several Deterministic, Probabilistic, and/or Combinations analysis cases using saved Excel files created from SWedge Excel templates.
To add Excel files to the File Queue:
- Select the Open
button to choose individual model files.
For more information, see the Automate from Excel Deterministic Analysis, Probabilistic Analysis, and Combinations 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
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 or Combinations analysis, where more than one wedge can be considered, one "Results" file per input case is generated. The results file is formatted to write one wedge per row.
OUTPUT FILE DATA
The output file contains the following data:
- Wedge ID
- Safety Factor
- Wedge Weight
- Plunge Line of Intersection
- Trend Line of Intersection
- Length Line of Intersection
- Plunge Line of Intersection Basal-Joint1
- Trend Line of Intersection Basal-Joint1
- Length Line of Intersection Basal-Joint1
- Plunge Line of Intersection Basal-Joint2
- Trend Line of Intersection Basal-Joint2
- Length Line of Intersection Basal-Joint2
- Persistence Joint 1
- Persistence Joint 2
- Persistence Basal Joint
- Trace Length Joint 1
- Trace Length Joint 2
- Trace Length Basal Joint
- Effective Normal Stress Joint 1
- Shear Strength Joint 1
- Effective Normal Stress Joint 2
- Shear Strength Joint 2
- Effective Normal Stress Basal Joint
- Shear Strength Basal Joint
- Driving Force
- Resisting Force
- Wedge Height On Slope Face
- Wedge Width To Crest On Upper Face
- Remaining Bench Width
- Wedge Length Along Slope Strike
- Spill Width (m) Dip of Joint 1
- Dip Direction of Joint 1
- Dip of Joint 2
- Dip Direction of Joint 2
- Dip of Basal Joint
- Dip Direction of Basal Joint
- Dip of Upper Slope
- Dip Direction of Upper Slope
- Dip of Slope
- Dip Direction of Slope
- Dip of Tension Crack
- Dip Direction of Tension Crack
- Friction Angle of Joint 1
- Cohesion of Joint 1
- Friction Angle of Joint 2
- Cohesion of Joint 2
- Friction Angle of Basal Joint
- Cohesion of Basal Joint
- JRC of Joint 1
- JCS of Joint 1
- Phir of Joint 1
- JRC of Joint 2
- JCS of Joint 2
- Phir of Joint 2
- JRC of Basal Joint
- JCS of Basal Joint
- Phir of Basal Joint
- Power Curve a of Joint 1
- Power Curve b of Joint 1
- Power Curve c of Joint 1
- Power Curve d of Joint 1
- Power Curve a of Joint 2
- Power Curve b of Joint 2
- Power Curve c of Joint 2
- Power Curve d of Joint 2
- Power Curve a of Basal Joint
- Power Curve b of Basal Joint
- Power Curve c of Basal Joint
- Power Curve d of Basal Joint
- Waviness of Joint 1
- Waviness of Joint 2
- Waviness of Basal Joint
- Percent Filled (%)
- Hu
- Water Pressure Joint 1
- Water Pressure Joint 2
- Water Pressure Basal Joint
- Water Pressure Tension Crack
- Ponded Water Depth
- Seismic Alpha
- Seismic Plunge
- Seismic Trend
- Maximum Persistence Joint 1
- Maximum Persistence Joint 2
- Maximum Persistence Basal Joint
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 depends on the geometry, strength, force, and water options selected (e.g., any parameter involving the Basal Joint will be N/A since no Basal Joint exists).
Model File
If Save As SWedge File(s) checkbox is selected, SWedge will create a model file per case computed, based on the Excel Template inputs. The model files are placed in 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