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Exporting data in CSV format

EVA Netmodeler can export data in Comma Separated Values (CSV) format from various browsers. The CSV file format is widely implemented as a simple mechanism for moving data between applications such as spreadsheets or personal database management systems. Many of these applications can also export their data in CSV format, enabling bi-directional data sharing between applications. This section describes how to export CSV data files from EVA Netmodeler. Refer to the Import section for assistance with import CSV data into

Usually applications that import CSV data are used to do specialized processing or presentation of a given subset of data. The CSV Export function has therefore been integrated into numerous EVA Netmodeler browsers that work with subsets of data.

Report Browser CSV features

The Report Browser enables you to define reports containing lists of related information based on selection criteria. The CSV features of the Report Browser enable you to export the resulting set of data (structure and contents) to a CSV file that can then be imported to another tool for further processing.

There are two CSV output options in the Report Browser

• Generate CSV output
  This option runs the report and produces a comma separated values file of the resulting data set based on the types, properties, relationship and filter conditions defined for the report. This format is useful when exporting data that will be imported into another application, and where the target application already understands the file structure.
   
• Generate CSV output with Meta data
  This option produces the same output as the normal CSV output with the addition of a number of meta data definition rows at the top of the report. This format is useful when you intend to "round-trip" the data i.e. export the data to CSV, modify or extend the data using a spreadsheet program, using the spreadsheet program to create an updated CSV file, and then reimporting the file into EVA Netmodeler

Note: Be sure not to select the "Hierarchy" option for any relationships that have been included in the report as this option is not supported by the CSV export function.

Working with Report Browser CSV files

The CSV file produced by this function has the following general format:

The Header Row

The header row is used during the import process to identify the file type. Do not change the contents of this row.

The Item Column

The item column is used to identify the the main type of the file and to list the items of that type. It has two header rows:

• Item name for Type: identifies this as an Item column
• Type name: the name of the main type in the report

The header rows are followed by one or more blank rows (to accommodate the header rows to the right), followed by zero or more data rows. Each data row contains the name of an item of the type identified in the Item column header row, followed by zero or more blank rows to accommodate multiple related items contained in relationship groups (see below).

Property Columns

Property columns contain the definitions and values of the properties of the items included in the file. The file can contain zero or more property columns, depending on the report specification. Property columns have three header rows:

• Property: identifies the Property column
• Property name: the name of the property
• Property data type: the data type of the property

Property column data rows contain the values of the properties for each item appearing in the Item column

Relationship Groups

Relationship Groups are groups of columns that contain the definitions and values of items that are related to the items included in the Item column of the file. The file can contain zero or more Relationship Groups, depending on the report specification. Relationship Groups have two column types:

• Relationship columns: Contain a list of items related to the items listed in the Item column
• InfoNodeValue columns: Contain the definition and values of the Info Nodes that exist between the items listed in the Item column and the related items listed in the Relationship column.

Relationship Columns

Relationship columns contain the definitions and values of the items related to the items listed in the Item column. The file can contain zero or more Relationship columns, depending on the report specification. Relationship columns have four header rows:

• Relationship: identifies the column as a Relationship column
• Relationship name: the name of the relationship
• Inverse relationship name: the name of the inverse relationship
• Type name: the name of the related type

Relationship column data rows contain the names of the items related to each item appearing in the Item column.

Info Node Value Columns

Info Node Value  columns contain the definitions and values of the properties of the Info nodes that exist between items listed in the Item column and items listed in the Relationship columns. The file can contain zero or more Info Node Value columns, depending on the report specification.

Info Node Value columns have four header rows:

• InfoNodeValue: identifies the column as a Info Node Value column
• Info Node Type name: the name of the type of the Info Node
• Info Node Property name: the name of the Info Node property
• Info Node Property data type: the data type of the Info Node property

Practical tips for using the Report Browser CSV output

• Use the Generate CSV output option when transferring data to an application that already understands the report's format. This is generally useful for regular one way export of data that you do not intend to reimport into EVA Netmodeler.
• Use the Generate CSV output with Meta Data option when you intend to add to or modify the exported data and then reimport it back into EVA Netmodeler - otherwise known as round tripping.
• When generating a round trim CSV file, it is advisable to keep the exported files as simple as possible so as to minimize the complexity of working with the exported data in a spreadsheet. The following approach is recommended:
• If you intend to update or add new items, generate a simple report items and their properties only - no related items
• If you intend to add relationships between items
• For each type involved in the relationship that you wish to import, create a separate file containing the items and the required properties.
• For each relationship type that you wish to import, select the source node type and create a CSV with Meta file containing just the item Name and the required Relationship - Target node type pair.
• If you wish to import the same Relationship type between the source node type and more than one target node type, create a separate CSV with Meta file for each target node type

Composite View CSV feature

The Composite Browser supports a CSV export format. However, the structure of the resulting CSV file is overly complex and difficult to use. Use of this feature is now deprecated.