Systems Architects and Engineers specialising in the effective use of Systems Architecture, Methods and Tools since 1982

When External Data Can Be Used

There are two scenarios in which you may wish to use a spreadsheet processor external to Strategy SAVIŽ. Data may have been collected prior to using Strategy SAVIŽ which can usefully be recorded in it or you may export data from the system, modify it in a spreadsheet and then return it to the SAVI repository.

Pre-collected Data

Lists

It is quite easy to import lists of complete definitions of either sphere items or relations between sphere items from spreadsheets created independently of Strategy SAVIŽ. These rely on your data being transferred into spreadsheets of standard format, equivalent to the tables used in the SAVI repository. Details of the process are defined in Importing New Data.

Relation Matrices

You can import data from a matrix showing relations between sphere items provided that your matrix is arranged similarly to a pre-exported spreadsheet prepared by Strategy SAVIŽ. See the following paragraph for more details.

Moving Data from and to SAVI

These facilities are available from the Relation Entry and Relation Review forms or from the Facilities page of the main menu. Temporary table names are used (one set for each project) as follows.

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MXE    an unclustered, multi level relation matrix

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MXC    an unclustered, single level relation matrix using relation codes

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MXD    a clustered, single level relation matrix using relation codes

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MXN    an unclustered, single level relation matrix using relation names

 

The steps to be taken when you wish to use an external matrix generated from the relation entry or relation review forms are:

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Create the matrix

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Export the matrix

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View/update the matrix

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Import the Matrix (start here for import of new data in this format)

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Cluster the Matrix (only available from the Relation Review form)

In the relation forms, once a matrix has been created, the Export Matrix button will be enabled. When the matrix has been exported, the Import Matrix button will be enabled in its turn.