Select the source file

To start the acquisition of data, you have to select the source file provided by the external system. Usually, this file contains the data values you want to import. It can also provide additional information such as details on the generation of the values, metadata, or the import logic.

Before you begin

Each data acquisition system has a specific order for reading data. In the Observations editor, PLA 3.0 adds the imported response values top-down. If this order does not comply with your external data source, move the rows in the Observations editor up or down, as required.
Order of importing response values from an external data source
Figure 1. Order of importing response values from an external data source

About this task

Depending on the import format you selected, you can now acquire data from a workspace file or a method file. For workspace files, follow steps 1 to 5. For method files, follow steps 6 to 9.

Note: In both cases you have to select the data block from which you want to acquire data. In the case of workspace files, you select the data block before starting the acquisition, in the case of method files you select the data block after starting the acquisition.

Procedure

To acquire data from a workspace file:
  1. Under Settings, select … next to Workspace file.
  2. Navigate to the directory where you have saved the source file, select it, and select Open.
    Selection of a workspace source file for data acquisition
    Figure 2. Selection of a workspace source file for data acquisition
  3. In the Data acquisition configuration dialog, under Settings, select … next to Data block
  4. In the Choose data block dialog, select the data block from which you want to acquire data, and then select OK.
    Selection of data block for data acquisition
    Figure 3. Selection of data block for data acquisition
  5. In the Data acquisition configuration dialog, select Acquire.
To acquire data from a method file:
  1. Under Settings, select … next to Method.
  2. Navigate to the directory where you have saved the source file, select it, and then select Open.
    Selection of a method source file for data acquisition
    Figure 4. Selection of a method source file for data acquisition
  3. Select Acquire.
  4. In the Choose Data block dialog, select the data block from which you want to acquire data.
    Selection of source file for data acquisition
    Figure 5. Selection of data block for data acquisition
    Note: You get a warning to remove the plate.

Result

In the Observations editor, PLA 3.0 displays details about the process as an annotation to the imported value. You can identify an annotated value by a small blue triangle in the upper left corner of the data cell. To view the annotation, right-click the annotated data, and select Show annotations from the context menu.