Step 4: Export Data

A network in SAInt can be exported to a file, and the default is an Excel file. The exported file can be used to add, remove or edit edit any network object properties and objects. Once the changes are made, the exported network file can be imported back into SAInt using the Import  Network option from the network tab. This import will create a new network file or overwrite the existing.

You will first export the network from the first beginner tutorial to an Excel file. Go to the network tab and click Export  To Network Import File  Electric Network Import File. When prompted to Select import file save location, navigate to your preferred location, type the filename, and press Save. Once the network file is exported, a message box notifies of the export status and location of the saved file, and the excel file will be automatically opened.

Similarly, a network parameter file can be exported by clicking on Export  To Parameter Import File  To Electric Network Parameter Import File from the network tab. The parameter file contains the list of all the network objects with their respective property values, which can be changed. A network parameter file allows the user to change any of the properties listed in the file. The user may also create a parameter import file with only the specific objects and properties of interest. Once the property values are changed, the same file, or a subset, can be imported back into SAInt using the Import  Parameter option from the network tab. This action updates all the property values from the file to the loaded network.

The scenario related data, which includes results, events, profiles, network state, and state transfer events (dispatch and commitment), can be exported from SAInt GUI into different file formats. All the export functions for the scenario can be accessed by clicking on Export from the scenario tab. This section only focuses on the export of scenario results.

Once the scenario is executed, the stored results for a set of user-defined result variables can be exported to an Excel file. The result variables are defined in the Results Description File, which can either be a text, CSV, or an Excel file. The result variables are defined using the object parameter (ObjectType.ObjectName.PropertyExtension.[Unit]). Create a results description file to extract the active power generation of all the generators and the demand not served at the network level. Open a new Excel file and copy or type the object identifiers into the file as shown in Table 1.

After entering all the above object identifiers, save the results description file at your preferred location. Next, return to SAInt, go to the scenario tab, and click on the Export  Results  From Electric Scenario. When prompted to Choose Result Description File, select the previously saved excel file and press Open. Once the results description file is selected, another dialog box appears to Choose Result Output File. Go to your preferred location to save the results file and type the name of the output results file name. After pressing Save, a message box states that "Export all results may take a while to finish. Are you sure you want to continue?". Press Yes and wait for the results to be exported. Once all the results are exported, a message box notifies of the export status and the location of the results output file.