Importing Custom Data

Import a single custom data file by defining the import template.

  1. On the Home tab, in the File group, click the  Import icon. From the drop-down list, click the  Custom Data File icon.
  2. Browse to the location of the file and select a custom data file.
  3. Under Delimiter, select one of the following delimiters that separate the columns of data.
    • Tab
    • Space
    • Comma
    • Other

The data file may contain lines of text that are not part of the data to be imported.

  1. In the Start reading file at (line number) field, enter the line number at which data should be imported.
  2. In the Specify number of lines to read field, enter the number of data to read.
  3. If the data contains column title, select the Data contains column titles check box.
  4. Click Next to continue with the template.


    Figure 1. The Import data: Custom data dialog.
  5. In the Label field, specify a descriptive label for the data.
  6. In the Type drop-down list, select one of the following and then a relevant Quantity for the data column:
    • Axis scalar

      Select this option if the column is used as an independent axis on a graph.

      Quantity: frequency, position, radius, angle, time or a user-defined quantity.

    • Scalar

      Select this option if any scalar result type may be used.

      Quantity: far field, near field, voltage, current, power, specific absorption rate (SAR), impedance / admittance, scattering parameters, axial ratios, gain / directivity, radar cross section (RCS), voltage standing wave ratio, reflection coefficient, Poynting vector (magnitude) user-defined quantities and several other typical data types.

    • Complex pair (Real + Imaginary)

      Select this option of two adjacent columns contain the real and imaginary components of a complex number.

      Quantity: far field, near field, voltage, current, impedance / admittance, scattering parameters, reflection coefficient, or a user-defined quantity.

    • Ignore
      Select this option if a column is to be ignored during the import process.
  7. In the Import scale field, enter a value to scale the data.
  8. If the data in the column is in dB, select the Data is in dB (not linear) check box.
  9. Repeat 9 to 11 for the remaining columns.
  10. Click Done to import the data and to close the dialog.
A new Imported files entry, is created that is accessible from the project browser or the ribbon.