Solution Views

Run Solution Views

If a user has created and saved any Solution Views, the Execute window will have a check box column in the "Models and Projects selected for next Execution" list view. It is named "Run Solution Views." When the checkboxes in the column are checked, each Solution View will be run once the Solution Database is loaded. This includes automatically writing out the data from the Solution View to any Excel file that is linked to the Solution View. And if there are no Solution Views, this column won't show up in the Models and Projects Selected for the next Execution list view.

Run Solution Views column.

Solution View Ribbon

When a Solution Database is loaded, a new, green contextual ribbon will appear called Solution Views. It contains the following controls:

Solution View Ribbon
  • Current Solution View label - Displays the currently loaded Solution View's name
  • New Button - If a query has been run on the Solution Database, this button allows the user to create a new Solution View, give it a name and save it for future use.
  • Open Button - Allows the user to pick a Solution View from a list of Solution Views he/she has previously created, which is then executed, and results are displayed. Open a Solution view dialog
  • Execute Button - Re-runs the query saved in the currently open Solution View and updates any Excel files linked to that Solution View
  • Save Button - Saves any changes that have been made to the currently open Solution View
  • Save As Button -Allows the user to save the currently open Solution View under a new name
  • Settings Button - Opens a small dialog where the user can specify the name of an Excel file where data from the query will be saved when it is executed.
    Solution View Settings dialog
  • Delete Button - Opens a dialog where the user can choose a Solution View that is deleted when the dialog is closed.
  • Import Button - Allows the user to browse for an xml file that contains a saved Solution View and add it to the list of Solution Views saved in the user's profile
  • Export Button - Opens the list of Solution Views and allows the user to choose one that will be saved in an xml file of the user's choosing when the dialog is closed.

Usage

Create Solution Views to query the Solution Database and display the information needed. Then save those Solution Views and link them to Excel files that can further process that data. Users can have additional tabs in those same Excel files that contain formulas using the results that are exported from the Solution View. If an Excel file exists at the location the Solution View is set to look, tabs are updated, but the .xlsx file should never be deleted and replaced by the PLEXOS UI.

When a user executes a project, they can check the Run Solution Views box and know that when everything has completed, the latest data will have been automatically placed in the Excel file the user specified.