Difference between revisions of "Batch Run"

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Over time, there are often tabs that you create that you run on a regular basis. Maybe you need to run the same reports each month, or a competitive set analysis that you need to do each time a new competitor is launched. Whatever the reason, running large numbers of tabs is an everyday part of life.
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The Batch Run feature automates the process of selecting multiple saved tabs, loading and running the data, and exporting the data into spreadsheets.
  
 
mTAB  has never placed any limitation on the number of tabs you can create, but the normal user interface does only allow you to run one tab at a time.
 
  
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The benefit of Batch Run is that it saves a significant amount of time by eliminating the need to individually load each tab, type a filename for each spreadsheet, and then export one by one.
  
Well now life has just got easier, with the inclusion of the Batch Run feature. Allowing the user to select multiple saved tabs, load these tabs, run and export spreadsheets of each tab, all with one click, this feature is a valuable addition to the mTAB system.
 
  
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Batch Run allows users to initiate a very large number of tabs to run and export in the background. This allows users to save time to spend on other tasks. <br />After Batch Run completes, each tab will have been run and the results exported to corresponding spreadsheet files. The most typical format being XLSX. <br />Batch Run supports all spreadsheet file formats that can be exported from mTAB: XLSX, XLS, XML, HTML, CSV, and tab-delimited TXT.
  
The benefit of Batch Run is it saves the user a great deal of time by eliminating the need to individually load each tab, type in a name for each spreadsheet to export and then exporting each one.
 
  
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'''How Batch Run Works'''
  
Another element that makes Batch Run so appealing is the fact that it can be left to run, allowing a user to initiate the run of a very large bank of tabs and leave and then when they come back to their machine, each tab has been run and the results exported, all to neatly named Excel sheets.
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Batch Run starts in the '''My Tabs''' panel, where you will see all of your currently saved tabs listed.
  
  
So how does it work?
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[[File:batchrun1.png|600px]]
  
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Using either [Ctrl-Click] or [Shift-Click] keyboard commands, select all of the Saved Tabs you would like to run.
  
Well it all starts in the My Tabs panel, where you will see all of your currently saved tabs listed out. [[File:Other batch-run mytabs.jpg|thumb|center|x450px]]
 
  
Using standard Ctrl-Click and Shift-Click controls you select all of the tabs you would like to have run. You then right-click anywhere in my tabs window and a menu will appear. At the bottom of the menu is the Batch Run option. [[File:Other batch-run batch-run.jpg|thumb|center|x250px]]
 
  
[[File:Other batch-run file-name-imput.jpg|thumb|right|x300px]]
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[[File:batchrun2.png|600px]]
Clicking on this option brings up a dialog  to allow you to select the directory where the resulting XLS files, will be placed as they are output. Each file will automatically be given the same name as the tab from which it ran, making it easy to identify each tabs output.
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Click on the bottom section of the Run (lightning bolt) icon. <br />You'll see additional Run options. Click the '''Batch Run icon'''.
  
Another tool that is available is to have mTAB place some kind of prefix before the file name of each output file. This would allow the insertion of a common phrase, date or any other identifying information by the user and is simply added by typing it in to the File Name box in the dialog.
 
  
  
Once the Batch Run process is complete, mTAB checks to see if any problems occurred and if so, displays a dialog to point these out to you. A copy of this detailed problem log is also saved to the same directory as your output files, for future reference. [[File:Other batch-run results-warnings-errors.jpg|thumb|center|x250px]]
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[[File:batchrun3.png|250px]]
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Instead of using the icons, after selecting and highlighting the Saved Tabs, you can also right-click anywhere in the '''My Tabs''' window and a menu will appear. <br />The '''Batch Run''' option will appear at the bottom of the menu.
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[[File:batchrun4.png|600px]]
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After initiating Batch Run, a Save dialog window will appear. <br />This will allows you to select the folder where the exported files will be saved to. <br />Each spreadsheet file will automatically be given the same name as the Saved Tab, making it easy to identify.
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Within the same window, there is an option to specify a prefix before the file name of each output file. <br />This allows for the insertion of a common phrase, date, or any other identifying information. <br />Type the optional prefix text into the '''File Name''' box at the '<<Type batch prefix here if desired>>' prompt.
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Click the '''Save''' button to proceed.
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[[File:batchrun5.png|600px]]
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As the Batch Run process is running, mTAB checks to see if any export issues occur. <br />If so, a dialog will be displayed when the Batch Run process has completed. <br />A detailed issues log is also saved to the same folder as your output files, for future reference.

Latest revision as of 19:32, 3 August 2018

The Batch Run feature automates the process of selecting multiple saved tabs, loading and running the data, and exporting the data into spreadsheets.


The benefit of Batch Run is that it saves a significant amount of time by eliminating the need to individually load each tab, type a filename for each spreadsheet, and then export one by one.


Batch Run allows users to initiate a very large number of tabs to run and export in the background. This allows users to save time to spend on other tasks.
After Batch Run completes, each tab will have been run and the results exported to corresponding spreadsheet files. The most typical format being XLSX.
Batch Run supports all spreadsheet file formats that can be exported from mTAB: XLSX, XLS, XML, HTML, CSV, and tab-delimited TXT.


How Batch Run Works

Batch Run starts in the My Tabs panel, where you will see all of your currently saved tabs listed.


Batchrun1.png

Using either [Ctrl-Click] or [Shift-Click] keyboard commands, select all of the Saved Tabs you would like to run.


Batchrun2.png

Click on the bottom section of the Run (lightning bolt) icon.
You'll see additional Run options. Click the Batch Run icon.


Batchrun3.png

Instead of using the icons, after selecting and highlighting the Saved Tabs, you can also right-click anywhere in the My Tabs window and a menu will appear.
The Batch Run option will appear at the bottom of the menu.


Batchrun4.png

After initiating Batch Run, a Save dialog window will appear.
This will allows you to select the folder where the exported files will be saved to.
Each spreadsheet file will automatically be given the same name as the Saved Tab, making it easy to identify.


Within the same window, there is an option to specify a prefix before the file name of each output file.
This allows for the insertion of a common phrase, date, or any other identifying information.
Type the optional prefix text into the File Name box at the '<<Type batch prefix here if desired>>' prompt.

Click the Save button to proceed.


Batchrun5.png

As the Batch Run process is running, mTAB checks to see if any export issues occur.
If so, a dialog will be displayed when the Batch Run process has completed.
A detailed issues log is also saved to the same folder as your output files, for future reference.