Updating domain information in the Excel scenario file

You update domain information in an existing Excel scenario file.

Before you begin

When you add new domain values to your BOM in Rule Designer, you can either:

• Regenerate the Excel scenario file template. To transfer your scenario file data from the old file to the new empty one, copy and paste the cells.

• Add the domain values to the scenario file directly. This is simpler when existing scenario files contain a lot of data.

In an Excel scenario file, a hidden worksheet called _domains stores information about the domains of the input data. The _domains sheet stores every domain from the BOM in a separate column. The first column is named domainA, which represents the first domain. Each column contains a named range that covers all the cells required to hold the domain values, as shown in the following example:

To add or remove domain entries manually in an existing scenario file, you must delete the named range, add the domain entries, and then redefine the named range.

About this task

Excel scenario files can contain input data columns that use domain values from the BOM. You can choose a domain value from an Excel cell under a data input column. The following figure shows a choice of three values from a property type domain:

To add a domain entry in an existing Excel scenario file:

1. Open the file in Excel.
2. Unhide the _domains worksheet:

   1. Click Format > Sheet > Unhide.

      Note:

      If you are using Excel 2007, click Home > Format > Hide & Unhide > Unhide Sheet.

   2. Select _domains.

   3. Click OK.

3. Delete the named range for the domain:

   1. Click Insert > Name > Define.

      Note:

      If you are using Excel 2007, click Formulas > Name Manager.

   2. In the Define Name window, select the domain.

   3. Click Delete.

   4. Click OK to close the Define Name window.

4. Click the _domains worksheet and locate the column that contains the domain values that you want to update.
5. Insert the new value in the correct location:

   1. Right-click the cell above where you want to insert the new value and click Insert.

   2. In the popup window, select the options Shift cells down.

   3. Click OK.

   4. Enter the value in the new cell.

6. Redefine the named range for the domain:

   1. Select all the values for the domain.

   2. Type the name of the domain in the Name box, using the word domain and adding the column letter.

      The following figure shows a new value of Semi-detached added to domainA:

      

   3. Press Enter.

7. Select the _domains sheet and click Format > Sheet > Hide to hide the sheet.
   Note:

   If you are using Excel 2007, click Home > Format > Hide & Unhide > Hide Sheet.

8. Save your file.