Charting external data lets you perform analysis on data that is not stored in GainSeeker tables. It is available from the File menu in the GainSeeker Charts module.
You may want to use this feature if your quality, performance, scheduling, or other business data is stored in files, databases, or other sources on your system and you do not want to maintain a second copy of this data in the GainSeeker tables. You can still store the data you are analyzing in the GainSeeker tables if you later choose.
There are two steps to charting external data:
Choose how to access the external data:
Copy and Paste the data set you want to analyze
Run a Python script that creates the data set you want to analyze
Perform analysis on the external data
All of the standard features for analyzing data and printing reports are available when charting external data from the File menu, except for:
analysis of multiple standards at once - either on single-standard charts (like Control Chart, Histogram, or Data Table) or on multiple-standard charts (like Process Capability, Combined Control Chart, or Multiple Data Table). The data set you provide by Copying and Pasting or by running a Python script should specify only one standard.
retrieval options that specify a date period, maximum number of data points, and a filter or Quick filter. The data set you provide by Copying and Pasting or by running a Python script should specify only the data you want to analyze.
editing the external data you are analyzing from a chart or data table. The data set you provide by Copying and Pasting or by running a Python script should provide correct data for analysis.
DMS cost analysis where cost information comes from the standard's cost per unit. This includes the statistics Total sample cost and Total NCU cost.
right-clicking on an SPC Control chart with grouped data and choosing New Chart for Group or New Charts for Groups.
saving a chart of external data in a Desktop.
re-retrieving data by clicking Refresh Family from the GainSeeker Charts Window menu or by clicking Timer on the GainSeeker Charts Options menu. Clicking Refresh Family recalculates the statistics but does not re-retrieve the data.
If these features are needed, you can save the external data in GainSeeker and then delete the range of data from GainSeeker when finished.