The database can be populated with data from other sources through the use of imports. This means you can quickly build the database with your historical data, using the same Process Names and Characteristic Names. Characteristics can be automatically entered into a selected (or new) Work Set as they are imported.
Three types of imports are supported, allowing virtually any type of data to be brought into the database:
ASCII Text Imports: useful for data from many hardware devices, as well as general software, including spreadsheets.
QDB Imports: useful for importing from popular SPC software.
ODBC Imports: useful for importing from any software using an ODBC-compliant data source, including most popular database and spreadsheet applications.
These are static imports, meaning that only data currently residing in the data source will be imported, although the ODBC Import definitions can be saved and then refreshed periodically to append new data. You don't need to import all the data either, as a flexible and easy to use filtering scheme is provided.
Once the data is imported, it can be analyzed and charted like all the other Characteristics in the database.