In principle, data recording should be based on the respective type of study. In other words, no changes should be made once the values have been recorded. The order of data collection should be appropriate to the type of study.
When using measuring machines for automated recording, there are different ways to output the measurement information to a file for further processing. All the information can be in one file, or each measurement can be in a separate file. If the measurements are in separate files, they must be merged according to the study to use them. A type conversion is then required so that the solara.MP application can assign the merged data to the required type of study. The result of this whole process can be influenced by specifying file names.
The measuring machine stores the files in a folder. Each measurement is a single DFQ file with a time stamp. There are 20 individual DFQ files in total. The file names indicate that there are five parts (part 1 to part 5). These are measured by two operators (OP1/OP2). There are two trials for each operator (Trial1/Trial2). A Type 2 Study is represented by these files.
If this sequence were to be used to merge the files and convert them for a Type 2 Study, the assignment to values, operator and trial would be lost. Regardless of the conversion method used.
When recording data, it is important to ensure that the reference part does not remain in the machine. It should always be removed and replaced before each measurement. For this reason, a preferred measurement sequence should be as follows: The first operator measures all components, then the second operator, etc. When all operators have completed the first run, the same sequence is repeated. This is equivalent to type conversion method 2.
Open the “Merge File” dialogue. <File> | <File…> | <Merge files>.
The merge will also include the measurements from the selected master file. Select the oldest file in the folder as the master file, as these are the first values recorded.
1st Operator/1st Measurement/ 1st Trial
The ">>" field specifies the path to the folder containing the files to be merged. When selecting a master file, the ">>" field defaults to the master file folder.
Activating the “Append all files from subdirectory” option will update the contents of the “Value file listing” box. The “Value file listing” box lists the measurement files within the selected folder, excluding the master file. In this example a total of 19 DFQ files are listed to be merged with the master file.
Change the order of the files according to the type conversion method 2. This means OP1 1st run all parts, OP2 1st run all parts, OP1 2nd run all parts, OP2 2nd run all parts. To change the order, select a file and use the up/down arrow buttons on the left of the dialogue.
Press “OK” to merge the selected files.
The merged files have the correct sequence according to the Type 2 Study, but solara.MP application can not recognize the loaded data as Type 2 Study. 
A type conversion is required.
Open the “Type conversion” dialogue. <File> | <Type conversion>. Configure the dialogue according to the merged data. In this example it is a Type 2 Study, 2 operators, 2 trials, 5 parts, in order according to the "Conversion method 2".
Type Conversion
When data for a measurement system analysis is not available in the required sequence, but as continuously recorded data, a data set can be converted into the required format using the type conversion in solara.MP. Link to: Type Conversion in solara.MP