Direct export of LCA results for analysis outside of AB

[bsteubing]

Within the Calculation Setup, there should be an option for a direct export of LCA results for further analysis in python. An "export only" checkbox or so. With this option, the LCA results tab will NOT be opened and no results/figures/tables will be shown.

The output should then be a folder with a number of csv or excel files containing information on:

• LCA results for each reference flow, impact category, and scenario (if scenario-lca)
• Contribution analysis
• Inventory table (and technosphere flows)
• possibly Monte Carlo LCA results

I tend to think that we also need some settings or an additional dialogue for this calculation mode where the user can set certain preferences, e.g.:

• which results components shall be included (e.g. contributions or Monte Carlo)
• data required for the individual results components cut-off values for contributions, MC runs and seed, etc.
• output format, e.g. csv, excel, some python data format

[marc-vdm]

What about the following idea?

Instead of having a dedicated export option, why don't we revise the 'landing page' when a calculation is done? Showing the results after calculation is done does not (should not?) take substantial time. On the current tab that is shown when a calculation is shown, we could have a small overview of results in some way, and an option (or option menu) to immediately export all results. This way users could have both.

This would basically mean taking your suggestions from above but putting them into the results tab instead of the calculation setup tab.

[Joeytje50]

While I was having a look at this issue together with Marc, we were discussing potential approaches for this. I would like to ask your opinion on a few things: Firstly, you mention exporting it as a folder. Would that be a .zip file, containing multiple .csv files? Or containing multiple excel files? Or would that simply be a single excel file, containing multiple tabs? Regarding the Monte Carlo, Marc mentioned that it might be an issue with configuring the exact MC settings if you have just a simple button. Because MC simulations have a couple of different settings, would those then need to be shown in a prompt when exporting the calculations directly? Or would it just be better to leave the MC configuration to the tab that currently does it (and already contains an export button), and then limit the direct export functionality to just the Inventory, LCA results, and EF and Process Contributions? Lastly, I was wondering if it wouldn't be better to have just another button next to the 'Calculate' button, which sends you to direct export mode. That should save a mouse click, I'd think.

Further things to discuss are what should happen to scenario LCA's.

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Further notes to self:

Marc mentioned that the export for the EF and Process Contributions tab should be a complete export (#702), and exports the table only, with absolute values (not relative). For the LCA Results tab, the table that is generated (under 'Overview') should be exported.