Importing Objects in the Topology of a System Project

Overview

The Import command lets you add to the Topology node of a system project the objects that are contained in a compatible export file (.xpt).

The software may modify the attribute values of imported objects in some cases. Existing objects of the target system project are not impacted.

NOTE: The system project is locked during the import operation.

Software Version Compatibility

You may be able to import a topology export file in a later version of Control Expert. For details, refer to the topic describing the upward compatibility.

DTM Requirements

You can import a device, which is configured by using a device type manager (DTM) even if the DTM is not present in the Hardware Catalog of the target system project. However, you cannot open the DTM.

Import Settings

You can select the strategy that the software applies to create objects that you are importing.

Keep relative folder organization	Result
Yes	The hierarchy of objects (folder structure) as it is contained in the export file is recreated. The parent folder of this hierarchy is the folder from which you select the Import command.
No	The devices contained in the export file are imported without the original folder structure into the folder from which you select the Import command.

Keep relative folder organization

Result

Yes

The hierarchy of objects (folder structure) as it is contained in the export file is recreated.

The parent folder of this hierarchy is the folder from which you select the Import command.

The devices contained in the export file are imported without the original folder structure into the folder from which you select the Import command.

Importing PACs

The table describes the impact on the data associated to an exported PAC when you import it.

Associated data	Result
Control project	The control project is imported. If the build state of the control project was Built, it is set to Out Of Date; otherwise, the state is unchanged. The build target is unchanged.
Communication mapping	Communication mapping is recreated for scanned devices that are exported and imported together with the PAC.

Associated data

Result

Control project

The control project is imported.

If the build state of the control project was Built, it is set to Out Of Date; otherwise, the state is unchanged.

The build target is unchanged.

Communication mapping

Communication mapping is recreated for scanned devices that are exported and imported together with the PAC.

Impact on Attributes When Importing Objects

The objects contained in the export file are created in the topology of the target system project with the same configuration. Existing objects are not impacted.

In some scenarios however, the software may modify the value of certain attributes of imported objects.

The table describes the impact on attributes of imported objects depending on the scenario.

Attribute of Imported object	Object in the target system project		Result
Folder name	A folder with the same name already exists for the same parent folder.		The folder is renamed⁽¹⁾.
Device and/or module name	A device/module with the same name already exists.		The device is renamed⁽¹⁾.
I/O profile of imported device	A profile attribute with the same name already exists.		I/O profile attribute name is renamed⁽¹⁾.
Logical network and IP addresses of imported device	Import in the same system project	A logical network with the same name already exists.	The logical network is kept and IP addresses⁽²⁾ are recalculated if already used. NOTE: The software does not verify if the subnet addresses are identical. You need to analyze the system project. If no more IP addresses are available in the logical network, its value is set to NOCONF and IP addresses are set to 0.0.0.0.
	Import in the same system project	A logical network with the same name does not exist.	The import does not create logical networks. The logical network is set to NOCONF and IP addresses⁽²⁾ are kept.
	Imported in a different system project		The logical network is set to NOCONF and IP addresses are kept.
DHCP Server Name	Import in the same system project		The attribute value is unchanged unless the configured DHCP server does not exist anymore when the device is pasted. When import several devices between which a DHCP client/server relationship exists, the relationship is maintained.
DHCP Server Name	Imported in a different system project		The attribute value is set to None. When you import several devices between which a DHCP client/server relationship exists, the relationship is maintained.
Name of physical view in which imported devices appear	A physical view with the same name already exists.		The physical view is renamed⁽¹⁾.
(1) To satisfy the name uniqueness rule, the software adds a _x suffix where x is an integer starting at 1 or increments existing _x suffixes. (2) Does not apply to IP addresses that correspond to the gateway address of the logical network (for example, IP addresses of ports whose routing capability is enabled (interface)). These IP addresses and the logical network are set to 0.0.0.0 and NOCONF respectively.

Importing Objects

To import the content of a topology export file into a system project, proceed as follows.

Step	Action
1	Right-click the Topology node or a topology folder in the SYSTEM PROJECT pane and select Import . Result: The Topology: Import dialog box opens.
2	Select a topology export file (.xpt).
3	Click Open . Result: A dialog box opens prompting you to select import settings. NOTE: The dialog box opens even if the export file contains no folder structure. Closing the dialog box cancels the import operation. NOTE: If the topology export file was exported from a password-protected system project, you must enter the system project password when prompted. Otherwise, you cannot import the file.
4	Select an import setting. Result: The software imports the contents of the export file in the topology of the system project. NOTE: You can see a list of devices and physical views that have been imported by double-clicking the entry that corresponds to the import operation in the notification pane.