At a Glance

This function is accessible from the FB Variables and instances folder in the project browser.

According to the element you selected in the project browser tree, you can use it to export:

  • all the variables of the project (even those that are not used),

  • all the variables of a given family: EDT, IODDT, and so on (even those that are not used).

To export a subset of the variables, see also the sub-section Export of a subset of variables.

Excel Tool for Variables Management

An Excel template file is available in Control Expert extra tools to provide parameters management from files generated in .XSY format. The Excel features allow to create, edit, sort, or filter Control Expert application variables, and import them back in Control Expert.

The Excel template and its manual are installed with Control Expert: Start > All Programs > EcoStruxure Control Expert > Extras > Excel Import Export Tool. They are also available in the Control Expert software DVD (Extras > Excel Import Export Tool).

Format of Variable Files

Variables can be saved:

  • either in source format, in an .SCY file compatible with the PL7 program,

  • or in text format with tab separators, in a .TXT file,

  • or in XML format, in an OFS-compatible .XVM file,

  • or in XML format, in an .XSY file.

Options Associated with Exporting Variables

Whatever the variables you export, you can choose two options:

  • export with or without the content of all the DDTs used,

  • export with or without the content of all the DFB types used.

By default, the two "export with" options are selected.

NOTE: These two options are available only when exporting files to .XSY format.

Purpose of Importing Data

Importing data into a specific format as .XSY, .SCY, .TXT or .XVM can be useful for different purposes.

Those functionalities are described in the table below:

File type

Available for

.XSY

Export / Import

.SCY

Export / PL7

.TXT

Export / Import / Excel

.XVM

Export / OFS

Files Structure For .XSY, .SCY, .TXT And .XVM Formats

When importing elementary variables from the data editor screen, the data structure with extension .XSY, .SCY, .TXT, and .XVM is displayed in the following order: Name, Address, Type, Comment, and Value.

NOTE: The structure of imported data from a .XSY file can have additional information. If the options are set in column configuration screen, the complete structure for this type of file is the following: Name, Address, Type, Comment, Value, Save, RW Program, Constant and Custom.

Files Generated In .XSY And .XVM Formats

When you export variables, the program generates an .XSY or an .XVM file containing the unprotected information, such as the list of current variables, the unprotected DFB types of which an instance is exported (if the option is set), and the DDTs of which an instance is exported (if the option is set).

Files Generated In .SCY, .XVM, .TXT Formats

When you export variables, the program generates a .TXT or an .SCY file containing the unprotected information about current variables.

If you want to use Microsoft Excel to open the exported .TXT file, please follow the steps:

  • Open Microsoft Excel

  • With Open command of Excel, open the .TXT file by selecting in the open window Text files as type of file.

  • When the Excel file import assistant window opens, select Delimited for the type of file. Click on the Next button.

  • In the next window, check Tab option box as column separator. Click on the Next button.

  • In the next window select in the display the column that contain the values of the variables and click on the Text option button for the column data format. Doing so keeps the same values as in the .TXT file. If this format is not used for the column, positive values will appear as negative when opening the .TXT file in Excel.

NOTE: The variables must not exceed 32 characters in length. Once you have modified the .TXT file, save it with the tab-separated value option before importing.

How to Export a List of Variables from the Project Browser

Perform the following operations to export all the variables or a family of variables from the project browser:

Step

Action

1

Select the element to be exported in the FB Variables and instances folder.

Result: The selected element appears in reverse video.

2

Activate the Export command from the File menu or from the contextual menu.

Result: A dialog box appears on the screen:

3

Select the target folder for the export (directory tree) then enter the file name.

4

Select the export mode. with or without DDT, DFB type.

Result: When a "with" option is selected, the corresponding box is checked.

5

Activate the Export command.

Result: A progress indicator shows how the export is progressing.

6

A message is displayed in the display window to indicate that the export is finished.