Exporting Configuration Data from BACnet

Exporting Data to an XML File

The BACnet Connector within Workbench64 offers the flexibility of exporting data from your configuration database.

To Export Data:

1. Right-click on the item from which you wish to export. This can be from the database, network, Device, Port or Object level of the BACnet Connector Project Explorer. Select Export from the pulldown menu.

   Exporting from the BACnet Connector's Project Explorer

    

2. The Save As dialog box appears, at which point you can decide where you would like the data to be exported, as well as change the file name.

   The "Save As" Dialog Box to Export BACnet Data in XML Format

    

XML has the following advantages over the CSV import/export function:

• XML has a standardized format, unlike the text/CSV format, which uses various delimiters (e.g. TAB instead of commas, strings could not accept all characters, etc.)

• XML is language-independent, whereas CSV converts date/time, floats, and currency fields according to local settings in Windows. For example, using CSV, you cannot export data in a German edition of Windows and import it in an English version of Windows without first making necessary changes

• Windows has an installed automation object that has the capability to work with XML. Thus, programmers can create/modify their configurations outside the SNMP Connector using Visual Basic, if desired.

• XML supports schemas. A schema is a special XML file that specifies the data structure of an XML data file.

See also:

Overview of BACnet