About the Import/Export Comment Data Feature
The Import/Export Comment Data feature lets you export your tag descriptions to a database or spreadsheet application (for example, Microsoft Excel software), edit them remotely, and then merge your edits back into The
Logix Designer
application.You can use an application like Excel to:
- Modify existing tags
- Remove tags
- Add tag entries to the CSV file
CSV Import
When you import the CSV file, the system attempts to read the tag description, and then merge that description into the
Logix Designer
application database. If the tag is invalid (that is, the parent program does not exist), it is discarded and an attention flag appears.If the scope is valid, but the tag does not yet exist, then the tag may or may not be created, depending on the merge options you choose. If the tag already exists and the scope is valid, it is discarded or merged as an overwrite, also depending on the merge options.
Merge Option | Merge Behavior |
Overwrite | All attribute changes are mirrored in the database; attributes not present in the CSV file have no effect on the database. Tags added to the CSV file are added to the database. Tags with a scope not present in the database are discarded and an attention flag appears. |
Discard | All tag changes have no effect on the existing database; tags added to the CSV file are added to the database. Tags with a scope not present in the database are discarded and an attention flag appears. |
The Create New option lets you configure your import so that a new tag is created whenever a tag is found in the import file that has no corresponding tag in the project file. If you do not choose this option, the import ignores tags in the import file that have no corresponding tag in the project file.
TIP:
Though you can remove tags from the CSV file, they are not removed from the database as part of the import process. Deleting tags from the CSV file serves no purpose in the import process.
Note that special characters in the .CSV file may fail to import. The Import Tags command may fail if special characters (for example, =, +, ", ', -) are included in the tag description and the .CSV file was edited using Microsoft Excel software. The .CSV import process requires and verifies that all descriptions adhere to the IEC-61131 naming standard. In the file imported, the sequence "= is not allowed.
Also note that when importing or exporting to a CSV file, Microsoft Excel software can only display Arabic characters. If you are using an Asian character set, you should use the .txt format to import or export.
CSV Export
When you export the CSV file, starting with a parent component (that is, controller or program), each selected component type under that component is exported as a separate line or record in the CSV file. Other component types (that is, those not selected) under the parent are not exported.
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