Import / Export Recipes

VTScada Recipe Books can be imported to or exported from Microsoft Excel™ (.XLSX) , Microsoft Access™ (.MDB) or an ODBC compliant database such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL or any other compatible database.

Microsoft Excel .XLSX format

• Each worksheet is named for a matching Recipe Book
• Column A holds each Recipe (RecipeName) in the Recipe Book
• If there are versions, then Column B (RecipeVersion) will hold those names.
  Versioning available only if the Recipe Book tag is so configured.
• Step number and step name are displayed in the spreadsheet. Recipes with multiple steps will see an extra line of entry for each version and all steps in each version.
• Other columns are named for each parameter within the recipe. All parameters for all recipes in the book are included in the spreadsheet. Recipes that do not include certain parameters have blank cells for those columns.
• Parameter addresses are not imported or exported.
  These must be entered manually in the Parameter tags, along with any other configuration such as Data Type, Engineering Units and permitted value range.
• Up to 16,384 recipes can be exported.

Import:

Export:

Import Source/Destination

Select Excel Spreadsheet first.

File Name

Include the full file pathway. Click the [...] to choose a pathway.

Sheet Name

Import only. The name of an individual worksheet or tab within the excel file.

Recipe Name

Import only. The name give to the Recipe in VTScada.

Recipe Version

Import only. The version as it is indicated in VTScada.

Here is an example of a Recipe Book exported to Excel with two steps and two versions:

Microsoft Access .MDB format

Similar to the Microsoft Excel format, noting:

• Each table holds a set of recipes, with one recipe per row, where each column is a parameter value.
• The primary key must be the column that contains the recipe name.
• The secondary key (optional) must contain the recipe version.
• The renaming columns are treated as parameter names. A Recipe Parameter tag will be created for each of the parameter columns.

Import:

Export:

Import Source/Destination

Select Access Database first

File Name

Include the full file pathway. Click the [...] to choose a pathway.

Table Name

The name of an individual table (ex. RecipeTable)

Recipe Name

Import only. The name give to the Recipe in VTScada.

Recipe Version

Import only. The version as it is indicated in VTScada.

Here is an example of a Recipe Book exported to Access with two steps:

ODBC Compliant format

There is some initial setup required to connect to ODBC databases. You must:

• Confirm your license includes Remote Data Access
• Confirm your user account has the Remote Data Access privilege
• Install the VTScada ODBC Driver (included with your installation. Run VTScadaODBCDriverInstall.exe)
• Setup a Remote Connect account for your application to control access for Window's ODBC Data Source Administrator.
• You may optionally set up a Machine DSN.

See SQL Queries for more information.

If you set up a Machine DSN, it will appear in the Machine DSN drop-list as an option. This may be easier for your operator and does not require you to share credentials.

Import with Machine DSN setup: Import using ODBC String and credentials:

Export with Machine DSN setup: Export using ODBC String and credentials:

Import Source/Export Destination

Select ODBC Database first.

Connection Type

Choose from Machine DSN or ODBC String. Machine DSN can be set up in advance through Windows ODBC Data Source Administrator.

Machine DSN

If a Machine DSN is set up, it will appear in this drop-list. You must repeat the set-up process on each workstation.

ODBC String/Username/Password

Identifying information and login credentials for an ODBC database.

Table Name

Provide a name for your exported table

If you export a Recipe Book with a Table Name that is identical to an existing table in your database, the existing table will be overwritten.