Import files into the Profile Editor

Use this feature to import either an existing Profile Editor project file or SCL files into the Profile Editor. This is commonly used to share project information by importing custom tags and devices from another instance of the Profile Editor; but you can also import SCL files from an IEC 61850 device.

For Profile Editor projects, you can import tags, device types, and profiles. For SCL imports, you cannot import profiles.

Before you begin, consider the source of the information you want to import. We strongly recommend that you use a primary PC from which you draw this information. This will ensure that you are using a single source. Also, back up your data folder before you start. This gives you data to revert to, in case you accidentally lose data.

NOTE: You cannot complete the import until you match, merge, or reject every item.

Profile Editor project file import (PLS)

You can import PLS files into Profile Editor.

Prerequisite:

Note the location of the project file that you want to import.

To import a PLS file into the Profile Editor:

  1. From the Profile Editor, click File > Import.
  2. At the Import File Selection window, click Browse, then navigate to the location of the file you want to import.
  3. The Import Properties box displays the _ProjectName, _Description, _DateTime, and _ComputerName information. These lines were automatically generated for this file. Any additional lines will be information that you added on the Project Parameters sub-tab when you created or exported the project. Use this information to verify that you are about to import the files that you want.
  4. (Optional) If desired, select an import template from the drop-down list. (To create a template, see Creating a New Template During Import.) If you select a template, the import will accept default properties from the template. For example, if the template has alarm settings from a device, and you are importing tags for that device, the import will use those alarm settings.
  5. When you locate the desired file, click Open. Then, click Start Import. The system analyzes the import and attempts to match imported items with existing items on the local machine.

SCL file import

You can import SCL or CID files into Profile Editor.

Prerequisite:

Note the location of the SCL or CID file that you want to import.

To import SCL or CID files into the Profile Editor:

  1. From the Profile Editor, click File > Import.
  2. At the Import File Selection window, click Browse, then navigate to the location of the file you want to import.
  3. The Import Properties box displays the _ProjectName, _Description, _DateTime, and _ComputerName information. These lines were automatically generated for this file. Any additional lines will be information that you added on the Project Parameters sub-tab when you created or exported the project. Use this information to verify that you are about to import the files that you want.
  4. (Optional) If desired, select an import template from the drop-down list. (To create a template, see Creating a New Template During Import.) If you select a template, the import will accept default properties from the template. For example, if the template has alarm settings from a device, and you are importing tags for that device, the import will use those alarm settings.
  5. When you locate the desired file, click Open. Then, click Start Import. The system analyzes the import and attempts to match imported items with existing items on the local machine.
  6. If you are importing IEC 61850 data, the Import Filter screen displays. Use this screen to perform an initial filter on functional constraints or on report control blocks. See Import Reconciliation screen for more information.
  7. Make your selections, then click Continue.
  8. When the Import Reconciliation screen displays, you can begin the process of matching or rejecting individual tags. See Import Reconciliation screen for a description of the parts of this screen.
  9. On the Import Reconciliation screen, click an item in middle pane. Respond to the item according to your preference for it. You must set the status first for units, then tags, and finally the device type.
  10. After you match or ignore all items in the import list, the Complete Import button becomes live. Click Complete Import.
  11. After the import is saved, the Save Import Template dialog displays. See Using import templates for instructions on creating, using, and deleting import templates.

Import SCL Files

You can import SCL files from individual devices, provided the files conform to IEC 61850 specifications. You can also import an individual device from a Gateway SCL file that contains multiple devices.

NOTE: You can only import SCL files that meet the schema requirements for Ed 1.4 of IEC 61850. If an SCL file does not meet these requirements, an error message will display, telling you that the scheme must validate against the scheme of Ed. 1.4. The Profile Editor will accept SCL files that use either Ed. 1 or Ed. 2 data structures; but it will apply data structures only as defined in Ed. 2.

During this import, you need to reconcile mismatches; and data will be available for creating device types, device profiles, and projects.

You can export the information in one of two ways:

  1. SCL Export: This IID file will maintain all of the configuration and communication information that comes from its device. The only items you can change are:

    • You can delete datasets and control blocks, and add new ones.
    • You can edit buffered and unbuffered control blocks (provided you have created them in the Profile Editor).

  2. Profile Editor Export (PLS): The data will then follow the normal rules for the profiles in this project.