Echelon LonMaker - Manual (Page 288)

272 Exporting and Importing Networks with XML
Using XML Export/Import Overview
You can export your L ON W ORKS network to a L ON W ORKS network XML file that contains all the
devices, connections, network variables, and configuration properties within a specified network scope
(from selected devices to the entire network). You can also include device templates, connection
description templates, and channels in the XML file.
You can then use an XML editor to view or modify the exported XML file; view the exported XML
file as a LonMaker network report; or view or edit the exported XML file with another application.
In an exported L ON W ORKS network XML file, you can create, update, and delete most LonMaker
objects, including the following: subsystems, application devices and routers, functional blocks,
network variables, connections, and channels. In addition, you can commission application devices
and routers. If you commission a device, you can specify the application image to load into it, set the
initial state of its application, and specify the source of configuration property value and how
device-specific configuration properties are handled. See the LonWorks Network XML Programmer’s
Guide for more information on editing a L
ON W ORKS network XML file.
After editing the L ON W ORKS network XML file, you can import it back into your network. The
LonMaker tool updates the network based on the attributes and actions specified for the LonMaker
objects in the file.
Exporting a L
ON
W
ORKS
Network XML File
You can export your L ON W ORKS network to an XML file using the LonMaker XML Plug-in included
with the LonMaker tool, or you can manually export your LonMaker network using the LonMaker
tool. You can export selected items, subsystems, or your entire network to the XML file. The XML
file consists of a report of all the devices, connections, network variables, configuration properties, and
other data that you select within a specified network scope. In addition, the exported XML file by
default includes a XSLT style sheet that you can use to transform the file into a LonMaker network
report, which you can view in your Web browser (see Viewing a LonMaker Network Report for more
information).
If you are using an LNS application other than the LonMaker tool, you can use the LonMaker XML
Plug-in to automate exporting your L
ON W ORKS network to the other application. The LonMaker
XML Plug-in provides a programmatic interface to the XML import and export features in the
LonMaker tool. The LonMaker XML Plug-in is registered at the network level; therefore, it only
needs to be registered once on a computer for it to be used to import or export any L
ON W ORKS
network. See the LonWorks Network XML Programmer’s Guide for details on how applications can
use the plug-in and the schema used for the XML file.
To manually export your LonMaker drawing to a L ON W ORKS network XML file, follow these steps.
1. Open the File menu, point to LonMaker Documents, and then click Export to XML. The XML
Export Options dialog box appears.