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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 28 - 1
T315-28 Bulk Data Handling - RevC
28.1.1 Objectives
On completion of this chapter you will be able to:
• Tell the purpose of the Bulk Data Manager
• Describe the main steps to use BDM
• Use predefined templates
28.1.2 Legend
> Indicates when you go from one menu to a sub-menu
Italic Indicates object and file names
“ “ Indicates dialog box buttons, tabs, menus etc.
Bold Indicates important topics
Indicates start/explanation of student activity
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28.2 Overview
28.2.1 Components
The ability to efficiently manage large amounts of data is a crucial part of any
automation system. Bulk Data Manager (BDM) is a component of the Engineering
Workplace allows users to configure worksheets to read and write aspect and object
properties. It supports list oriented bulk data operations like handling of signal lists,
tag lists, etc. through a tight integration with Microsoft Excel.
The Bulk Data Manager is composed of:
• Microsoft® Excel 2000/XP/2003 (not included with Bulk Data Manager)
• Add-Ins that integrate Microsoft Excel into the Engineering Workplace
• Predefined templates
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Once the workbook is activated, the menu items Save, Update Selection, Update All,
Options, etc. become available in the Bulk Data Manager menu.
2. An excel sheet is opened. The Bulk Data Manager is activated and connected to
the system automatically.
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2. Click “OK”.
3. Upon dropping the aspect onto the sheet, the three required properties appear (in
red) along with the functional structure property.
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All objects including child objects appear in the sheet along with the values of their
properties.
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2. Click on “Set BDM Options” in the toolbar. On the “General” tab select “Object
Name” and click “OK”.
3. For example, to filter for all objects with the name “Sxx_V” in the Functional
Structure, go to field “A2” and select “Filter”.
4. Extend the selection to “Filter: with Functional Structure”. In field A2 you should
see now “Filter:Functional Structure”.
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5. Below the column “Object Identification” you can type now “Sxx_V” to filter for
object names beginning with Sxx_V.
6. Change the Default Data area to an Auto-update area by using a right mouse click
onto the “Command” field. Select “Make Auto-update Data Area”.
Alternatively you can also save and close the document. If you open the document
again you also perform an update.
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2. Click onto the “Set BDM Options” button in the toolbar and select the
“Advanced” tab. Deselect the “Show Path in Source Column” checkbox.
3. Drag & drop a Control Structure aspect onto the first line of the BDM sheet.
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4. Import the board object onto the second line of the BDM sheet by using drag &
drop from the Control Structure.
5. Then use the Excel functions copy & paste to configure a new line for each new
object. It is not necessary to fill in the Parent column, because the full path is
defined in the object identification. Just drag the cursor on the Object
Identification field and copy the field Source Object as many times as needed.
Five lines where added that will create 5 instances of the DO810 board object types
with the position 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
NOTE! You don’t need to change the name of the original object
that was dragged & dropped onto the sheet. BDM will
not create a new object with the same name but will only
update that object.
6. Click onto the “Save All Objects” button to create your board instances in the
Control Structure.
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In the example below, the board object “DO810” is not unique in the system. More
than one board exists in the project and the system therefore does not know which
board object to use. If you select “Save All Objects”, an Errors sheet is created.
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1. Select an I/O board object in the Control Structure and drag & drop the Control
Properties aspect onto the left field ( A1 )on the first line of the BDM sheet.
2. Click onto the checkboxes for the properties which should be visible.
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3. The extended command line with the settings ( 7_Min…) is now visible.
4. Import now a board object with drag & drop to the second line of the BDM sheet.
5. Now you can edit the settings directly in the cells. Click on “Save All Objects” to
write the changed parameters.
6. Check the results in Control Builder via right mouse click onto the board. Select
the Editor and go to the “Properties” tab.
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1. Select a control module (e.g. pump) object in the Functional or Control Structure.
2. Via drag & drop, import the Control Module aspect onto the left field “A1” on the
first line of the BDM sheet.
3. Click onto the checkboxes for the properties which should be visible.
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4. The extended command line with the Max, Min settings… becomes visible.
5. Import now the Pump object with drag & drop to the second line of the BDM
sheet. The online values for the Max, Min and Unit parameters are displayed.
6. Change the values and write the changed values by clicking on “Save All
Objects”.
7. Check the result in Control Builder via right mouse click onto the Pump module in
Online Mode. Select the Online Editor and open the structured data type
InteractionPar.
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You will find the initial values in the Control Property aspect of an object in the Plant
Explorer. All initial values are ending with the letters _init_val.
It is important that you use the right source for writing the initial values:
• If a parameter of an object (e.g. Function Block or Control Module) is not
connected, then the Function Block/Control Module object is the right place.
• If a parameter is connected to a variable, then the source object of this variable
(the application objects) is the right place. In this case you have to write the initial
value to the variable, not to the parameter.
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2. Click on the “Import Filter” button in the toolbar of the Bulk Data sheet. Select in
the Control Structure the project and click “OK”.
3. Click onto the “Filter Included” checkbox in the Import Filter window and click
on the “OK & Load” button.
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2. Create some global variables in the application StudentApp. Fill in the columns
Project, Application, Location, Variable and Data Type.
3. Click onto the “Bulk Data Sheet: SAVE Data” button in the toolbar.
4. Check the result in Control Builder. Open the editor on application StudentApp
and you will see the new variables.
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2. Filter or type in name, project …. for variables which should be deleted. Type in
“delete” in the Command column for each variable.
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The cross references are shown in the Variable List worksheet for each variable.
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