Exporting Databases

You can export the current process database to a comma separated value (CSV) or GDB text file. Typically, you export a database when you want to:

• Complete large editing tasks using a text editor or spreadsheet,
• Change the alarm area database used by the process database; or
• Import it into a relational database for subsequent analysis.

For example, you could export your process database in CSV format and import the data into Microsoft Excel. By importing the file into Excel, you can:

• Automatically number or enter block values.
• Format values with Excel styles.
• Calculate a value with a spreadsheet formula.
• Automate the creation and modification of blocks by creating and running macros.

NOTE: If you export the iFIX Database into CSV format and open the CSV file in Microsoft Excel, you may notice that some Numeric fields containing decimals display without the decimal in Excel. For example, 100.01 displays as 100.01, however 100.00 displays as 100 in Excel. In order to display the entire number including the decimal (for instance: 100.00), update the cell format to a Numeric format.

For more information using these features, refer to your Excel documentation.

Database Manager exports all the blocks displayed in the spreadsheet. As a result, you can query the database to display only the blocks you want to export. For example, to export all the Analog Input blocks in the database, use the query:

{TYPE} = "AI"

For more information about querying the database, refer to the section Understanding Query Syntax.

 

See Also

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