Import Rules

Import Rules provide the framework of rules for importing modbus objects into the management station.

The Modbus Import Rules are of the following types.

You can configure the rules for importing the object definitions for the objects of a particular Modbus family and the system data type functions associated with those objects from the Import Rules tab. You can access this tab from the Management View by navigating to Project > System Settings > Libraries > L1-Headquarter > Global > Modbus > Import Rules.

Each Import Rules library element contains the rules for a specific product family (such as Modbus and so on).

Using Import Rules, you can define the objects and properties for the import rules using the Objects and Properties expander. You can create another object with Copy Object and delete an object with Remove Object.

Import Rules Toolbar
Icon	Name	Description
	Save	Save any changes. NOTE: Saving the imports rules also activates them.

NOTICE

Modifying the Import Rules

Modifying the Import Rules may seriously affect the system's behavior and should always be done by a qualified system librarian. Do not modify any of such rules unless you know exactly what you are doing.

Objects and Properties Expander for Standard Import Rules

The Objects and Properties expander allows you to set the standard Import Rules.

These rules are responsible for mapping the system defined object models to the Modbus data types. They also define the Function Codes applicable to the particular data type and assign the direction of communication for a field point of an object model.

For example, consider the first row in the following screenshot.

Suppose, in the CSV, you specify BOOLEAN as ModbusType, 1 as the Function Code and Input as the Direction. Then while creating the instance, the Importer will create an instance of GMS_MODBUS_BinaryInput and assign Boolean as TransformationType in the address configuration.

CSV for Explaining Import Rules

Objects and Properties Expander Fields
	Description
ModbusType	Displays the Modbus types (objects) contained in the Modbus CSV file.
Direction	Displays the directions of the object:Input/Output.
FunctionCode	Displays the Function code contained in the Modbus CSV file
TransformationType	Displays the transformation types. Refer to the Table Transformation Types below.
Object Model	For each Modbus type, you can select or edit a specific object model.
Add Object	Adds a new import rules entry to the table.
Copy Object	Copy the selected object to the table.
Remove Object	Remove the selected object from the table.

You can change the configuration of existing objects, create new entries, or removed unwanted object entries.

Information

NOTE:
The customization does not impact the standard import rules since the import rules are not copied to a higher priority level. The Importer reads and sets the rules from the headquarter level only.

Transformations from CSV to PVSS
ModbusType (CSV)	Direction	Function Code	Code Meaning	Transformation Type (PVSS)
BOOLEAN	Input	1	Read Coils	boolean
BOOLEAN	Input	2	Read Discrete Inputs	boolean
BOOLEAN	Input	3	Read Holding Registers	boolean
BOOLEAN	Input	4	Read Input Registers	boolean
BOOLEAN	Input	7	Read Exception Status	boolean
BOOLEAN	Output	5	Write Single Coil	boolean as byte
BOOLEAN	Output	6	Write Single Register	boolean
BOOLEAN	Output	15	Write Multiple Coils	boolean
BOOLEAN	Output	16	Write Multiple Registers	boolean
INT16	Input	3	Read Holding Registers	Int16
INT16	Input	4	Read Input Registers	int16
INT32	Input	3	Read Holding Registers	int32
INT32	Input	4	Read Input Registers	int32
INT32	Input	24	Read FIFO Queue	int32
INT64	Input	3	Read Holding Registers	int64
INT64	Input	4	Read Input Registers	int64
INT64	Input	24	Read FIFO Queue	int64
UNIT16	Input	3	Read Holding Registers	uint16
UINT16	Input	4	Read Input Registers	uint16
UINT32	Input	3	Read Holding Registers	uint32
UNIT32	Input	4	Read Input Registers	uint32
UNIT32	Input	24	Read FIFO Queue	uint32
UINT64	Input	3	Read Holding Registers	uint64
UINT64	Input	4	Read Input Registers	uint64
UINT64	Input	24	Read FIFO Queue	uint64
INT16	Output	6	Write Single Register	int16
INT16	Output	16	Write Multiple Register	int16
INT32	Output	16	Write Multiple Register	int32
INT64	Output	16	Write Multiple Register	int64
UNIT16	Output	6	Write Single Register	uint36
UNIT16	Output	16	Write Multiple Register	uint16
UNIT32	Output	16	Write Multiple Register	uint32
UINT64	Output	16	Write Multiple Register	uint64
FLOAT32	Input	3	Read Holding Registers	float
FLOAT32	Input	4	Read Input Registers	float
FLOAT32	Output	16	Write Multiple Register	float
FLOAT64	Input	3	Read Holding Registers	double
FLOAT64	Input	4	Read Input Registers	double
FLOAT64	Output	16	Write Multiple Register	double

Custom Import Rules

Import rules serve as mapping between the Engineering data and the Object Model configuration parameters in the management station. This requires creation of an instance of GMS_MODBUS_CustomRules in your library.

After the instance is created, the Import Rules editor displays.

The Object Model GMS_MODBUS_EPMeter appears in the Import Rules list as it is imported using a CSV file and the Managed Type of the object model is set to ModbusPredefinedDevice. This information is used by the Import Rules editor to list the custom defined object models.

Impact of Customization

When you add an object model name or short name for an OM in the CSV file, the import rules are set in the order specified by standard library customization behavior. However, if you customize the OM at a level different than the level of the import rules, the behavior of the importer will be different.

For example, the import rules can be defined at a higher level (for example, L3-Country), whereas the OM is customized at lower level (for example, L4-Project). In this case, if you specify the short name for such a rule in the instance CSV file, the object model attributes (using the customized OM) are taken from a lower level (L4-Project), but the address configuration is set from the import rules at a higher level (L3-Country).

Poll Groups Expander

Allows you to define poll groups along with the poll interval.

Poll Groups
	Description
Poll Group Name	Specify the name for the poll group. The name of the poll group must begin with the following mandatory prefix: PollGr_. The poll group is not created in the system if the prefix is missing.
Poll Interval	Specify a time interval for the poll group
Add	Adds a new row for a poll group entry
Remove	Removes an existing poll group entry

Information

NOTE:
Click Save to save the poll group entry in the custom import rules.

Objects and Properties Expander in Custom Import Rules

The Objects and Properties expander allows you to configure the properties associated with each selected object model.

Objects and Properties Expander: Objects

Objects Fields
	Description
Object Model	Displays the custom Modbus object models as imported in the custom library.
Short Name	Allows you to type the alias of the object model. NOTE: This Short Name can be the same as the name of the object model or any other name which does not match with names of other object models listed in the Import rules.

Objects and Properties Expander: Address Profiles

You can create multiple address configurations for an object model by creating multiple address profiles. Multiple address profiles are required to support multiple address configurations through which you can configure multiple instances of a device.

After creating the address profiles, you may provide the address configurations for these profiles from the Properties section. You can also have empty address configurations for any of the properties of the object model. You can set one of the address profiles as the default profile. When importing the CSV file, the address configuration of the default profile can be associated with the object model that does not have an address profile associated with it.

Address Profiles Fields
	Description
Profile Name	Address profile for the selected object model.
Default	Allows you to select the address profile that is to be set as the default profile. When importing a CSV file that does not have an address profile associated with an object model, the importer will use the address configuration of the default address profile during import.
Add	Allows you to create a new address profile.
Remove	Removes an existing address profile.

Objects and Properties Expander: Properties

Properties Fields
	Description
Property Name	Displays the name of the property of the selected object model.
Data Type	Displays the data types of the selected property.
Direction	Allows you to select the direction.
Function Code	Allows you to select a function code for the selected data type and direction.
Transformation Type	Allows you to select any transformation type irrespective of the selected datatype. This directly modifies the step size (in bits/bytes) with subIndex increments.
Offset	Allows you to type the offset. It can be a four digit numeric value. In case of Blob and String data types, the syntax of the offset will be <OffsetValue>:<Size>. For example, if your blob property has an offset value of 64 and a size of 16 bytes, then, in the Offset field, specify the value as 64:16. NOTE: For the String and Blob data types, the offset value cannot be the same for points with the Direction field set to Output.
Absolute Offset	If the Absolute Offset check box is selected, the values of the offset and subindex are derived from the import rules. However, if the Absolute Offset check box is not selected, the values in the Offset and SubIndex fields are calculated as the sum of the offset and subindex values from the CSV file and the import rules.
SubIndex	Allows you to enter the subindex within the valid range of subindex starting from 0. Subindex cannot be a negative number.
Max SubIndex Limit	Displays the maximum allowable subindex value.
Poll Group Name	Allows you to specify a pollgroup for the specific property. Can only be assigned to data points of direction Input and to the Value property of InOut points.
Visibility	Select the Visibility check box if you want the property of the selected object model to be displayed in the Operations and Extended Operations tab. By default, this check box is selected, however, if you do not want to display this property, you must deselect this box.
Low Level Comparison	The Low Level Comparison check box is applicable for only those properties with the Direction field set to Input. By default, it is unchecked. If this box is selected, then the driver sends the data only in case of changes.

Information

NOTE:
In order to provide a blank address configuration during import for a specific property, you can specify blank values to function code, direction, and transformation type fields of that property in the custom import rules of the object model. However, you must ensure that if a blank value is specified for one field of the property, then the other property fields must also be blank.

Maximum Allowable SubIndex for Data Type and Function Code
Transformation Type (PVSS)	Direction	Function Code	Code Meaning	Maximum SubIndex
boolean	Input	1	Read Coils	1919
boolean	Input	2	Read Discrete Inputs	1919
boolean	Input	3	Read Holding Registers	1919
boolean	Input	4	Read Input Registers	1919
boolean	Input	7	Read Exception Status	7
boolean as byte	Output	5	Write Single Coil	0
boolean	Output	6	Write Single Register	15
boolean	Output	15	Write Multiple Coils	1919
boolean	Output	16	Write Multiple Registers	1919
int16	Input	3	Read Holding Registers	119
int16	Input	4	Read Input Registers	119
int32	Input	3	Read Holding Registers	59
int32	Input	4	Read Input Registers	59
int32	Input	24	Read FIFO Queue	59
int64	Input	3	Read Holding Registers	29
int64	Input	4	Read Input Registers	29
int64	Input	24	Read FIFO Queue	29
uint16	Input	3	Read Holding Registers	119
uint16	Input	4	Read Input Registers	119
uint32	Input	3	Read Holding Registers	59
uint32	Input	4	Read Input Registers	59
uint32	Input	24	Read FIFO Queue	59
uint64	Input	3	Read Holding Registers	29
uint64	Input	4	Read Input Registers	29
uint64	Input	24	Read FIFO Queue	29
int16	Output	6	Write Single Register	0
int16	Output	16	Write Multiple Register	119
int32	Output	16	Write Multiple Register	59
int64	Output	16	Write Multiple Register	29
uint16	Output	6	Write Single Register	0
uint16	Output	16	Write Multiple Register	119
uint32	Output	16	Write Multiple Register	59
uint64	Output	16	Write Multiple Register	29
float	Input	3	Read Holding Registers	59
float	Input	4	Read Input Registers	59
float	Output	16	Write Multiple Register	59
double	Input	3	Read Holding Registers	29
double	Input	4	Read Input Registers	29
double	Output	16	Write Multiple Register	29
blob	Input	3	Read Holding Registers	NA
blob	Input	4	Read Input Registers	NA
blob	Output	16	Write Multiple Register	NA
string	Input	3	Read Holding Registers	NA
string	Input	4	Read Input Registers	NA
string	Output	16	Write Multiple Register	NA

Objects and Properties Expander: Message Conversion

You can modify the message conversion parameters for properties of custom object models. The message conversion section is available only for properties of type, PvssInt, PvssUint, PvssFloat, GmsInt, GmsUnit, and GmsReal.

After importing the CSV file, the message conversion values applied to the custom object model property display in the Value Conversion section in the Object Configurator on selecting the property.

Message Conversion Fields
	Description
Min Raw Value	Lower end of the raw value scale
Max Raw Value	Upper end of the raw value scale. This value must be greater than Min Raw Value.
Min Eng Value	Lower end of your engineering value scale
Max Eng Value	Upper end of your engineering value scale. This value must be greater than Min Eng Value.