Datasets Files (Reference)

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Configuration Properties

Creating Dataset Files

1. Navigate to Datasets → Files
2. Click Plus icon
3. Configure:
   • Name: Unique identifier
   • Description: Documentation
4. Click OK
5. Set properties:
   • FileName: Target file path
   • FileType: Select format
   • Objects: Map tags

File Types

ASCII Files

Plain text, single-byte encoding:

Tag1=100
Tag2=200.5
Tag3=Active

Unicode Files

Multi-byte character support:

??=25.5
??=101.3
??=???

XML Files

Structured data with schemas:

xml

<Tags>
  <Tag Name="Temperature" Value="25.5"/>
  <Tag Name="Pressure" Value="101.3"/>
  <Tag Name="Status" Value="Running"/>
</Tags>

File Path Configuration

Static Path

C:\Recipes\Recipe001.txt
\\Server\Share\Config.xml

Dynamic with Tags

C:\Recipes\Recipe{{Tag.RecipeNumber}}.txt
C:\Data\{{Tag.Year}}\{{Tag.Month}}\Data.csv
\\Server\{{Tag.Department}}\Settings.xml

Using Macros

{{ExecutionPath}}\Recipes\Current.txt
{{SolutionPath}}\Data\Config.xml

XML Schema Types

Tag List XML

Simple name-value pairs:

xml

<TagList>
  <Tag Name="Tank1_Level" Value="75.5"/>
  <Tag Name="Tank1_Temp" Value="22.3"/>
  <Tag Name="Pump1_Status" Value="1"/>
</TagList>

Tag Object XML

Complete tag hierarchy:

xml

<TagTree>
  <Folder Name="TankFarm">
    <Folder Name="Tank1">
      <Tag Name="Level" Value="75.5" Type="Double"/>
      <Tag Name="Temp" Value="22.3" Type="Double"/>
    </Folder>
  </Folder>
</TagTree>

Object Mapping

Configuration

1. Click Objects ellipsis (...)
2. Select tags to include:
   • Check individual tags
   • Select entire folders
   • Use search filter

Mapping Behavior

• Read: File values → Tags
• Write: Tags → File values
• Automatic type conversion
• Preserves tag structure

Execution Methods

Reading Files

csharp

// Load recipe file
@Dataset.File.Recipe001.Load();

// Check if successful
if (@Dataset.File.Recipe001.Status == "OK")
{
    // Tags now contain file values
    double temp = @Tag.Temperature;
}

Writing Files

csharp

// Set tag values
@Tag.Temperature = 25.5;
@Tag.Pressure = 101.3;
@Tag.Status = "Running";

// Save to file
@Dataset.File.Recipe001.Save();

Dynamic File Operations

csharp

// Change filename at runtime
@Tag.RecipeNumber = 5;
@Dataset.File.RecipeFile.FileName = 
    string.Format(@"C:\Recipes\Recipe{0}.txt", @Tag.RecipeNumber);

// Load specific recipe
@Dataset.File.RecipeFile.Load();

Recipe Management Example

Recipe Structure

# Recipe_001.txt
ProductCode=WIDGET-A
Temperature=185.5
Pressure=25.0
MixTime=300
Speed=1500

Load Recipe

csharp

public void LoadRecipe(int recipeNumber)
{
    // Set dynamic filename
    @Tag.CurrentRecipe = recipeNumber;
    
    // Load file
    @Dataset.File.RecipeFile.Load();
    
    // Verify loading
    if (@Dataset.File.RecipeFile.Status == "OK")
    {
        @Tag.RecipeLoaded = true;
        @Display.MessageBox("Recipe loaded successfully");
    }
}

Save Recipe

csharp

public void SaveRecipe()
{
    // Current values saved to file
    @Dataset.File.RecipeFile.Save();
    
    // Create backup
    string backup = string.Format(
        @"C:\Recipes\Backup\Recipe_{0}.txt",
        DateTime.Now.ToString("yyyyMMdd_HHmmss")
    );
    
    File.Copy(@Dataset.File.RecipeFile.FileName, backup);
}

Configuration Exchange

Export Settings

csharp

// Export current configuration
@Dataset.File.ConfigExport.FileType = "XML";
@Dataset.File.ConfigExport.XMLSchemaType = "TagObject";
@Dataset.File.ConfigExport.Save();

Import Settings

csharp

// Import from external system
@Dataset.File.ConfigImport.Load();

// Apply imported values
if (@Dataset.File.ConfigImport.Status == "OK")
{
    // Values automatically mapped to tags
    ApplyConfiguration();
}

Enabling Dataset Files

If Dataset Files menu is not visible:

1. Click Home icon
2. Under Solution Explorer Preferences
3. Set Filter to Show All Modules and Features

Alternative:

• Use Filter selector in sidebar
• Select appropriate visibility level

Best Practices Checklist 

• Use absolute paths - Avoid relative paths in production
• Validate data - Check values after loading
• Handle errors - Check Status property
• Backup files - Before overwriting
• Use appropriate format - XML for structure, TXT for simple
• Document mappings - Clear tag-to-file relationships
• Test thoroughly - All file operations

Error Handling

csharp

try
{
    @Dataset.File.MyFile.Load();
    
    if (@Dataset.File.MyFile.Status != "OK")
    {
        string error = @Dataset.File.MyFile.ErrorMessage;
        LogError(error);
    }
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    // Handle file system errors
    @Tag.FileError = ex.Message;
}

Troubleshooting

File not found:

• Verify path exists
• Check tag values in dynamic paths
• Confirm permissions
• Review network access

Load/Save fails:

• Check file format matches FileType
• Verify file not locked
• Confirm write permissions
• Review tag mappings

Data corruption:

• Validate file encoding
• Check decimal separators
• Verify date formats
• Review special characters

Missing menu option:

• Change Solution Explorer filter
• Enable all modules and features
• Restart Designer if needed

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