KNX Journal 2011-1

KNX Tools
Project export
4 Data exchange
Advantage compared to ETS3
Not only the size of KNX installations is constantly
increasing, KNX is moreover often linked with other
automation systems. An easy exchange of data is therefore
of the essence. This is for instance the case for
visualization systems, showing the status of a KNX
project in a control room. With the newly defined XML
based ETS4 in/export now all data of exported ETS4
projects can be accessed by reading them directly. In
ETS3, access to this data was very limited.
Extra project data
5 Projects
Advantage compared to ETS3
The project documentation does not consist of only
the project file itself: it may also consist of extra information
like CAD drawings, product documentation or
installation manuals. Such data may be missing if not
explicitly requested during hand-over of the project
or may not be kept up to date during the project life
cycle. ETS4 now allows storing and attaching such data
directly to the ETS project. Via a separate dialog, files
can be added to the ETS4 project, deleted or extracted
for viewing purposes.
Detailed log descriptions
6 Projects
Advantage compared to ETS3
Documenting performed steps is important during the
life of a project. ETS 4 allows the installer to create extended
log descriptions. These descriptions can consist
of a title summarizing the log entry as well as a more
elaborate description.
Free group address structure
7 Projects
Advantage compared to ETS3
2 and 3 level group addresses are well known from
ETS3. However, if an installation needs a more granular
group address structure, a three level group address
structure may be too restrictive to meet the project
requirements. ETS4 now allows the user to freely define
one’s group address levels. The ETS4 moreover allows
the use of the entire 16 bit KNX group address space
(compared to only 15 bits in ETS 3).
20 Journal 1/2011