Create_linknx_object_definitions_from_ETS_group-address_exports

The following might help you to create and document the definitions of <object ... > lines for the use in linknx. I have once created a tiny excel-spreadsheet to keep track of my addresses and to have an easy and transparent way to change attributes or other settings (enabling/disabling of logging, persistence etc.) later on.

You can download the excel "tool" from my server: http://autom8.no-ip.org/linknxfan/ <http://autom8.no-ip.org/linknxfan/>

To easily import the definition from ETS, do the following:

1) open your project in ETS
2) go to the "group-address definition"-window.
3) in the "edit"-menu choose "export group addresses"
4) select "1/3 (groupname/main-,middle, sub...) (sorry, I don't have an english ETS here for reference)
5) as seperator you need to select either semicolon or comma - that depends on your excel. (My english excel works well with semicolon - but maybe you have to test with comma on your excel with a different language.
6) export this to a csv-file
7) open the csv-file in excel
8) copy the columns "A", "B", "C", "D" to the columns "A", "B", "C", "D" in the linknx_objects.xls (just remove my entries I have there as an example)
9) dont change the "grey" columns "F" and "M" ! :)
10) enter the corresponding (supported) datapoint-types in column G. I have created a drop-down box to reduce mistakes. (If additional datatypes are supported later...you can just add them to the "references"-tab)
11) add the "flags" in Column "I" (cwtus...)
12) if you want to add persistence (i.e. the change of a value is written to a single file), just add a "x" to column "J"-"Persist?" (I use persistence to read the value of an address in the RRDTool import ...see the other article :)
13) if a value-change shall also be logged sequentially, add a "x" to column "K"-"Log"
14) if you use a "listener" in knxweb to reflect the status in visual controls, you can add the listener GAD in column "L"
15) you can add further comments in column "E" and a "type" in column "H". I just use them for filtering later to apply changes. These colums don't have other reasons.

...if you are happy with all your settings at the end, just select all rows in column "M", copy them and paste them in an editor (like notepad++) between the <objects>...<objects/> - tag of a linknx - definitions file.

Hope this helps and makes definitions more transparent and easier to maintain.
Best Regards, auto-mate