ExternalData
References to external data can be inserted in an AutomationML document. For this purpose, an ExternalInterface of the ExternalDataConnector class is attached to an AutomationML object. The ExternalInterface has an attribute of type refURI with the possibility of referencing external data. Watch the example video with an example model.
For references to image files, an image preview is included in the Attribute editor. If a MimeType Attribute is defined, the correct attribute value is automatically inserted.
If a refURI Attribute value is defined, a double click on the ExternalInterface opens the referenced data using the registered Application for the MimeType.
Please note, that the refURI Value can be defined as a relative or as an absolute URI.
AutomationML defines specific interface classes for interfacing with other standards such as COLLADA and PlcOpenXML. For these classes the editor provides specific dialogs which also support referencing of individual objects in the documents by attached URI fragments.
In the presented example the selected PlcOpenXML file is parsed for any exported variables. The result is offered to be used in the definition of a variable interface. A global ID is generated and attached as a fragment to the URI reference.
