Importing and Exporting CSV

Introduction

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To aid in mass channel configuration and changes, HLS allows the user to export channel information to CSV (Comma Separated Values). This is a common text-based data export that can be imported in various programs, such as Excel. This exported data can then be viewed in another program, modified, and then imported back into HLS.

• Some potential uses for this feature include:
  • Adjusting channel information
  • Creating new channels
  • Printing channel information

Exporting Data to CSV

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Figure 11-4

Figure 11-5

• To export your channel data, open the channel manager (Manage Channels -> Manage Raw Channels).
• In the bottom-right of the window, click Export CSV File (see Figure 11-4).
• A window will open confirming that the export is complete (see Figure 11-5).
• The location of the exported file will be inside the HLS folder for the sequence you exported information from.
  • Ex.: Channel info exported from a sequence named "Carol". Go into the HLS/Carol folder and the exported file will be named Carol Export.csv.

Working With Exported Data

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Figure 11-6

• Note: For this example, Excel will be used, but any program that can manipulate CSV files will work.
• Open the exported file in Excel.
• The Channel information will be listed in column format with headings explaining what each column value is for (see Figure 11-6).
  • Guid: This is a unique identifier given by HLS for that channel.
  • Current Name: The current name of the channel.
  • Universe: DMX Universe the channel is assigned to.
  • Channel: Output channel assignment.
  • RGB: Boolean value (0 or 1) for whether the channel is RGB.
  • Prev Group: Preview Group assignment.
  • Prev Number: Preview Group Number.
  • New Name: This field is used by HLS when channels are being renamed.
• Make desired changes Excel. Know that HLS is unable to apply any error-correction for values you put in here since you are modifying it outside of HLS.
• If you add channels, you will not have a GUID. HLS will assign this on import.

Importing CSV Data Into HLS

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Figure 11-7

• Once changes have been made, save the CSV file.
• Go ahead and save your HLS sequence in case there is a problem with the import.
• Click Manage Channels -> Import CSV and Update Raw Channels.
• You will be prompted with a warning about saving your sequence. Click YES since you have already saved (Or click NO and save now).

• There are two ways to import the data (see Figure 11-7):
  • Import based on GUID: Import and use the GUID when making changes to channel data.
  • Import based on Current Name: Ignore the GUID field on import and copy any changes based on the Current Name field.

• Specific actions to take with the imported data:
  • Replace Current Name with New Name: The "original" name of the channel will be replaced with the one you have entered into "new name".
  • Replace Universe Number: Overwrite old DMX Universe number with data from CSV.
  • Replace Channel Number: Overwrite old Output Channel number with data from CSV.
  • Replace Preview Group: Overwrite old Preview Group number with data from CSV.
  • Replace Preview Number: Overwrite old Preview Number with data from CSV.

• Once you have made the selections you need, click OK.
• Select your CSV file to import from and click open.
• HLS will now import the CSV data and will let you know how many matches were made, then save your sequence.

• Important: If you create NEW channels in CSV, you MUST FIRST create empty channels in the raw channel manager so HLS has a place to move that data into the sequence. If you do not do this, the data from those new channels will not be imported.

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