Creating a DLA File Manually

Owned by Nina Cardillo
Last updated: 08-Jan-2024
5 min read

For SmartServer 3.1 or prior, see Defining Datapoint Properties (Release 3.1). 

This section describes how to create a DLA file manually and defines the datapoint properties file parameters. After you manually create the DLA file, you can use the Datapoint Properties widget to import it into the SmartServer. See Defining Datapoint Properties with the CMS Datapoint Properties Widget for information on how to use the Datapoint Properties widget. 

You can create a DLA requirements file as a CSV file that lists initial value, logging, and alarming requirements for datapoints. A DLA file contains the following embedded metadata tags, anywhere in the file, but typically in the first line:
#filetype,dla

This file is categorized by its extension .dla or .csv (not case sensitive), and the #filetype tag equal to dla (not case sensitive) and is identified by its filename. Compound extensions such as .dla.csv can also be used.

This section consists of the following:

DLA File Parameters

A DLA file contains the following columns (headings are not case sensitive):

Parameter                              Description
ProtocolValid values are: LON, IAP, ModBus, and BACnet
Device TypeDevice type from XIF file (not required for IAP). The device type is defined by a DTD record. Keyed to the PID in the XIF files that are packaged in the DTD.
Datapoint

Fully qualified name as derived from the XIF file including block name, index and datapoint name.
For example: LightSensor/0/nvoLightLevel or TempSensor/0/nvoTemperature

MonitoredYes or No
Monitoring MethodEvent Driven or Polled
Poll Interval

Polling interval for use by the protocol engine.

This parameter is used for all monitored datapoints (not just polled datapoints).

Publish IntervalPublishing interval for use by the protocol engine. Typically this is a multiple of the polling interval. If not a multiple, then the highest multiple that does not exceed the specified interval is used.

Expected Update Interval

Expected average number of seconds between updates. If 0, updates are not expected and included in traffic estimation. You can specify as a fractional value such as 0.5 seconds. Set this parameter to the Min Publish Interval value if the Expected Update Interval is blank and the Min Publish Interval is changed. This value is used for traffic estimation only and does not otherwise impact monitoring.

Publish Min Delta Time

Minimum number of seconds between published values. If 0, then there is no time throttle.

Publish Min Delta Value

Valid values are:

Any – publishes data on any change.
Always – publishes data on every update.
<numeric delta value> – specifies a minimum change from the last published value. For example, if you want a delta value of 6, then enter 6.

Initial ValueFor inputs only. Specifies the initial value. If blank, then no initial value.
Provision Initial Value

Yes to write the initial value to the device when the device is provisioned; No to not write the initial value to the device when the device is provisioned.

Log Interval 1
Log Interval 2
Log Interval 3

Sets the data logging intervals. Typically a multiple of the polling interval. If not a multiple, then the highest multiple that does not exceed the specified interval is used.

Log 1 Expected Interval
Log 2 Expected Interval
Log 3 Expected Interval

Sets the expected interval between logged values for Log 1/Log 2/Log 3. The expected interval is only used for calculating estimates of log size growth per day or per year, and does not effect whether or not a value is logged. For a datapoint configured for periodic polling, the default value for the log expected interval is the minimum interval for the log. If an expected interval for a datapoint that has been configured for periodic polling is not set, and the minimum interval for the log is changed, then the CMS will update the default value for the log expected interval to the new minimum interval for the log.

Log Retention 1
Log Retention 2
Log Retention 3

Sets the data retention period (in seconds) for each of the three log intervals.
Log Min Delta TimeMinimum number of seconds between logged values. If 0, then there is no time throttle.
Log Min Delta Value

Valid values are:

Any – logs data on any change.
Always – logs data on every update.
<numeric delta value> – specifies a minimum change from the last published value. For example, if you want a delta value of 6, then enter 6.

Alarm EnabledYes or No
Alarm Type Name

If defined, then it appears in the Alarm Type list. 

Note: Alarm Name must be unique across all alarm types and across all device types for handling alarm assignments.

Alarm DetailsAlarm description

High Warning
Low Warning

Sets high and low warning limits.

High Error
Low Error

Sets high and low error limits.
VisibleYes to show datapoints (default); No to hide datapoints. 
Presets

Sets the presets name and value.

If you are using Presets

Presets should be defined in the Datapoint Properties widget or the DLA file file prior to the deployment of connections. If you configure presets in the Datapoint Properties widget or the DLA file after deploying connections, then different connection results will be produced.

Localization

Sets the localization transformation rules.

If you are using Localization

Localization should be defined in the Datapoint Properties widget or the DLA file file prior to the deployment of connections. If you configure presets in the Datapoint Properties widget or the DLA file after deploying connections, then different connection results will be produced.

LoggedYes for logging; No for no logging.
Tags

A list of tags as defined in Datapoint Tags, with each tag specified as <tag name>:<tag value, allowing you to add tag datapoint values that are forwarded to a data analytics application.

Tags parameter is available with SmartServer 3.6 and higher.


DLA File Examples

To use the examples below, copy the text from the example to a text only file (e.g., Windows Notepad) and save the file using the .dla extension. To view the contents in Excel, use the .dla.csv extension. (File extensions are not case sensitive.)

Without Presets and Localization

#filetype,dla
Protocol,Device Type,Datapoint,Monitored,Monitoring Method,Poll Interval,Publish Interval,Expected Update Interval,Publish Min Delta Time,Publish Min Delta Value,Initial Value,Provision Initial Value,Log Interval 1,Log Interval 2,Log Interval 3,Log 1 Expected Interval,Log 2 Expected Interval,Log 3 Expected Interval,Log Retention 1,Log Retention 2,Log Retention 3,Log Min Delta Time,Log Min Delta Value,Alarm Enabled,Alarm Type Name,Alarm Details,High Warning,Low Warning,High Error,Low Error,Visible,Presets,Localization,Logged
lon,SC100-MP,Digital Input/0/nvoValue,Yes,Polled,150.0,,10.0,10.0,always,,,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,14,60,730,,,No,,,,,,,Yes,,,No
lon,6kEvbMultiSensor,Switch/1/nvoValue,Yes,Polled,150.0,,10.0,10.0,always,,,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,14,60,730,,,No,,,,,,,Yes,,,No
#filetype,dla
Protocol,Device Type,Datapoint,Monitored,Monitoring Method,Poll Interval,Publish Interval,Expected Update Interval,Publish Min Delta Time,Publish Min Delta Value,Initial Value,Provision Initial Value,Log Interval 1,Log Interval 2,Log Interval 3,Log 1 Expected Interval,Log 2 Expected Interval,Log 3 Expected Interval,Log Retention 1,Log Retention 2,Log Retention 3,Log Min Delta Time,Log Min Delta Value,Alarm Enabled,Alarm Type Name,Alarm Details,High Warning,Low Warning,High Error,Low Error,Visible,Presets,Localization,Logged
modbus,ADAM-4150,DI/0/DI_1,Yes,Polled,2.0,,,,any,,,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,14,60,730,,,No,,,,,,,Yes,,,No
#filetype,dla
Protocol,Device Type,Datapoint,Monitored,Monitoring Method,Poll Interval,Publish Interval,Expected Update Interval,Publish Min Delta Time,Publish Min Delta Value,Initial Value,Provision Initial Value,Log Interval 1,Log Interval 2,Log Interval 3,Log 1 Expected Interval,Log 2 Expected Interval,Log 3 Expected Interval,Log Retention 1,Log Retention 2,Log Retention 3,Log Min Delta Time,Log Min Delta Value,Alarm Enabled,Alarm Type Name,Alarm Details,High Warning,Low Warning,High Error,Low Error,Visible,Presets,Localization,Logged
bacnet,VT7200-1H1C-3,device/0/BI:29,Yes,Polled,150.0,10.0,10.0,always,,,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,14,60,730,,,No,,,,,,,Yes,,,No

With Presets

Presets column follows Visible:

#filetype,dla
Protocol,Device Type,Datapoint,Monitored,Monitoring Method,Poll Interval,Publish Interval,Expected Update Interval,Publish Min Delta Time,Publish Min Delta Value,Initial Value,Provision Initial Value,Log Interval 1,Log Interval 2,Log Interval 3,Log Retention 1,Log Retention 2,Log Retention 3,Log Min Delta Time,Log Min Delta Value,Alarm Type Name,Alarm Details,High Warning,Low Warning,High Error,Low Error,Visible,Presets,Localization,Logged
modbus,ADAM-4150,DI/0/DI_0,Yes,Polled,2.0,,,,any,,,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,14,60,730,,,No,,,,,,,Yes,"[{""name"":""on"",""value"":1},{""name"":""off"",""value"":0}]",,No

With Localization

The Localization settings shown in the example below convert a Celsius datapoint value to degrees Fahrenheit with a precision of 1 decimal digit. The Localization column follows the Presets column.

#filetype,dla
Protocol,Device Type,Datapoint,Monitored,Monitoring Method,Poll Interval,Publish Interval,Expected Update Interval,Publish Min Delta Time,Publish Min Delta Value,Initial Value,Provision Initial Value,Log Interval 1,Log Interval 2,Log Interval 3,Log Retention 1,Log Retention 2,Log Retention 3,Log Min Delta Time,Log Min Delta Value,Alarm Type Name,Alarm Details,High Warning,Low Warning,High Error,Low Error,Visible,Presets,Localization,Logged
bacnet,VT7200-1H1C-3,device/0/AV:7,Yes,Polled,150.0,,10.0,10.0,always,,,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,14,60,730,,,No,,,,,,,Yes,,"{""value"":{""unit"":""deg F"",""transformA"":1.8,""transformC"":32,""transformP"":1}}",No

Formula Examples

Presets Formulas

These example formulas can be copied into an Excel cell.  For structured datapoints, you need to specify the value for all fields in the datapoint.

Datapoint formatDatapoint typeFormula
ScalarSNVT_count
"[{""name"":""on"",""value"":50},{""name"":""off"",""value"":0}]"
ScalarSNVT_count
"[{""name"":""on"",""value"":1},{""name"":""off"",""value"":0}]"
Structured SNVT_switch
"[{""name"":""On"",""value"":{""state"":1,""value"":100}},{""name"":""Off"",""value"":{""state"":0,""value"":0}},{""name"":""Mid"",""value"":{""state"":1,""value"":50}}]"

Localization Formulas

These example formulas can be copied into an Excel cell. In the example below, SNVT_temp_p is a scalar datapoint. SNVT_temp_setpt is a structured datapoint with six temperature fields. You only need to populate localization formulas for as needed (i.e, you do not have populate localization formulas for all fields).

Datapoint formatDatapoint typeFormula
ScalarSNVT_temp_p
"{""value"":{""unit"":""deg F"",""transformA"":1.8,""transformC"":32,""transformP"":1}}"
Structured
(specifies localization for all fields)		SNVT_temp_setpt
"{""value"":{""standby_cool"":{""unit"":""deg F"",""transformA"":1.8,""transformC"":32,""transformP"":1},""standby_heat"":{""unit"":""deg F"",""transformA"":1.8,""transformC"":32,""transformP"":1},""occupied_cool"":{""unit"":""deg F"",""transformA"":1.8,""transformC"":32,""transformP"":1},""occupied_heat"":{""unit"":""deg F"",""transformA"":1.8,""transformC"":32,""transformP"":1},""unoccupied_cool"":{""unit"":""deg F"",""transformA"":1.8,""transformC"":32,""transformP"":1},""unoccupied_heat"":{""unit"":""deg F"",""transformA"":1.8,""transformC"":32,""transformP"":1}}}"
Structured
(specifies localization for some fields)		SNVT_temp_setpt
"{""value"":{""standby_cool"":{""unit"":""deg F"",""transformA"":1.8,""transformC"":32,""transformP"":1},""standby_heat"":{""unit"":""deg F"",""transformA"":1.8,""transformC"":32,""transformP"":1}}}"

DLA File Validation

The schema.ini file may be used to perform simple data validation when creating a DLA file with Excel. The schema.ini file is available here.