DrAmaT The art of programming - ABB - Export to ABB archive

What the export is for
Starting the export
Export options
Structure of the archive
Loading the modules on the robot

▲ What the export is for

The export puts the RAPID modules open in the editor into one ZIP file with the folder structure of an ABB backup (RAPID/TASK1/PROGMOD, RAPID/TASK1/SYSMOD, ...). Optionally it creates a program file *.pgf which lists all program modules - on the FlexPendant all modules are then loaded in one operation (Load Program). The controller does not read ZIP files - unpack the archive on the PC or on the USB stick first.

Export options of the ABB archive.

▲ Starting the export

ABB » More » Export to ABB archive. The option is active when a RAPID module (*.mod, *.sys) is the current window.

The same export is started with the

button in the Robot toolbar (next to Compare files). It exports for the robot type of the current program; if no robot program is open, for the active robot project in the project tree. Without an open program and without an active robot project the editor asks to set a robot project as active (context menu Set active robot) or to open a program.

The export in the menu ABB » More » Export to ABB archive.

Before the export save all programs that are open in the editor - the export works on the files on the disk. If a program has unsaved changes, the editor activates it and stops the export.

The backup folder is the folder containing system.xml or the subfolder BACKINFO. The modules keep their path relative to it, e.g. RAPID/TASK1/PROGMOD/MainModule.mod. If modules of more than one backup are open, the editor asks which backup should be exported. Modules outside a backup are put, after a confirmation, into RAPID/TASK1/PROGMOD (program modules) and RAPID/TASK1/SYSMOD (system modules).

▲ Export options

Option	What is put into the archive
Modules open in the editor	every open .mod / .sys under its path in the backup
Generate program file *.pgf for each task folder	for every folder with program modules a .pgf listing these modules, named after the task (RAPID/TASK1/PROGMOD/TASK1.pgf*). System modules are not listed. Off by default
Entire backup directory (for Restore system)	the complete backup folder; all other options are disabled

Load Program replaces the program. Loading a *.pgf removes all program modules of the task and loads only the modules listed in the file (system modules are not affected). If only some modules were changed, load them one by one with Load Module, or export all program modules of the task.

Restore system replaces the complete configuration of the controller - use a full backup only for the same robot.

After the export

The editor shows a summary with the number of files in the archive. Show Details... lists every file of the archive with its path, the files that were skipped and why (another robot, machine data, file not found) and the notes of the export.

Summary after the export - Show Details... lists the content of the archive.

The archive is written to a temporary file first and replaces the target file only when it is complete - if something goes wrong (disk full, file open in another program), no half-written ZIP is left on the disk. Two different files that would end up under the same name in the archive stop the export with a list of the conflicting files. The same file selected twice (e.g. open in the editor and part of a selected folder) is simply added once.

The selected options are remembered for the next export.

▲ Structure of the archive

Example - two open modules, options Modules open in the editor and Generate program file:

Robot_R01.zip
 └ RAPID/TASK1/PROGMOD/MainModule.mod
 └ RAPID/TASK1/PROGMOD/Welding.mod
 └ RAPID/TASK1/PROGMOD/TASK1.pgf

▲ Loading the modules on the robot

Unpack the ZIP on a USB stick (keep the folders, the *.pgf must be in the same folder as the modules).
On the FlexPendant set the controller to manual mode and stop the program.
ABB menu » Program Editor » Tasks and Programs » File » Load Program..., select the *.pgf - all modules listed in it are loaded.
Single modules: Program Editor » Modules » File » Load Module...
Full backup (option Entire backup directory): ABB menu » Backup and Restore » Restore System..., select the unpacked backup folder; the controller restarts.
Check the program (PP to Main) before starting in automatic mode.

Make a backup of the controller (Backup and Restore » Backup Current System) before loading the new modules. On OmniCore controllers the same functions are in the Code and Backup and Restore apps.

See also the export for the other controllers: VKRC, KRC, VFanuc, Yaskawa