Importing and Exporting Data

There are lots of ways to import and export different types of objects and data within SolarFarmer.

The following table explains the different object types, and the ways to import and export them. There are quite a few gaps where the functionality isn't yet available. Please let us know (email solarfarmer@dnv.com) any feature requests for missing functionality and we may add that in future releases.

Note

You can export most of workbook settings to an XML file in the Report chapter of the UI, then click the 'Export workbook settings to XML...' button. (This export functionality is not yet available via scripting)

Set up site

Object type	Import into SolarFarmer	Export from SolarFarmer
Map backgrounds Map Backgrounds	Geo-referenced images Non-geo-referenced images (with rectify) Download imagery	Not available
Terrain Terrain	Elevation files Download terrain	Included in the Export to PVsyst But not generally available
Horizon Horizon line	PVsyst and Meteonorm horizon files SolarFarmer horizon files	SolarFarmer horizon files

Climate

Object type	Import into SolarFarmer	Export from SolarFarmer
Solar Resources Solar Resources	Various solar file formats Download from PVGIS	Not available
Albedo Albedo	Not available	Not available

Shading objects

Object type	Import into SolarFarmer	Export from SolarFarmer
Shading Objects Shading Objects	Collada objects (for 3D models) Not available for shading region objects	Not available

Components

Object type	Import into SolarFarmer	Export from SolarFarmer
Module Specs PV Modules	PAN Files SolarFarmer Module Spec	SolarFarmer Module Spec
Inverter Specs Inverters	OND Files SolarFarmer Inverter Spec	SolarFarmer Inverter Spec
Rack Specs Racks	SolarFarmer Rack System Spec	SolarFarmer Rack System Spec
Tracker Specs Trackers	SolarFarmer Tracker System Spec	SolarFarmer Tracker System Spec
Inverter Block Specs Inverter Blocks	Not available	Not available
Transformer Specs Transformers	Not available	Not available

Lay out plant

Object type	Import into SolarFarmer	Export from SolarFarmer
Racks/Trackers Adding racks/trackers	Not generally available See Custom Tracker Rotations for trackers	To Google Earth (Docs) To Shapefile (Docs) To PVsyst (Docs)
Layout Regions Layout Regions	From Shapefiles (Docs) From Google Earth files (Docs)	Not available
Exclusion Regions Exclusion Regions	From Shapefiles (Docs) From Google Earth files (Docs)	Not available
Inverter Instances Adding inverters	Not available	Not available
Transformer Instances Adding transformers	Not available	Not available
Inverter Block Instances Inverter blocks	Not available	Not available
Electrical Configuration Electrical Configuration	Not available	Not available
Site Statistics Site Statistics Dialog	Not available	Not available

Calculate energy

Object type	Import into SolarFarmer	Export from SolarFarmer
Soiling Effects Setup Yield Calculation	Not available	Report > Export workbook settings to XML...
Calculation Settings Setup Yield Calculation	Not available	Report > Export workbook settings to XML...
Yield Results Yield Results	Not available	'Export results to CSV file...' button (top-left of screen) Output files (Docs for local) Output files (Docs for cloud) Report > Create energy assessment Word report...
Effects Effects Diagram	Not available	'Export results to TSV file...' button (top-right of screen) Output files (Docs for local) Output files (Docs for cloud) Report > Create energy assessment Word report...

Importing from API JSON

See Import from and Export to API JSON for importing from and exporting to API JSON. This imports/exports elements from the whole workbook.