Bidirectional Data Exchange
for TIA Portal Projects
Export program blocks, tags, UDTs, hardware configurations, alarms, and project texts from TIA Portal - then import them back after editing, migrating, or translating. Over 20 MCP tools and REST endpoints for structured data exchange.
Supported Data Categories and Formats
Every major TIA Portal data type has a dedicated export and import path
| Data Category | Export Formats | Import Formats |
|---|---|---|
| Program Blocks | SimaticML (XML), SCL source, STL source | SimaticML (XML), SCL source |
| Tag Tables | XML, CSV, XLSX | XML, CSV, XLSX |
| User Data Types (UDTs) | XML | XML |
| Hardware Configuration | AutomationML (AML) | AutomationML (AML) |
| Watch Tables | XML | XML |
| PLC Alarms | XLSX | XLSX |
| Supervisions | XLSX, XML | XLSX, XML (settings) |
| Project Texts (i18n) | XLSX | XLSX |
Export and Import Capabilities
Structured data exchange for every stage of your automation lifecycle
Block Export
Export any program block - OB, FB, FC, DB - as SimaticML XML for full fidelity, or as SCL/STL source for text-based processing. Source exports can be tracked in Git, reviewed in code review tools, or fed into AI analysis pipelines.
Tag Sheet Exchange
Export tag tables to CSV or XLSX, hand them to electrical engineers for verification or modification, then import the updated sheet back. Supports bulk tag creation and updates without clicking through the TIA Portal interface.
Hardware Configuration
Export the complete hardware topology as AutomationML - a standard XML-based format used across automation vendors. Import AML files to replicate hardware configurations across projects or restore from backup.
Alarm Management
Export PLC alarm text lists to XLSX for review or multi-language editing. Import the updated file back into TIA Portal. Supports both alarm instance texts and alarm text list exports in a single operation.
Project Texts (i18n)
Export all user-visible strings in the project - HMI texts, alarm messages, tag comments - to a structured XLSX file. Send it to a translation agency or edit externally, then import the translations back for multi-language deployments.
Direct Import
Import SCL source files directly into TIA Portal to restore or migrate blocks. Import tag tables from CSV or XLSX files generated by any tool. Import hardware AML to replicate device configurations. All imports are scriptable via REST API.
Typical Workflows
Real automation tasks that the export/import tools make repeatable and scriptable
Backup Pipeline
Schedule a nightly export of all blocks (SimaticML), tag tables (XML), UDTs, and hardware (AML) to a file server or Git repository.
Each export run produces a snapshot of the project state in human-readable or standard formats.
To restore, import the exported files back into TIA Portal using the corresponding import tools - no manual steps required.
Tag Sheet Workflow
Export the PLC tag table to XLSX. The electrical engineer reviews addresses, comments, and data types in Excel - the tool they already know.
The engineer adds missing tags, corrects addresses, and returns the updated XLSX file.
Import the updated XLSX back into TIA Portal. New tags are created, existing ones updated - without touching the TIA Portal GUI.
Multi-Language Project
Export all project texts (HMI labels, alarm messages, tag comments) to a single XLSX file with one column per language.
Send the XLSX to the translation team. They fill in the target language columns using standard office tools.
Import the completed translation file back into TIA Portal. All languages are updated simultaneously across the entire project.
Export and Import Tools Reference
All tools available via REST API and MCP protocol
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| export_block | Exports a program block as SimaticML XML. Preserves full block structure including interface, body, and attributes. |
| export_block_source | Exports a block as raw SCL or STL source text. Suitable for Git tracking, diff, and AI-based code review. |
| import_scl_source | Imports an SCL source file into TIA Portal, creating or overwriting the corresponding block. |
| export_tag_table_to_xml | Exports a PLC tag table to XML format with full tag attributes. |
| export_tag_table_to_csv | Exports a PLC tag table to CSV. Compatible with Excel and any text-based tooling. |
| export_tag_table_to_excel | Exports a PLC tag table to XLSX format for direct editing in Excel. |
| import_tags_from_csv | Creates or updates PLC tags from a CSV file. Supports bulk tag operations. |
| import_tags_from_xlsx | Creates or updates PLC tags from an XLSX file. Matches the export_tag_table_to_excel format. |
| export_udt | Exports a User Data Type definition to XML. |
| import_udt | Imports a UDT definition from XML into the TIA Portal project. |
| export_hardware | Exports the device hardware configuration as AutomationML (AML). |
| import_hardware | Imports a hardware configuration from an AML file into TIA Portal. |
| export_watch_table | Exports a watch or force table to XML. |
| import_table | Imports a watch table from XML into the TIA Portal project. |
| export_plc_alarm_text_lists_xlsx | Exports PLC alarm text lists to XLSX for review or multi-language editing. |
| export_plc_alarm_instance_texts_xlsx | Exports alarm instance texts (per alarm class) to XLSX. |
| import_plc_alarm_text_lists_xlsx | Imports updated alarm text lists from an XLSX file back into TIA Portal. |
| export_supervisions_xlsx | Exports supervision settings to XLSX format. |
| import_supervisions_xlsx | Imports supervision settings from XLSX into the TIA Portal project. |
| export_project_texts | Exports all user-visible project texts (HMI labels, comments, alarm messages) to XLSX for external translation. |
| import_project_texts | Imports translated project texts from XLSX back into TIA Portal, updating all language columns simultaneously. |