Typical Formats of the Most Common Data Files
The Hard-disk contains several type of
data files. In the root directory are three files with the extension of ‘.FLO'.
The three files of this type are the:
 | SYSTEM File (sys.flo) |
| INGREDIENT file (ingr.flo) |
| BIN file (bin.flo) |
* Files with other extensions are backup copies (*.bak) or are
files of another type.
* Formulas are usually found in a sub-directory C:\FOR. All
Formula files use ‘.FOR' extensions i.e 12.for.
All FLOWCON ingredient, inventory, system and
formula data files are stored in ASCII formats. Typical Formats contain:
| Sub-fields delimited by ‘;' |
| All records ending with a newline (cr/lf). |
| All files terminated by ^Z (control Z). |
The format is suitable for importing into
‘host' databases. It can be created or manipulated with BASIC and it's variants
thereof. Custom report outputs are available which can be read into and charted by
spreadsheet programs like Microsoft's "Excel".
Typical Ingredient File
format:
The ingredient file contains all of the information
concerning ingredients required by the system. The ingredient file contains multiple
records, one for each ingredient, where each record has the following entries:
| Field name |
Data type |
| Ingredient code: |
7
alpha-numeric |
| Ingredient name: |
24
alpha-numeric |
| Lot number: |
5
alpha-numeric |
| Hand/Add,Not/Weighed flag |
1 char
‘h' or ‘n' |
| Underlimit weight: (jog value) |
signed
numeric 0.00 |
| First overlimit weight: (print weight) |
signed
numeric 0.00 |
| Second overlimit weight: (halt weight) |
signed
numeric 0.00 |
| Usage/Inventory/Adjusted flag: |
1 char
‘u', ‘I', or ‘a' |
| beginning inventory wt. |
signed
numeric 0.00 |
| current usage weight |
signed
numeric 0.00 |
| accumulated receipts |
signed
numeric 0.00 |
| [end of typical ingredient entry] |
newline (cr/lf) |
NOTE: Physical inventory is not stored. It is
calculated by: Physical inventory = beginning inventory - usage + receipts.
Sample disk file named 'INGR.FLO':
CORN;CRACKED CORN;; ;30.00;30.00;70.00;i;100000.00;25200.00;25272.00;0.00;0;0;0
DIST;Distiller;; ;30.00;30.00;100.00;u;0.00;7000.00;7050.00;0.00;0;0;0
FINISH;FINISH;; ;30.00;30.00;70.00;i;100000.00;4800.00;4785.00;0.00;0;0;0
HAY;HAY;;n;30.00;30.00;100.00;i;100000.00;8000.00;8070.00;0.00;0;0;0
MICRO;micro water;; ;5.00;5.00;10.00;i;100000.00;0.00;0.00;0.00;0;0;0
SILAGE;SILAGE;;n;20.00;30.00;100.00;i;100000.00;6000.00;6060.00;0.00;0;0;0
START;START;; ;30.00;30.00;70.00;i;100000.00;4800.00;4785.00;0.00;0;0;0
* The first ingredient is Cracked Corn,
the second ingredient is Distiller.
* HAY is a 'not-weighed' ingredient
* Also note this customer has four custom data fields on the end of each record. Added
fields are usually appended to the end of the record, to preserve compatability.
Typical Bin file format:
The bin file holds all of the information
specifically associated with physical ingredient bins. The bin file contains one record
per bin, formatted as follows:
| Field name |
Data type |
| Scale
number |
numeric
1-99 |
| Bin name |
6
alpha-numeric |
| Freefall
time |
numeric 0.0 |
| Freefall
weight |
numeric
0.00 |
| Delivery
pounds/20 sec. |
numeric
0.00 |
| Jog time |
numeric 0.0 |
| Ingredient
assignment code |
7
alpha-numeric |
| [end of typical bin data] |
newline (cr/lf) |
Sample disk file named 'BIN.FLO'
10;;5.0;77.99;300.00;1.0;START
1;;5.0;77.99;300.00;1.0;FINISH
1;;5.0;92.00;1200.00;1.0;CORN
10;;5.0;80.00;1200.00;1.0;CORN
10;;5.0;80.00;100.00;1.0;FINISH
1;;5.0;80.00;20.00;1.0;MICRO
10;;5.0;60.00;300.00;1.0;CORN
0;;0.0;0.00;0.00;0.0;
10;;5.0;100.00;300.00;1.0;FINISH
1;;5.0;50.00;300.00;1.0;START
2;;5.0;200.00;1200.00;1.0;SILAGE
3;;5.0;200.00;1200.00;1.0;HAY
7;;5.0;200.00;1200.00;1.0;DIST
NOTES:
* 1 line per physical bin output relay.
* In this customer, the 8th bin output is not in use.
Numeric entries which do not contain the decimal fraction will be expanded...
i.e. 5 is expanded to 5.0 or 5.00 depending on data type.
Typical System file format:
The System file contains all of the operational
information for the scales, mixer, and other associated mill/plant devices. It contains
multiple records of various types, one for each device. Typical formats follow, and
represent typical entries since each process is custom and may contain more or less
entries and record types as the process dictates:
| Scale record (one per scale): |
|
| Scale
Identifier: |
's'-
indicates this is a scale record |
| Scale number
|
numeric1-99 |
| Scale
'empty' weight: |
numeric 0.00 |
| Door open
max. xsn timer |
numeric 0.0 |
| Door close
max. xsn timer |
numeric 0.0 |
| Max. Scale
dump timer |
numeric 0.0 |
| Delay after
empty |
numeric 0.0 |
| Delay before
1st ingr |
numeric 0.0 |
| [end of scale entry] |
newline (cr/lf) |
| Mixer record: (if a mixer exists.) |
|
| Mixer
Identifier |
'm' -
indicates this is a mixer record |
| Door open
max. xsn timer |
numeric 0.0 |
| Door close
max. xsn timer |
numeric 0.0 |
| Mixer dump
time |
numeric 0.0 |
| [end of mixer entry] |
newline (cr/lf) |
| Misc. operating data: |
|
| System
record identifier |
'z' -
indicates this is a system record |
| Jog limit
count |
numeric 1-99 |
| Scale report
-- printer assignment |
numeric 1-9 |
| Scale alarms
-- printer assignment |
numeric 1-9 |
| Batch ticket
-- printer assignment |
numeric 1-9 |
| Formula
directory path |
11
alpha-numeric |
| Edit
password |
7 alpha
(encoded) |
| Inter-jog
time (delay between jogs) |
numeric 0.0 |
| Batch report
format |
numeric 0-3 |
| Run report
format |
numeric 0-3 |
| Bunkreader
file priority |
numeric 0 or
1 |
| Bunkreader
file name #1 |
8
alpha-numeric |
| Bunkreader
file name #2 |
8
alpha-numeric |
| Customer
name |
17
alpha-numeric |
| Minimum
batch size in lbs |
numeric 0.00 |
| Maximum
batch size in lbs |
numeric 0.00 |
| Auto start
bunkstack |
numeric 0,1
or 2 |
| Security
enable |
numeric 0 or
1 |
| [end of non-custom mixer entries] |
newline (cr/lf) |
Sample disk file named 'SYS.FLO'
s1;20.00;5.0;5.0;10.0;3.0;2.0
m5.0;5.0;4.0
z2;0;0;0;\flow\;=74,845;3.0;3;1;0;BR1;BR2;YourName;
500.00;10000.00;1;0;3.0;3.0;3.0;5.0;20.0;6000.0
* Note this customer has six custom data fields
on the end of the 'z' record. Added fields are usually appended to the end of the record,
to preserve compatability.
Typical Formula (ration)
file format:
The formula file contains information about all
formulations handled by the system.
* There is a separate file for each formulation.
* The file name is the formula number (up to 8 characters) with an extension of
".FOR".
| Formula Header Information: |
[formula code is the file name] |
| Formula name
|
24 alpha
numeric |
| Dry-mix time |
numeric 0.0 |
| Formula date |
8 alpha
numeric |
| Formulated
by |
14 alpha
numeric |
| Maximum
Batch Weight |
numeric 0.00 |
| Mixer dump
pause flag |
numeric 0 or
1 |
| Micro
Formula Name |
8 alpha
numeric |
| Default
Batch Count |
numeric 0.00 |
| Default
Batch Size |
numeric 0.00 |
| [end of record] |
newline (cr/lf) |
| Formulation Data: |
Ingredient
record (one line per ingredient): |
| Ingredient
code |
7 alpha
numeric |
| Requested
weight |
numeric 0.00 |
| Jog pulse
override (opt) |
numeric 0.00 |
| [end of this ingredient record] |
newline (cr/lf) |
Sample Formula file named '.FOR'
Jun1;5.0;3/12/03;Sam Spade;17000.00;0;;1.00;10000.00
FINISH;80.00;0.00;0.00;0.00;0.0
CORN;420.00;0.00;0.00;0.00;0.0
HAY;160.00;0.00;0.00;0.00;0.0
DIST;140.00;0.00;0.00;0.00;0.0
SILAGE;120.00;0.00;0.00;0.00;0.0
START;80.00;0.00;0.00;0.00;0.0
* The first line is the Formula Header information
* The next six lines are the ration, one line per ingredient.
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