This section describes a few rules and gives some background information on handling ETS projects and KNX product database entries within the context of ETS5.
Product Database Entries
Data or files (= KNX product database entry) of the KNX manufacturer which must be imported into ETS and can be loaded either directly from the manufacturer’s website or via the Online KNX Product Catalog (keyword, VD/KNXPROD files). They describe the functionality of the actual KNX devices in a KNX installation. In ETS, they serve as a type of one-to-one description (in terms of software) of the functionality a real device in the KNX installation offers (group objects and parameters).
A product database entry or the partial ...database... contained there is a designation that grew over time because product database entries in ETS2/3 really are/were one-to-one exports of partial areas of the ETS2/3 database. As of ETS4, these are structured (textually readable) XML formats.
Product
From the perspective of ETS, this is a useful function for the actual installation (e.g. the product, 4-fold button). A product database entry (see above) itself, can contain 1..n (different) products (keyword, manufacturer’s overall database).
Device
Devices are real pieces of hardware. They are physically mounted in the actual installation. A device itself can contain more than one product (e.g. 4-fold button with built-in room temperature controller).
Catalog Entry
The Catalogs view shows a corresponding entry (the catalog entry) for every product. It consists of the following significant parts.
•KNX manufacturer
•Product name
•Product description
•Available medium
•Product order number
•Application name associated with the product
Projects
A project reflects the sum of all devices and thus the overall functionality in a KNX installation. A project serves as a container or boundary with respect to other projects or real KNX installations, regardless of whether identical functionalities are used in them. Furthermore, administrative data, such as names, comments, dates and times, etc. are stored in a project.
As of ETS4, exported projects consist of individual folders and the readable XML files contained there.