MSCONS Import

In general, you can use all codes that represent the 30-digit meter point ID and can be read by the barcode app. We recommend you to use ISO 18004 QR codes, as they meet all requirements. Print the graphics on suitable stickers and attach them to the meters.

  1. Manual MSCONS upload via web interface.
  2. Automatic MSCONS import via Windows directory (monitored folder).
  3. Automatic MSCONS import via POP3 e-mail.

Manual MSCONS upload

Importing MSCONS files manually is rather uncommon. You nevertheless have the possibility to upload an MSCONS file to the visual energy 4 web (to the medium properties in the Acquisition area).

 

A new browser window opens and you can select an MSCONS file from the local computer or a network drive using the corresponding button. It is recommended to check the file for possible errors and incompatibilities before uploading it. In the following example, only one meter point was found. In addition, the visual energy 4 system did not recognize some of the OBIS codes. When uploading files, only the detected meter points with OBIS codes known to the visual energy 4 system will be imported.

 

MSCONS import via windows folder

Valid MSCONS files in the incoming folder of the EDIFACT service are automatically processed by visual energy 4 and the measured data contained are imported with the requested OBIS code. This service uses the recipient ID defined in the MSCONS file to check which component (visual energy 4 web / bus master, etc.) the file belongs to. For this reason, the recipient ID in the MSCONS file containing the market participant has to be identical to the recipient ID in the Participants.xml  file.

At short intervals, the visual energy 4 EDIFACT service checks and then answers the request using the corresponding CONTRL (syntax and service report messages for automatic EDI processing), APERAK (application error and acknowledgment messages) as well as MSCONS files.

EDIFACT requests can be sent to visual energy 4 web as well as to the bus master.

Note for administrators:

The input folder is defined in the App.config file:

<addkey="inFolder" value="D:\Temp\edifact\In/>

The same applies to the working directory:

<add key="workFolder" value="D:\Temp\edifact\Work"/>

The answer is sent to a market participant known to the system. The market participants are defined in the Participants.xml file in the working directory. visual energy 4 is always given the ID '0000000000000'.

<?xml version=1.0" encodig="utf-8"?>

<ArrayofMarketParticipant xmlns:xsi="http://w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd=:"http://w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">

  <MarketParticipant>

    <ID>0000000000000</ID>

    <Name>This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.</Name>

    <CommunicationName>This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.</CommunicationName>

    <CommunicationType>This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.</CommunicationType>

  </MarketParticipant>

  <MarketParticipant>
    <ID>1234567890123</ID>
    <Name>Extern</Name>
    <CommunicationName>D:\Temp\edifact\out</CommunicationName>
    <CommunicationType>File</CommunicationType>
  </MarketParticipant>

...

The row for the working directory for CONTRL, APERAK and MSCONS is decisive for the export:

<CommunicationName>D:\Temp\edifact\out</CommunicationName>

The communication type has to be 'File':

 

<CommunicationType>File</CommunicationType>

MSCONS import via POP3 mailbox

Creating / configuring a network operator

The automation service can periodically retrieve mails from a POP3 mail server and extract and then import MSCONS files attached to received mails. To configure this, follow these steps:

  1. Create and configure a network operator.
  2. Create/configure a meter point.
  3. Retrieve POP3 e-mail via System -> Activate automation.
  4. The first time you do this, send a manual data request.

Enter your own market participant identification (ILN) in addition to the correct network operator number and the market participant number (ILN) for the network operator. Furthermore, define the organization that is responsible for the code. In Germany, this is 293 for current and 332 for gas:

Creating / configuring a meter point

The meter point has to be of the 'File' type.

POP3 MSCONS retrieval

Retrieve POP3 e-mail via System -> Activate automation.

Sending a manual request

The first time you request data meter points from an external body via ORDERS, you have to do so manually. After requesting the points manually the first time, visual energy recognizes the state of the existing data and can make the following time range requests automatically.