WriteFTP

Writes a data file or appends a data string to a file. This function is typically used to log data results that can be viewed in a file.

Note:
  • The WriteFTP function requires the In-Sight vision system to be Online.
  • Jobs containing this function that are saved in In-Sight Explorer 3.3.0 or higher are only compatible with In-Sight Explorer 3.3.0 and higher.
  • The port number of the FTP server connection can be changed by appending the host name (or IP address) with a colon (:) then the new port number. For example, if the current Host Name was PRODUCTION1, to change the port number from the default (port 21) to port 34, the Host Name parameter would be specified as PRODUCTION1:34.
  • When using the In-Sight emulator as an FTP Server, by default, files are written to the Emulator folder (C:\ProgramData\Cognex\In-Sight\Emulators\x.x.x). In addition to this directory, files can be written to a user-defined location (Authorized FTP directory). For more information on the Emulator directory and the Authorized FTP directory, see Emulation Panel.

WriteFTP Inputs

Syntax: WriteFTP(Event,Host Name,User Name,Password,File Name,Data Format,String,Append)

Parameter Description

Event

 Specifies the event that forces an update.This parameter must be a reference to one of the following:
  • The Image data structure in cell A0, containing the AcquireImage function. For more information, see AcquireImage.
  • A cell containing an Event function. For more information, see Event.
  • A cell containing a Button function. For more information, see Button.
Note: When the default Event reference is deleted, the value is replaced by a checkbox. If another cell is referenced as an event, the function will conditionally run based on the referenced cell. If the checkbox is enabled, the function will always run when any inputs to the function are updated.

Host Name

The host name (or IP address) of the target system on the network where the file is located. The target system can be an In-Sight emulator or any other device recognized as an FTP server on the network.

Note: The Host Name drop-down does not list Host Names of In-Sight vision systems and/or emulators on the network. Manually enter the host name or the IP address of the target vision system/emulator in the Host Name field.

User Name

A valid user name for the target system's FTP server. This user name is not required to exist on the In-Sight vision system that is writing the image file.

Password

A valid password for the target system's FTP server. The password is case-sensitive, and its length cannot exceed 15 characters.

Note:
  • For security purposes, the entered password will be masked with "*" in the WriteFTP property sheet and in the formula bar.
  • The password will be saved in the job file in encrypted form.

File Name

The name of the file. Long file names are supported. If no path is specified, the file will be written to the default directory of the FTP server on the target system. If the file does not exist, it will be created when the function is first executed; the default filename is "InSight".

Note: When writing files to the Authorized FTP Directory, the File Name path must precisely match the specified Authorized FTP Directory path in the Option dialog. For more information, see Emulation Panel. Files can also be written to any sub-directories within the Authorized FTP Directory (the sub-directory must exist).

For example, if the Authorized FTP Directory is C:\temp and the name of the file is "InSight", the File Name must be specified as "C:\temp\InSight". If writing to a sub-directory "Jobs", the File Name will be "C:\temp\Jobs\InSight". If only specified as "InSight", the file will be written to the default Emulator directory.

Data Format

The type of file. The extension will automatically be appended to the File Name.

0 = TEXT

Standard ASCII Text file format (.TXT).

1 = HTML (default)

Standard HTML file format (.HTM).

4 = XML

Standard XML file format (.XML).

5 = CSV

Standard CSV file format (.CSV).

String

A text string or a reference to a cell containing a text string. The maximum string length is 255 characters.

Note:
  • When HTML is selected for the Data Format parameter, HTML tags should be used in the text string.
  • The string will not be written or appended unless it has been modified.

Append

Specifies the way in which the data is written to the file.

0 = OFF

Overwrites the existing data in the file.

1 = ON (default)

Appends the data string to the end of the file.

WriteFTP Outputs

Returns
  • An FTP data structure that will write the data string contained in the String parameter to a file on the target system whenever the spreadsheet is updated.
  • Returns #ERR if the Host Name, User Name, or Password are invalid for the target host, if any input parameters are invalid or if the file queue is full.
Note:
  • If a file is queued, but the transfer to the target host failed, an #ERR is not returned.

  • Network errors that are generated by the function (such as invalid Host Name, User Name or Password) can be detected by inserting a separate Event function into the spreadsheet and specifying "Network Error" for the Trigger parameter. For more information, see WriteImageFTP and Event. These errors are then reported by the GetErrorString and GetErrorCode functions, which must reference the Event function. The last error message/code is stored and is returned until another network error is reported. For more information, see GetErrorString and GetErrorCode.

When Data Format is set to HTML, the following are inserted into the spreadsheet after exiting the WriteFTP property sheet the first time:

Stringf Text String Function

Returns a text string constructed using a "C" library standard Format-string. The format of the Stringf function is dependent on the type of file selected. For more information, see String Functions.

Text String

This cell contains the text string, " Test string.".

GetFilename function

Returns the name of the image file that is written by the WriteImageFTP function in the adjacent cell to the right. By default, the name of the image file is the same as the File Name entered in the WriteFTP property sheet, with a numeric counter appended. For more information, see Input/Output.

Additional FTP data structure

Returns an FTP data structure created by a WriteImageFTP function. The values for the first five parameters in the WriteImageFTP property sheet are taken from the initial WriteFTP parameters.

Note: Any subsequent modifications to the WriteFTP property sheet will not update values in the WriteImageFTP property sheet.

When Data Format is set to TEXT, only the Stringf text string function is inserted into the spreadsheet.

WriteFTP Examples

Note:
  • In Example 1, the only parameters edited in the WriteFTP property sheet are the Host Name, User Name, and Password.
  • For Example 2, the Host Name, User Name, Password, and Data Format parameters are edited.
  • In Example 3, the same parameters are used from Example 1, but functions that were automatically inserted in the spreadsheet are edited, and additional functions are added.

WriteFTP Example 1:

A2 = WriteFTP($A$0,"FACTORYFLOOR-1","admin","*","InSight",1,B2,1)

B2 = Stringf("<LI><A HREF=%c%s%c>%s</A></LI>\r\n",34,D2,34,C2)

C2 = ' Test string.

D2 = GetFilename(E2)

E2 = WriteImageFTP($A$0,"FACTORYFLOOR-1","admin","*", $A$0,"InSight",999,0,0,0,1,0)

Whenever the spreadsheet updates after an image acquisition, the function appends the text string in cell C2 to the end of InSight.HTM on the host named FACTORYFLOOR-1. The User Name "admin" and its password must already exist on FACTORYFLOOR-1 or #ERR will be returned in the spreadsheet. Within the HTML file, there will be a hyperlink to the image file, InSightxxx.bmp, and the text message " Test string." contained within cell C2. Since the value for the Reset parameter of WriteImageFTP is Off, the first file written would be InSight000.bmp, the second InSight001.bmp, and so on.

ClosedSee Example 1 functions inserted into the spreadsheet

WriteFTP Example 2:

A2 = WriteFTP($A$0,"FACTORYFLOOR-1","admin","*","InSight",0,B2,1)

B2 = Stringf("Test string.\r\n")

Whenever the spreadsheet updates after an image acquire, the function appends the text string in cell C2 to the end of the InSight.txt file on the host named FACTORYFLOOR-1. The User Name "admin" and its password must already exist on FACTORYFLOOR-1 or #ERR will be returned in the spreadsheet. Within the text file, the text message, " Test string." is written.

ClosedSee Example 2 functions inserted into the spreadsheet

WriteFTP Example 3:

A2 = WriteFTP($A$0,"FACTORYFLOOR-1","admin","*","InSight",1,B2,1)

B2 = Stringf("<LI>%s</LI><BR>\r\n<IMG SRC=%c%s%c><BR><BR>\r\n",C2,34,D2,34)

C2 = Concatenate("Failure #",F2,".")

D2 = GetFilename(E2)

E2 = WriteImageFTP($A$0,"FACTORYFLOOR-1","admin","*", $A$0,"InSight",999,0,0,0,1,0)

F2 = Count($A$0,999,G2,-1)

G2 = Button("Reset Counter", -1)

Whenever the spreadsheet updates after an image acquire, the function appends the text string in cell C2 to the end of the InSight.htm file on the host named FACTORYFLOOR-1. The User Name, "admin", and its password must already exist on FACTORYFLOOR-1 or #ERR will be returned in the spreadsheet. Within the HTML file, images are displayed along with a bulleted heading for each image. The first heading written would be "Failure #0.", the second "Failure #1.", and so on. Since the value for the Reset parameter of WriteImageFTP is Off, the first image file written would be InSight000.bmp, the second InSight001.bmp, and so on.

ClosedSee Example 3 functions inserted into the spreadsheet

ClosedSee a sample output HTML file, viewed in Internet Explorer