User guide

4 Creating GSD Files

The properties of a PROFINET device are stored in a Generic Station Description (GSD) file in XML format. The

descriptive language is called GSDML (ML stands for markup language). The GSD file must be created by the PN

IO device manufacturer and is imported by the engineering tool (STEP 7) to create the bus configuration.

The detailed structure of the GSD file is described in /3/. The document, including the necessary schema files for

PROFINET IO for validation, can be downloaded from the PNO at

http://www.profibus.com.

You need the following tools and templates to create the GSD file:

1. XML editor: with this editor, you can create XML files and check the correct format using schema files for

PROFINET IO.

2. Schema files for PROFINET IO: these files can be downloaded along with the GSDML specification from

the PNO server website indicated above.

3. Example template for a GSD file. These files are also included when you download the GSDML

specification and the PNIO schema files. Alternatively, you can use the GSDML file from the

Development Kit user example as a template.

4. You must enter a vendor ID, among other information, in the GSD file. This vendor ID must be requested

from the PNO (if it is not already available) and cannot be defined by the user.

For detailed information about the GSD file structure, refer to document /3/.

Note:

When creating a user-defined GSDML file, note that not all parameters can be user-defined. The XML-scheme

files require syntactically and structurally valid XML files. Use the supplied GSDML file as a template. Assign a

unique name and to the extent possible, change only the module number and sizes within the permissible

quantity framework (see above).

Certain attributes in the GSDML file may not be changed.

The element table, <<<is this correct?>>>describes the attributes of the IsochroneMode element: T_DC_Base,

T_DC_Min, T_DC_Max, T_IO_Base, T_IO_InputMin and T_IO_OutputMin

In the Element table IOData: IOPS_Length and IOCS_Length

For the API“ attribute of the VirtualSubmoduleItem element, only the value range 0x0 to 0x7FFFFFFF is enabled.

The document, including the necessary schema files for PROFINET IO for validation and a PROFINET XML

viewer for checking the GSD file can be downloaded from the PNO at

http://www.profibus.com.

Technical data subject to change Version 3.0.0