The Export SCADA Configuration job connects directly to the SCADA QBDB SQL Server database and exports all configured SCADA process point data as structured JSON files. These files capture the complete set of point definitions required for inclusion in a Control Architect Configuration Collection snapshot.
Note: The SCADA database connection (QBDB) is configured and stored separately from the CDA database connection (ps_erdb). Both connection strings are managed independently in Settings.
Exported Point Types
The SCADA export job queries seven distinct point type categories from the QBDB database. Each category is exported to a separate JSON file:
Point Type
Output File
Description
Analog Points
AnalogPoints.json
All configured analog (continuous measurement) process data points including tag names, engineering units, ranges, and alarm limits.
Digital Points
DigitalPoints.json
All configured digital (discrete state) process data points including tag names, state descriptors, and alarm configurations.
Accumulator Points
AccumulatorPoints.json
All configured accumulator (totalizer) data points used for flow and quantity measurement.
OPC Points
OPCPoints.json
All configured OPC DA client data points representing external OPC server data connections.
CDA Points
CDAPoints.json
All configured CDA-linked SCADA points that bridge data from the Honeywell PKS CDA layer into the SCADA system.
Generic Channel Points
GenericChannels.json
All configured generic channel definitions that represent communication channel-level data within the SCADA system.
Controller Points
ControllerPoints.json
All configured controller point entries representing controller-level data references.
Export Process
When the Export SCADA Configuration job executes, Asset Backup Scheduler performs the following steps:
1. Validates the SCADA SQL Server connection to the QBDB database using the configured connection string. If the connection cannot be established, the job is marked as Failed with a detailed reason message indicating whether the failure was due to the server being unreachable, an invalid login, or a missing database.
2. Queries each point type from the database using a two-step query strategy that handles dynamically resolved algorithm attachment tables within the SCADA schema.
3. For each point type, the retrieved data is serialized to a JSON file in a temporary output folder. If a point type returns no records, the export is noted in the Activity Messages panel but does not cause a job failure.
4. Checks for user cancellation between each point type export step. If cancellation is requested, processing stops cleanly after the current export step completes.
5. On successful completion of all point type exports, the JSON files are compressed and transferred to the SCADA Configuration sub-folder within the configured Network Share.
Output Location
Output Destination
Details
Network Share Sub-Folder
[Network Share Folder]\SCADA Configuration\
File Format
Individual JSON files per point type, compressed into a ZIP archive
Connection Validation
The SCADA repository performs a full connection validation before any data queries are executed. The validation opens a real SQL Server connection and immediately closes it, mapping common SQL Server error codes to clear, user-readable failure messages:
Error Condition
Message Displayed
Server not found / network path not found
Server not found or network path not accessible
Login failed
Login failed — check the username and password in the connection string
Database does not exist
Database not found — verify the database name in the connection string
Connection timeout
Connection timed out — the server may be busy or unreachable
Tip: Use the Test SCADA Connection button in Settings to validate the SCADA database connection before running a backup. A tooltip will display the connection status and any failure reason.
Common Failure Causes
Issue
Likely Cause
Resolution
Cannot connect to SCADA database
Invalid connection string, incorrect server name, or SQL Server service not running
Verify the SCADA connection string in Settings. Use Test SCADA Connection to diagnose.
Login failed
Incorrect SQL Server username or password in the connection string
Update credentials in the SCADA connection string using the SQL Connection Builder.
No records exported for a point type
The point type table in QBDB contains no configured points
This is a non-critical warning. Verify with the SCADA system administrator that the expected point types are configured in the database.
Job canceled mid-export
User clicked Cancel Backup Task during SCADA export
Partially exported JSON files may be present in the temp folder. Re-run the backup to generate a complete set.
