# Creating custom XML files for use by third party control system

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/creating-custom-xml-files-for-use-by-third-party-control-system/17959>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Created:** [May 8, 2018, 3:16pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/creating-custom-xml-files-for-use-by-third-party-control-system/17959 "2018-05-08T15:16:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MikeAllgood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@MikeAllgood](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/MikeAllgood)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 3:16pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/creating-custom-xml-files-for-use-by-third-party-control-system/17959/1 "2018-05-08T15:16:25Z")

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I have been tasked to interface production schedule data with a third party vendor who’s system controls some batching components of a larger system. They require recipe data to be provided via xml files.

My question: What is the best means to create these files in Ignition?  
I understand that the standard python library has xml write functionality. Is there anything in Ignition other than python scripting to facilitate this functionality?

Thanks,  
Mike

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**Author:** ![JordanCClark](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/jordancclark/32/83362_2.png) [@JordanCClark](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/JordanCClark)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 12:24pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/creating-custom-xml-files-for-use-by-third-party-control-system/17959/2 "2018-05-09T12:24:14Z")

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Cesar’s incendium package might help you out. Specifically, the dataset to xml portion.

> **[thecesrom/Ignition](https://github.com/thecesrom/Ignition)**
>
> ⚡ A set of packages and modules that allows developers to get code completion for Ignition Scripting API scripting functions in their IDE of choice. - thecesrom/Ignition

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**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 12:36pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/creating-custom-xml-files-for-use-by-third-party-control-system/17959/3 "2018-05-09T12:36:00Z")

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> [@MikeAllgood](#):
>
> ... other than python scripting to facilitate this functionality?

No. XML is all over the map. You'll have to script it, either with a simplification layer like Cesar's, or base libraries of jython or Java.

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**Author:** ![MikeAllgood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@MikeAllgood](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/MikeAllgood)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 1:04pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/creating-custom-xml-files-for-use-by-third-party-control-system/17959/4 "2018-05-09T13:04:34Z")

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That is what I was expecting to hear. I was hoping there was something to make this a little quicker. This requirement has been dropped on my last minute (as in last Friday and the other vendor what’s their system running this week!). I appreciate the input. I have looked into the etree library and I’m sure I will be able to do what is needed with it, just not as quickly as others would like. 🙂

Thanks for the input!