PowerFactory offers a number of mechanisms and options for interfacing with external applications such as GIS and SCADA, or for a complete integration and background execution in “Engine Mode”. Depending on the application, the user may choose from the options described below.
DGS Interface

DGS (DIgSILENT-GIS-SCADA) is PowerFactory’s standard bi-directional interface specifically designed for bulk data exchange with other applications such as GIS and SCADA, and, for example, for exporting calculation results to produce Crystal Reports, or to interchange data with any other power system software. DGS does not support the exchange of PowerFactory execution commands.

• Available for PowerFactory Interactive Window Mode and PowerFactory Engine Mode
• User-specific definition of objects and object parameters
• Supported objects: elements, types and libraries, graphics and results
• Import and export of complete network models
• Import and export of incremental data for updating existing models
• Databases supported: Oracle, MS-SQL and ODBC System DSN
• File formats supported: ASCII Text (CSV), XML, MS-Excel and MS Access

OPC Interface

OPC (OLE for Process Control) is an asynchronous communication and data exchange mechanism used in process interaction and is widely applied in SCADA and control systems. PowerFactory OPC-implementation assumes that the PowerFactory software is executed as an OPC-Client while the OPC Server is controlled via the external source. OPC server libraries are available from various manufacturers. An example of a freeware OPC-Server is that available from Matrikon (“MatrikonOPC Simulation Server”).

• Supported of the PowerFactory Engine Mode
• OPC-Client/Server exchange of any PowerFactory object parameter as well as any signal
• PowerFactory listening mode to receive any data or signal from a registered OPC Server
• PowerFactory sending mode to write back any data or signal to a registered OPC Server

Shared Memory Interface

DIgSILENT PowerFactory provides a high-speed shared memory communication interface that allows other applications to use PowerFactory as a calculation engine.

• Supported of the PowerFactory Engine Mode
• Via the shared memory, modification of any object parameter, initiation of command execution and access to any calculation result is supported.
• Option to trigger an update of the PowerFactory database
• The communication is based on a request/response interaction. PowerFactory acts as a server that waits for requests. Each request must contain a command and can optionally contain input data and result definitions.
• The synchronization between client and server is based on OS events.