Generate GSDML file

Aug 14, 2026 | 860 words | 4 min reading time

You can import Generic Station Description Markup (GSDML) files into the BET , edit them and then export them for further use in the Siemens TIA Portal®.

Note

Note the limitations of the GSDML file for your network module. Each parameter occupies a certain amount of memory. If the limit for use in the Siemens TIA Portal® is reached, an error message is displayed. We recommend that you only add the required parameters to the GSDML file.

Create device lists and configure parameters

To connect IO-Link devices to the selected network modules via the GSDML files, you can create lists with the desired IO-Link devices.

1. In the GSDML GENERATOR function bar, click.

   The following dialog appears:

2. Click Add to list.

   The following dialog appears:

3. Enter a name for your device list. You can also paste a previously copied text using . Then click on Next.

   The following dialog appears:

4. Locate the device using the search box or by scrolling. Once you have found the device, set the number of devices using +/- and then click Add IO-Link Device.

   The following dialog appears:

5. Here you have the following options:

   • Click to remove a device from the device list.

   • Click to assign your own name.

6. Click Next to adjust the parameters of your devices.

   An overview of the properties and the parameters for the IO-Link devices are displayed:

7. Select the parameter sets that you want to transfer to the GSDML file and change them as required. Then click on Next to adjust the parameters for the next device in the device list.

8. Once all devices are parameterized, Click Next.

   Another window appears where you can adjust port configurations for the devices:

9. To configure the ports, click the icon:

   A sidebar appears where you can make the ports to the selected device:

10. After making your desired changes, close the window by clicking on Save Changes

11. Once all devices are parameterized and ports are configured, click Save Catalog to save your device list.

Note

In this view, you can create more device lists, remove device lists, duplicate existing device lists, and edit device lists. You can also preview the lists by using the buttons on the right.

Import GSDML

1. Click GSDML-GENERATOR in the function bar.

   The following dialog appears:

2. To select a network module for a GSDML configuration, click Add module.

   The device catalog with selectable network modules appears:

3. Select the desired network modules using the search box or by scrolling, and click Add Network Module(s).

   The following dialog appears:

Note

If the GSDML files of the selected network modules have already been imported, they are highlighted in green. Otherwise, they are highlighted in gray.

4. To download the missing GSDML files from the Balluff webshop, click .

   The product page opens in the webshop.

5. Click Downloads > Software.

   A menu opens.

6. Select the GSDML file you wish to download.

   The following dialog appears:

7. Activate General Terms and Conditions and click Download. The GSDML file is saved by default in the Downloads folder on your computer.

8. To import a downloaded GSDML file into BET , click .

   The following dialog appears:

9. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the desired GSDML file within the dotted frame and release the mouse button to upload it. Alternatively, you can also click within the frame area to select the file in the file system.

   After a successful import, the following dialog appears:

Note

If the GSDML file cannot be imported, you will be notified with a warning. This is usually because the selected file is out of date. In this case, please contact Balluff .

10. Click Done to return to the main window of the GSDML generator.

   If all GSDML files are imported correctly, the following dialog appears:

In the next step, assign the parameterized devices to the network modules using a device list.

Note

You can upload ESI files analogously to the GSDML files by clicking on if you have previously saved the required files locally.

After importing the GSDML files, you have several options for how to proceed. You can:

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Assign device list

If the device list has been successfully created, it is automatically assigned to the network modules. You can change the assignments at any time.

1. To do this, click on the name of the associated list. A drop-down list (if you have created more lists) will appear with a selection. Select another device list that you want to assign to the selected network module.

  You have assigned a device list to a network module.

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Assign ports

In this view you also have the option to assign the devices from the selected list to the ports of the network module.

1. To do this, click on Port Assignment on the right.

     The following window appears:

2. You can see the existing ports here, each with a icon on the right. To make an assignment, click on the icon.

     The following window with the available IO-Link devices appears:

   

3. Select the desired device and then click Add device to port.

     The current port assignment is shown:

   

4. Repeat the previous steps for all IO-Link devices to assign them to the ports.

5. Close the window by clicking Save port assignment.

   {ref_arrow_result}You have successfully assigned the IO-Link devices to the ports.

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Export GSDML file

1. To export the GDSML file to your computer, click Export GDSML file .

   The following dialog appears:

2. Read the note and click Understood.

  The file explorer opens and you can save the selected GSDML configuration to your computer for further use.

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Delete GSDML configuration

To delete your created GDSML configuration, click .

  The GSDML configuration is deleted.