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Format of PVsyst files

Files Format evolution

Up to PVsyst version 6.39, all PVsyst files (project, variant, weather data, etc.) were saved in binary format and it was not possible to read or edit those files.

Starting with PVsyst version 6.40, the format of all PVsyst files has changed to text. This new format will simplify PVsyst upgrades.
Starting with PVsyst version 6.60, the format of PVsyst project version (VCi) has been improved.
Starting with PVsyst version 6.80, the encoding of all PVsyst files (*.PRJ, *.VCi, *.PAN, *.OND, etc.) has changed to UTF-8 to support international characters.

For each of these evolutions, the new formats are incompatible with older versions. This is the reason why the corresponding workspaces have different names (PVsyst6_Data, PVsyst640_Data, PVsyst660_Data, PVsyst680_Data, PVsyst8.0_Data).

Workspace and folders

During the first run of PVsyst, a new directory is automatically created in C:\Users\\PVsyst8.0_Data and you are invited to import in this new workspace all the PVsyst files from your previous user workspace (C:\Users\<username>\PVsyst680\_Data or C:\Users\<username>\PVsyst660\_Data or C:\Users\<username>\PVsyst640\_Data or C:\Users\<username>\PVsyst6\_Data).

Note that you can only work in a given workspace with the suited versions:

  • C:\Users\<username>\PVsyst6_Data with PVsyst version 6.39 or older,
  • C:\Users\<username>\PVsyst640_Data with PVsyst version 6.5x and 6.4x,
  • C:\Users\<username>\PVsyst660_Data with PVsyst version 6.7x and 6.6x,
  • C:\Users\<username>\PVsyst680_Data with PVsyst version 6.8x,

File format example

Please note that the PVsyst file format is intended for internal use only.

We provide no support regarding this format. These files contain structured information generated by PVsyst and should not be modified.

Below is an example of a project file *.PRJ, in text format.

PVObject_=pvProject
  Comment=DEMO grid-connected system at Geneva
  Version=6.40
  Flags=$80000010
  ProjectDate=15/01/13 17:03
  MeteoFileName=Geneva_MN71_SYN.MET
  MeteoFileDate=27/12/12 17:29
  PVObject_SitePrj=pvSite
    Comment=Geneve-Cointrin;Switzerland;Europe;
    Flags=$0100003F
    Site=Geneve-Cointrin
    Country=Switzerland
    Region=Europe
    Source=MeteoNorm 6.1 station
    Latitude=46.25
    Longitude=6.13
    Altitude=418
    TimeZone=1.00
    HLeg=True
    UnitsDisp=kWh_m2_m
    Albedo=0.20
    GlobalH=29.8,50.4,100.4,124.6,163.7,175.7,180,154.7,107.3,65.5,32.4,23.8,0,
    DiffuseH=21.1,28.9,52.2,67.4,78.2,80.2,81.4,69.7,51.4,40.7,21.4,16.3,0,
    TAmb=1.8,3,6.9,9.7,14.8,18.7,19.7,19.7,15.4,11.1,5.2,2.6,0,
    WindVel=2.2,2.6,2.4,2.7,2.2,2.2,2.2,1.7,1.9,1.8,2.2,2.4,0,
    Extraterr=99.4,139.3,212.2,274.3,336,347.9,349.4,306.7,233.3,171.4,109.3,85.9,2664.9,
  End of PVObject pvSite
  Albedo=0.200,0.200,0.200,0.200,0.200,0.200,0.200,0.200,0.200,0.200,0.200,0.200,
DesignTempMin=-10
TempOper=50
TempOperMin=20
TempOperMax=60
LimOverloadLoss=3.00
DiscrOrientDiff=1.00
SpreadMaxDiff=10.00
MaxSystem_ShdRatio=2.50
RegionMeteo=1
CorrAlttemp=-0.0055
nd of PVObject pvProject