Best practices

Best Practices for Importing External Data

When working with external datasets in Twin Fabrica, these best practices will help you avoid common issues and ensure smooth data integration. Here are key recommendations for importing and managing data through the External Data panel.

1. Use Supported Data Types

Twin Fabrica imports data from external sources via .mat files. Note that not all MATLAB-supported variable types are compatible with Twin Fabrica.

✅ Supported formats:

• Numerical arrays (e.g., vectors or matrices)
• Numerical tables (with consistent structure)

❌ Unsupported formats:

• Complex structures, cell arrays, or non-numeric data types

Before importing, make sure your .mat file contains only supported data types to avoid import errors.

2. Use Unique and Clear Variable Names

Twin Fabrica requires each variable name to be unique. If a variable name matches one already in the project workspace, you'll see a "Variable overwriting" warning and the import will be blocked.

To prevent this:

• Review the variable names in your .mat file before importing.
• Consider renaming variables in the file or workspace to avoid duplication.
• Alternatively, remove any previously loaded variables with conflicting names.

3. Maintain a Consistent Naming Convention

A clear and consistent naming convention for imported variables improves organization and reduces confusion, especially in complex projects with multiple datasets or team collaboration.

Recommended practices:

• Use descriptive, lowercase names (e.g., sensor_data, test_input_01)
• Avoid special characters and spaces
• Include versioning or source identifiers when needed (e.g., temp_sensor_v2)

4. Validate File Contents Before Importing

When previewing a .mat file in the External Data window, check that:

• All variables listed are relevant and needed
• Variable types are supported
• Variable names are clear and non-redundant

Taking time to validate now can prevent issues during modeling, calibration, or simulation later.