====== Synchronizing parameters ======

When moving data between Ecolego, Excel or the [[Parameter_database|Parameter database]], two types of links can be created between the exporting format and the importing format. The links are necessary so that the values can be synchronized. A typical case would be when parameter values have once been imported from the [[Parameter_database|database]] to Ecolego. Later, when the values have been updated in the database and the model is to be synchronized with the database, a link must exist to connect a specific [[Parameter|parameter]] with a database parameter [[Parameter_instance|instance]].

There are two types of links: soft links and hard links.

===== Soft links =====

An obvious link is the name of the parameter. The name is not enough however: a model may contain several parameters with the same name but in different sub-systems.

When exporting values from Ecolego to either Excel or the [[Parameter_database|database]], [[Tag|tags]] can be assigned to each exported parameter. By creating tags for the sub-system a soft link is established.

===== Hard links =====

Each [[Parameter|parameter]] in the model has a GUID which is used to directly connect an Ecolego [[Parameter|parameter]] with a database/Excel [[Parameter_instance|instance]]. Once this link is established, the parameter can be moved and even renamed in Ecolego without breaking the link.

===== See also =====

  * [[Exporting_and_importing_data|Exporting and importing data]]