NEX (Novant Exchange File)

The Novant Exchange File (NEX) is a multi-sheet Excel format designed for comprehensive project data exchange and management within the Novant platform. NEX files serve as a complete project data container, excluding only trend data, making them ideal for offline data exchange and project backup/restoration workflows.

Purpose and Use Cases

Offline Exchange

NEX files can be created, edited, and exchanged manually without requiring immediate cloud access. This makes them ideal for:

• Field teams collecting information on site
• Consultants sharing project configurations
• Pre-build planning before system connectivity is established

Backup & Restore

A NEX file acts as a full snapshot of a project’s configuration (excluding trend/historical data). It can be:

• Exported from an existing project for backup
• Re-imported to recreate or restore a project
• Used to seed new projects based on a known configuration
• Used to migrate data between different Novant projects or installations

File Structure

Each major data category is stored in its own worksheet within the Excel file:

• Project
• Zones
• Spaces
• Assets
• Sources
• Source Maps

Each sheet follows a defined schema that aligns with the Novant data model, ensuring smooth import/export.