# How can I import inputs/outputs directly?

**URL:** <https://community.factoryio.com/t/how-can-i-import-inputs-outputs-directly/1398>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [March 26, 2022, 4:17pm UTC](https://community.factoryio.com/t/how-can-i-import-inputs-outputs-directly/1398 "2022-03-26T16:17:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Alex2Orges](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ab992/32.png) [@Alex2Orges](https://community.factoryio.com/u/Alex2Orges)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2022, 4:17pm UTC](https://community.factoryio.com/t/how-can-i-import-inputs-outputs-directly/1398/1 "2022-03-26T16:17:29Z")

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Hi there,

So, I’ve been “playing” with this software, and I was wondering if there were any ways to imports the variables tables from Factory io into TIA ? I know you can import some tables if they’re in the Excel format.

Have a nice day ^^

Alexandre

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**Author:** ![brunovgr](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/community.factoryio.com/brunovgr/32/12_2.png) [@brunovgr](https://community.factoryio.com/u/brunovgr)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 8:55am UTC](https://community.factoryio.com/t/how-can-i-import-inputs-outputs-directly/1398/2 "2022-03-29T08:55:39Z")

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Hi,

You can export the mapping of scene tags and driver I/O points by clicking on the export button in the driver window. See more information here: [I/O Drivers - FACTORY I/O](https://docs.factoryio.com/manual/drivers/)

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**Author:** ![janbumer1](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/community.factoryio.com/janbumer1/32/60_2.png) [@janbumer1](https://community.factoryio.com/u/janbumer1)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2022, 6:03am UTC](https://community.factoryio.com/t/how-can-i-import-inputs-outputs-directly/1398/3 "2022-03-31T06:03:52Z")

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Do you have any plans to offer an import feature as well? Drag & Dropping all the tags takes a lot of time, and I oftentimes use a lot of tags to get a scene going.

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**Author:** ![Alex2Orges](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ab992/32.png) [@Alex2Orges](https://community.factoryio.com/u/Alex2Orges)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2022, 7:15am UTC](https://community.factoryio.com/t/how-can-i-import-inputs-outputs-directly/1398/4 "2022-03-31T07:15:35Z")

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Personnaly, I find the fact of drag-and-dropping also a bit boring , but it’s also a great tool, since you can put together some entries/outputs which are having differents names ^^. But yeah, it would be a really appreciate feature 😉

Alexandre

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Alex2Orges](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ab992/32.png) [@Alex2Orges](https://community.factoryio.com/u/Alex2Orges)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2022, 9:30am UTC](https://community.factoryio.com/t/how-can-i-import-inputs-outputs-directly/1398/5 "2022-03-31T09:30:45Z")

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Though, our messages should rather be in the #suggestion channel ^^

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![brunovgr](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/community.factoryio.com/brunovgr/32/12_2.png) [@brunovgr](https://community.factoryio.com/u/brunovgr)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2022, 3:18pm UTC](https://community.factoryio.com/t/how-can-i-import-inputs-outputs-directly/1398/6 "2022-04-01T15:18:08Z")

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An import feature is a very interesting idea. I believe it could work by matching PLC to FIO tags. However, you would have to use tags in the PLC that would match by name the tags in FIO 🤔

Another approach - or complementary to this one - is to implement tools in FIO in order to make this process more expeditious. For instance, by using a table of tags we can implement features such as multi-selection and auto-mapping. This is something we are looking into at the moment.

 ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/uploads/factoryio/original/1X/03c27b6b8972ff87440831fc0b006a878bc93fd9.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![janbumer1](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/community.factoryio.com/janbumer1/32/60_2.png) [@janbumer1](https://community.factoryio.com/u/janbumer1)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2022, 8:45am UTC](https://community.factoryio.com/t/how-can-i-import-inputs-outputs-directly/1398/7 "2022-04-02T08:45:58Z")

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Oooh, I like that approach! I would love me a table rather than the current drag and drop interface.  
I’m **really** looking forward to that big update!

I’m an Engineer, I always love me some tables! 😉