Trouble connecting to Plc

[roytownsend]

I am using direct soft full version on a windows 8 computer and a DO-06DR-D Plc. When I try to connect to Plc I am getting comm link not responding error. When trying to find comm ports I am only able to use comm ports 1&2. How do I find more than just 2?

[franji1]

Look at DirectSOFT FAQ 8 and FAQ 11 here:
http://www.hosteng.com/FAQFiles/DirectSOFT.htm

to see how to enable different PC COMx: ports

[roytownsend]

I am not understanding what you mean. I have been using click and direct soft on XP with out any problems. I am lost. I really need all the help that I can get. Thank you Roy

[franji1]

You said that you need to find more than 2 (i.e. serial ports on your PC other than COM1 and COM2).  So what specific ports do you have on your PC?  For example, USB to Serial converters usually assign themselves to strange port numbers on PCs, like COM5 or COM9 or ...  What PC COMx port number do you need to show up in DirectSOFT?

[plcnut]

Follow these directions to open your .ini file: http://www.hosteng.com/FAQFiles/DirectSOFT.htm#FAQ0204

Then you need to enable the correct comm port by adding a new line to the file that looks just like the other comm port lines.

Now save the file. Close notepad. Close DS.

Reopen DS and your comm port will now be in the list.

[roytownsend]

My computer has 20 ports. I am unable to use more than 2 when Trying to communicate to Plc. The port that I think it may be is 3, but I am not positive.

[roytownsend]

Does FAQ0204 work with windows 8? Thank you

[plcnut]

I have not used Windows 8.
When you open DSLaunch, you should see a file menu down the left side of the page. In that list is a file called "DS500.ini" That is the file you need to edit. When you open it, you should see a long list of text including something like this ( this is from my PC where I have added ports 3 and 4):

Code: [Select]

[devasync.dll]
;Dump=1
COM1Enable=1
COM2Enable=1
COM3Enable=1
COM4Enable=1

You just need to add to the list what ever com port you need.

Please let us know how far you are making it through this list.
Are you finding the .ini file?
When you edit it does anything change?

[franji1]

My computer has 20 ports. I am unable to use more than 2 when Trying to communicate to Plc. The port that I think it may be is 3, but I am not positive.

Bring up your PC's device manager.  Here's how to do this on Windws 8:

Open Device Manager by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Device Manager.‌  If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

In that tree list should be a node labeled Ports (COM & LPT).  Expand that out.  You should see a bunch of ports, along with their names (e.g. COM1, COM2, COM20, etc.).  Figure out which serial port(s) you want to use within DirectSOFT and use those names within your .INI file mentioned in the other posts.  If you need help with this, we need to understand more about how your serial ports are installed (combinations of any/all: cards, usb to serial cables, virtual port, multiple ports on one connector, etc.).

[roytownsend]

I finally found the problem. The EA-MG-PGM-CBL that I have been using quit working, should have checked the obvious. Thank you to all that helped. Roy