New features wanted!! Apply here!

[franji1]

I think that an easy import/export for comm links would be handy.  I know there is a way to copy the file but I cant find it... Ive been looking through the forum but still cant find it.  Every time I set up a new PC, I have to manually put in 100 links.  It gets rough.

Look in the public documents folder for the SOURCE version.  If it's 2.10, it will be
C:\Users\Public\Documents\Do-more\Designer2_10\Bin\DMDComm.rst

If it's a different version, browse to that folder below Do-more's Public Documents folder.

Then just copy that file to the other PC in the same (or newer) version folder.

[AC]

I think that an easy import/export for comm links would be handy.  I know there is a way to copy the file but I cant find it... Ive been looking through the forum but still cant find it.  Every time I set up a new PC, I have to manually put in 100 links.  It gets rough.

When I originally wrote it, the file was CommServ.rst, and it's in the BIN directory of the DmD installation. I say originally, because some of the files have been renamed over time and I'm not in a position to check the name right now. I'll confirm when I'm back in the office.

Great I found it!  Thanks!!!

[AC]

I have seen this request in previous posts, and maybe its a long shot, but I have noticed that click has come up with protocol modules (OPC UA) to interface in a secure way directly to the PLC from aquisition software. Our SCADA currently supports a hundred protocols but shy of MQTT there are no secure protocols that we can use so we are stuck with either a broker, a router to do the encryption TLS and other methods but it would be nice to have something from the PLC directly to other software without a middle man.  Do you guys have anthing planned for secure protocols?

[BobO]

I have seen this request in previous posts, and maybe its a long shot, but I have noticed that click has come up with protocol modules (OPC UA) to interface in a secure way directly to the PLC from aquisition software. Our SCADA currently supports a hundred protocols but shy of MQTT there are no secure protocols that we can use so we are stuck with either a broker, a router to do the encryption TLS and other methods but it would be nice to have something from the PLC directly to other software without a middle man.  Do you guys have anthing planned for secure protocols?

We will be launching OPCUA and Sparkplug B POMs later this month.

[AC]

I have seen this request in previous posts, and maybe its a long shot, but I have noticed that click has come up with protocol modules (OPC UA) to interface in a secure way directly to the PLC from aquisition software. Our SCADA currently supports a hundred protocols but shy of MQTT there are no secure protocols that we can use so we are stuck with either a broker, a router to do the encryption TLS and other methods but it would be nice to have something from the PLC directly to other software without a middle man.  Do you guys have anthing planned for secure protocols?

We will be launching OPCUA and Sparkplug B POMs later this month.

Amazing! I will be anticipating the release!

[Barnic]

I have noticed that a new trendview can only be created if connected to the PLC. Is there a reason for that? If  programming can be done without being connected to the PLC, it would also be nice to be able to create a trendview without being connected in advance. Thanks

[franji1]

I have noticed that a new trendview can only be created if connected to the PLC. Is there a reason for that? If  programming can be done without being connected to the PLC, it would also be nice to be able to create a trendview without being connected in advance. Thanks

You can't trend anything unless you are online to a PLC.  Similar to PID View - you can't create a PID View unless you are online to a PLC.

Neither of those views are part of your project.  Those are online PLC monitoring views.

However, you can definitely write code without needing any hardware.

Code/Logic, System Configuration, and Documentation are all part of your disk based project file - Trend View is not.

[franji1]

Designer DOES support Trend Archives?  Is this what you are wanting?

Basically, you can store a current Trend View data set (either via the "record" button or the "export" button on Trend / PID View).  It saves all that data to a "disk" file (.trarc - trend archive) that you can bring up later in "historical" mode.

Is that useful to you?

[franji1]

(Sorry, I keep peeling the onion).

There are 2 other files that get "saved" with your .dmd project.  It's a Workspace (.wsp) and Designer Layout (.dlo) that saves the Trend View details so that any opened Trend Views get saved to THOSE files, and then would return the next time you opened up your project file (as part of the Designer LAYOUT).

That's probably close to what you are looking for?  But that is done "implicitly" by Designer that is related to the GUI - it's NOT part of the actual .dmd "disk project" file itself.

[Barnic]

Hi. I am aware that a trend can't actually run unless there is something to trend ie being connected to a PLC. However, a trendview can't be set up (what is to be monitored) unless it is connected to the PLC. The variable names that need to be monitored/recorded are already in designer offline.  The logic I have is if I can program off line (and then run it later on the PLC), why can't I setup a trendview offline and then trend later when connected to a PLC. It seems the trendview-> New and Save as only work when connected, and not prior. Well the request is that trendview panes can be set up offline unless there is some technical reason why that's impossible. Thanks

(Sorry, I keep peeling the onion).

There are 2 other files that get "saved" with your .dmd project.  It's a Workspace (.wsp) and Designer Layout (.dlo) that saves the Trend View details so that any opened Trend Views get saved to THOSE files, and then would return the next time you opened up your project file (as part of the Designer LAYOUT).

That's probably close to what you are looking for?  But that is done "implicitly" by Designer that is related to the GUI - it's NOT part of the actual .dmd "disk project" file itself.

[Watermark_JS]

Try setting the trend up while connected to the DoMore Simulator?

[franji1]

Try setting the trend up while connected to the DoMore Simulator?

This may be the best workaround.

The primary issue is that Trend View currently does not understand NOT being connected to the PLC.  Basically, a lot of code assumes there is an online connection.  A lot of code would need to become "mode" based (online vs. offline), which it was never designed for.  It probably is do-able, but not "high priority" feature.

I hope that @Watermark_JS idea is a good enough work around.

BTW, you can take an existing OFFLINE BRX project, then run it in the Simulator (it can't simulate everything, but you can at least get online).

Yeah, that worked.  I took an OFFLINE BRX project with a bunch of AXIS instructions, then hit the Simulator button in the Online toolbar (this writes the BRX disk project to the Simulator).  I was able to create a Trend View from an AXCONFIG instruction (even though AXIS is not supported in the Sim, the Sim can handle the memory, just not the actual high speed I/O functionality).

From there, I created a .TRN Trend Layout of $Axis1 stuff in that Trend View.  I then shut down Designer, then connected to a BRX PLC and was able to open the .TRN Trend Layout file - and it started monitoring!

I think that's a good 80% solution?

[Barnic]

Yes. That would work. Thanks @Watermark_JS and @franji1.  In your next update it would be helpful if in the the help -> "Trendview Overview--> Creating a Trendview" to state that the PLC or simulator needs to be connected  in order for the file -> New etc to work and the feature not being greyed out? Thanks again.

[Watermark_JS]

Glad to have you on the BRX train!  It's a great PLC and the Host Team is simply amazing.