Measurement StrainBook 616 User Manual

the smart approach to instrumentation

IOtech, Inc.

25971 Cannon Road

Cleveland, OH 44146-1833

Phone: (440) 439-4091

Fax: (440) 439-4093

E-mail (sales): sales@iotech.com

E-mail (post-sales): productsupport@iotech.com

Internet: http://www.iotech.com/

ScanServer

User's Guide

p/n

1027-0901

Rev

2.0

Warranty Information

Your IOtech warranty is as stated on the product warranty card. You may contact IOtech by phone, fax machine, or e-mail in regard to warranty-related issues.

Phone: (440) 439-4091, fax: (440) 439-4093, e-mail: sales@iotech.com

Limitation of Liability

IOtech, Inc. cannot be held liable for any damages resulting from the use or misuse of this product.

ScanServerTM is a registered trademark of IOtech, Inc. ScanServer software copyright is maintained by

reserved. No part of this product may be copied, reproduced or transmitted by any mechanical, photographic, electronic, or other method without IOtech’s prior written consent. IOtech product names are trademarked; other product names, as applicable, are trademarks of their respective holders. (Microsoft, Windows, and Visual Basic are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. NT and Excel are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. RSView is a trademark of Rockwell Software. WonderWare is a registered trademark of WonderWare Corporation. InTouch is a trademark of WonderWare Corporation.

All supplied IOtech software (including miscellaneous support files, drivers, and sample programs) may only be used on one installation. You may make archival backup copies.

Quality Notice

IOtech has maintained ISO 9001 certification since 1996. Prior to shipment, we thoroughly test our products and r eview our documentation to assure the highest quality in all aspects. In a spirit of continuous improvement, IOtech welcomes your suggestions.

Introduction

Introduction... 1

Contents... 1 About ScanServer... 2 Features... 2 System Requirements... 2 Specifications... 2

Getting Started... 3

Installing ScanServer... 3 Quick Start... 3

Starting ScanServer... 4 Creating a Node... 5 Configuring Channels... 8 Set the Node Online... 8 Saving the Project... 9 Testing the Node... 9

Projects... 13

Overview... 13 File Menu... 13 Starting a New Project... 14 Saving a Project... 14

Nodes... 15

Overview... 15 Node Menu... 15 Creating a Node... 16 Editing a Node... 18 Deleting a Node... 18

Items... 19

Item Types... 19 Item Names... 20

Copy DDE Link... 21

Overview... 21 Copying a DDE Link... 21

Options... 23

View Menu... 23

Using Microsoft Excel with ScanServer... 25

Procedures... 25 Tips... 26

Using RSView32 6.0 with ScanServer and OPC... 27

Procedures... 27 Tips... 31

Using DDE Client w i th ScanServer... 33

Introduction... 33 Procedures... 33

Start DDE Client... 33 Connect to ScanServer and a Topic... 33 Start a Transaction... 34 Poke a Value... 34 Abandon a Transaction... 35

Glossary... 37 Index... 39

ScanServer User's Guide,

3-26-99

Introduction 1

About ScanServer

ScanServer is a Microsoft Windows (95/98 & NT) application that acts as a DDE Server and/or OPC (OLE for Process Control) to allow other Windows applications to access measurement data from TempScan, MultiScan, NetScan and ChartScan instruments. ScanServer supports all Windows DDE and OPC Client applications, including Wonderware’s InTouch, Rockwell Software’s RSView, Microsoft’s Excel, and Visual Basic.

Features

•

Supports RS-232/422, IEEE 488, and Ethernet 10BASE-T (TCP/IP)

•

Supports "Advanced DDE" and "Fast DDE" formats, standard XL Table, and CF_TEXT.

•

Supports OPC Data Access Standard Release 1.0A.

•

Supports strings and numerics in single channel and multichannel arrays.

•

Provides DDE monitoring and diagnostic services.

•

Supports measurement rates up to ten times a second.

•

Supports unlimited modules over any number of communication ports.

System Requirements

•

IBM®-compatible 486.

•

Windows 95/98,or Windows NT 4.0.

•

8 MB (megabytes) of RAM (12 MB is recommended).

•

2 MB of hard disk space.

•

RS232/RS422, IEEE 488, or Ethernet 10BASE-T (TCP/IP)

Specifications

Maximum Nodes

Communication

Interface

Poll Rates Foreground Polls: User-set from 0.1 to 100 s; default: 1 s.

2 Introduction

Unlimited. RS232/RS422, IEEE 488, and Ethernet 10BASE-T (TCP/IP)

Background Polls: User-set from 1 s to 1000 s; default: 10 s. Time-outs: User-set from 2 sec to 10 s; default: 2 s. Automatic Retries: User-set from 1 to 10; default:2.

(Minimum)

10-11-00

ScanServer User's Guide

Getting Started

Reference Note: To set up NetScan, TempScan, MultiScan or ChartScan hardware, refer to the setup and installation sections of the corresponding user's manual.

Reference Note: A Net232 Ethernet/RS-232 Converter is required for TempScan, MultiScan and ChartScan Ethernet Applications. The Net232 User’s Guide (p/n 1037-0901) contains Ethernet-related information pertaining to these data acquisition systems.

Installing ScanServer

The ScanServer disks include the ScanServer program files and a simple DDE Client application useful in testing and troubleshooting DDE communications. Complete the following steps to install ScanServer on the computer hard drive:

Note: The following steps are for installing from disks. If your ScanSever program is on

a CD-ROM, simply install the CD-ROM and follow the installation screen prompts.

1. Close all currently running Windows applications.

2. Insert ScanServer disk 1 in your floppy drive.

3. Choose Start/Run (or File/Run from Program Manager).

4. In the dialog box, type a:setup.exe (b:setup.exe if installing from the b drive).

5. Choose OK and follow the on-screen instructions.

6. ScanServer will install to the directory you specify during installation. The default directory is:

c:\Program Files\ScanServer

Quick Start

After you have installed ScanServer on your system, you must set up communication with the TempScan, MultiScan, NetScan, or ChartScan instrument(s) attached to your system. To do this, follow the procedures for:

1. Starting ScanServer.

2. Creating a node.

3. Configuring channels.

4. Saving the project.

5. Testing a nod e using the provided DDE Client.

ScanServer User's Guide Getting Started 3

Starting ScanServer

From Windows 95/98 and Windows NT4.0, choose Start/Programs/ScanServer/ScanServer. The ScanServer Window will open.

ScanServer Window

4 Getting Started ScanServer User's Guide

Creating a Node

1. From the ScanServer window, choose Node/N opens.

2. In the Node Name box, enter an alphanumeric string (e.g., TS1, a TempScan). This string will be used for referencing the instrument in the DDE Connect

Topic box (discussed on page 10).

ew Node. The New Node dialog

3. Set the Foreground (Sec) and Background (Sec) poll rates in the Poll Rate box:

−

Enter a value in the Foreground (Sec) box. Valid Foreground Poll Rates are 0.10 second through 10,000 seconds (in 0.10 second increments). The default Foreground Poll Rate is 1 second.

−

Enter a value in the Background (Sec) box. Valid Background Poll Rates are 1 second through 10,000 seconds (in 1 second increments). The default Background Poll Rate is 10 seconds).

4. From the Interface box; select the appropriate radio button (Serial Port, IEEE 488, or Ethernet).

5. Select the appropriate communications parameters in the Serial Port, IEEE 488, or Ethernet box.

−

For Serial Port (RS232/RS422) select the communication port where ScanServer is connected (e.g., COM1). Set the Baud Rate, Parity and Handshaking configuration of the device. Refer to your device user’s manual as needed.

ScanServer User's Guide Getting Started 5

−

For IEEE 488, enter the bus address or IEEE 488 device name assigned to the instrument.

−

For Ethernet, enter the IP address or name.

Reference Note: The communications settings must correspond to the instrument's

interface configuration. Refer to the appropriate user’s manual(s), as needed.

6. Ensure the instrument is connected to the selected communications port and is turned on.

7. Choose OK. ScanServer now attempts to communicate with and identify an instrument using the configuration settings for the New Node.

If communications and identification are successful, a “T” icon and text (indicating the type of instrument found) are displayed in the project window.

In this screen shot, the created node (TS1) is displayed. ScanServer has detected a

device at COM2 and identified the device as a TempScan/1100.

6 Getting Started ScanServer User's Guide

If communications or identification is not successful, a question mark (?) icon is displayed; and an error is reported in the event window. If this occurs, check that the instrument is powered on and connected to the appropriate communications port.

In this screen shot, a new node could not be created.

ScanServer User's Guide Getting Started 7

Configuring Channels

Using the configuration grid on the right side of the ScanServer window, select the appropriate type channel type and enable the channels using the drop-down controls. Configure only a few channels now. More channe l s may be configured later.

Set the Node Online

From the ScanServer window, choose Node/O The Online menu selection will be checked and the Online/Offline icon in the iconbar will be displayed as depressed.

nline to set the node in the online state.

8 Getting Started ScanServer User's Guide

Saving the Project

From the ScanServer window, choose File/S for a filename to be entered. The default name is ScanServer. Enter a name and click the

Save button.

ave Project. A dialog box will open, waiting

Testing the Node

We will use the DDE client supplied with ScanServer to test the node we have created.

1. From Windows 95, and with ScanServer running, choose

Start/Programs/ScanServer/DDE Client. The DDE Client Window will open.

ScanServer User's Guide Getting Started 9

2. Choose DDE/Connect. The DDE Connect dialog will open.

3. Type ScanServer in the Application box.

4. In the Top ic box, type the name of the node (that you currently have configured in ScanServer).

5. Click on Connect. Information about the node will be displayed in the DDE Client Window.

6. Choose DDE/Start Transaction. The DDE Transaction dialog will open.

7. Enter last1 in the item box to select data from channel 1.

10 Getting Started ScanServer User's Guide

8. Be sure CF_Text is displayed in the Format box.

9. Be sure Advise is selected in the Type box.

10. Click on Ok. A transaction box will appear in the DDE Client window. Data from channel 1 of the attached ScanServer module should be displayed in the box.

ScanServer User's Guide Getting Started 11

+ 29 hidden pages