Rockwell Automation 9301 User Manual

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RSView 32

USER’S GUIDE

PUBLICATION VW32-UM001F-EN-E–July 2011

Supersedes Publication VW32-UM001E-EN-E

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Technologies, Inc. Any reproduction and/or distribution without prior written consent from Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. is strictly prohibited. Please refer to the license agreement for details.

Allen-Bradley, ControlLogix, FactoryTalk, Rockwell Automation, Rockwell Software, RSLinx, RSView and the Rockwell Software logo are registered trademarks of Rockwell Automation, Inc.

The following logos and products are trademarks of Rockwell Automation, Inc.: AdvanceDDE, ControlView, Data Highway Plus, DH+, RSView32, RSView32 Resource Kit, and WINtelligent. FactoryTalk Activation, FactoryTalk Live Data, and FactoryTalk Transaction Manager. RSLinx Classic, SLC 5, SLC 500, and SoftLogix.

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This product is warranted in accordance with the product license. The product’s performance may be affected by system configuration, the application being performed, operator control, maintenance, and other related factors. Rockwell Automation is not respon sible for these interv ening factors. The instructions in this document do not cover all the details or variations in the equipment, procedure, or process described, nor do they provide directions for meeting every possible contingency during installation, operation, or maintenance. This product’s implementation may vary among users.

This document is current as of the time of release of the product; however, the accompanying software may have changed since the release. Rockwell Automation, Inc. reserves the right to change any information contained in this document or the software at anytime without prior notice. It is your responsibility to obtain the most current information available from Rockwell when installing or using this product.

Preface

About the documentation............................................................................ P-1

Technical support services........................................................................ P-2

When you call ............................................................................................................... P-2

Chapter 1

Working with projects

What is a project? ............................................................................................. 1-1

Project files ...................................................................................................................1-2

Working in the Project Manager ............................................................. 1-3

Component................................................................................................................... 1-4

Viewing component locations ................................................................................... 1-4

Adding components to a project............................................................ 1-5

Renaming, removing, and deleting components......................... 1-6

Renaming a component.............................................................................................. 1-7

Removing a component.............................................................................................. 1-8

Deleting a component and file................................................................................... 1-8

Naming files........................................................................................................... 1-8

Printing...................................................................................................................... 1-9

Selecting a printer ...................................................................................................... 1-10

Selecting printer setup options ................................................................................ 1-10

Selecting a network printer....................................................................................... 1-11

Printing at runtime..................................................................................................... 1-11

 i

Chapter 2

Setting up direct driver communications

Overview of direct driver communications .....................................2-1

Communication channel..............................................................................................2-2

Communication device ................................................................................................2-2

Communication driver.................................................................................................2-3

Node (control device) ..................................................................................................2-3

Setting up direct driver communication to programmable controllers

Setting up communications without hardware or software ...................................2-4

Summary of steps .........................................................................................................2-4

Configuring RSLinx drivers..........................................................................2-5

Using the drivers...........................................................................................................2-6

Selecting a driver in RSView32...................................................................................2-6

Configuring channels.......................................................................................2-7

Changing the channel configuration....................................................................... 2-11

............................................................................2-3

Switching communication drivers at runtime ............................ 2-11

Commands for switching drivers ............................................................................ 2-12

Switching drivers automatically .............................................................................. 2-12

Switching drivers manually....................................................................................... 2-13

Creating a node ................................................................................................ 2-13

Changing node information at runtime............................................ 2-17

Scanning for new tag values................................................................... 2-17

RSView32 scan classes.............................................................................................. 2-18

Guidelines for configuring scan classes ................................................................. 2-18

Monitoring communications.................................................................... 2-20

Developing your project without a communication network

ii  RSView32 User’s Guide

................................................................................................................... 2-22

Chapter 3

Setting up OPC and DDE communications

Overview of OPC communications........................................................ 3-3

Overview of DDE communications........................................................ 3-4

Summary of steps.............................................................................................. 3-5

Creating an OPC node.................................................................................... 3-5

Creating a DDE node..................................................................................... 3-12

Changing node information at runtime............................................ 3-16

Scanning for new tag values................................................................... 3-17

Chapter 4

Creating tags

Tags and the tag database......................................................................... 4-1

Tag types................................................................................................................. 4-2

Data sources......................................................................................................... 4-3

Device............................................................................................................................ 4-3

Memory ......................................................................................................................... 4-3

Organizing tags................................................................................................... 4-3

Naming tags.................................................................................................................. 4-4

Using folders to group tags ........................................................................................ 4-4

The tag database editor ............................................................................... 4-5

Using the Accept and Discard buttons .................................................................... 4-6

Using the form..................................................................................................... 4-6

Using the query box......................................................................................... 4-6

Using the folder hierarchy .......................................................................... 4-7

Creating a folder........................................................................................................... 4-7

Opening a folder .......................................................................................................... 4-8

Adding tags to a folder................................................................................................ 4-9

Nesting a folder............................................................................................................ 4-9

Duplicating a folder................................................................................................... 4-10

Deleting a folder ........................................................................................................ 4-11

Contents  iii

Using the spreadsheet................................................................................. 4-11

Moving through the spreadsheet............................................................................. 4-11

Resizing columns and rows...................................................................................... 4-11

Adding a tag................................................................................................................ 4-12

Duplicating a tag ........................................................................................................ 4-12

Editing a tag................................................................................................................ 4-12

Deleting a tag.............................................................................................................. 4-13

Configuring tag type...................................................................................... 4-13

Configuring an analog tag......................................................................................... 4-13

Configuring a digital tag............................................................................................ 4-17

Configuring a string tag ............................................................................................ 4-18

Specifying a data source........................................................................... 4-19

Specifying device as the data source ....................................................................... 4-20

Specifying memory as the data source.................................................................... 4-21

Other methods for creating tags.......................................................... 4-22

Creating tags in a third–party application .............................................................. 4-22

Creating tags as needed in other RSView32 editors............................................. 4-23

Using the Tag Browser ........................................................................................... 4-24

Importing tags from a PLC database...................................................................... 4-25

Importing ControlLogix tags ................................................................................... 4-27

Using the Database Import & Export Wizard...................................................... 4-27

Creating tags using the RSView32 Object Model and VBA............................... 4-28

Adding alarms to tags.................................................................................. 4-28

Logging tag values......................................................................................... 4-29

Using the tag monitor .................................................................................. 4-29

Creating a tag monitor object .................................................................................. 4-30

Creating a tag monitor file........................................................................................ 4-31

Selecting tags .............................................................................................................. 4-31

Understanding what you see .................................................................................... 4-34

Changing what you see ............................................................................................. 4-35

Viewing details ........................................................................................................... 4-37

iv  RSView32 User’s Guide

Chapter 5

Creating derived tags

How to use derived tags............................................................................... 5-1

How to use multiple derived tag files................................................. 5-2

Summary of steps.............................................................................................. 5-2

The Derived Tags editor ............................................................................... 5-3

Using the Accept and Discard buttons .................................................................... 5-3

Setting up the evaluation interval......................................................... 5-4

Creating derived tags..................................................................................... 5-5

Editing derived tags......................................................................................... 5-6

Starting and stopping derived tag processing ............................. 5-7

Ways to start derived tag processing......................................................................... 5-7

Ways to stop derived tag processing......................................................................... 5-8

Chapter 6

Configuring alarms

Summary of features....................................................................................... 6-1

Key concepts........................................................................................................ 6-2

Alarms for analog tags ................................................................................................ 6-2

Alarms for digital tags ................................................................................................. 6-7

Alarm severity............................................................................................................... 6-7

Alarm messages............................................................................................................ 6-8

Alarm log file ................................................................................................................ 6-8

Alarm displays .............................................................................................................. 6-9

Alarm system tags ...................................................................................................... 6-11

Alarm acknowledgment ............................................................................................ 6-12

Alarm suppression ..................................................................................................... 6-13

Running commands, macros, or VBA programs in response to alarms........... 6-13

Alarm expressions...................................................................................................... 6-15

Acknowledge bit (globally acknowledging alarms) ............................................... 6-17

Handshake bit............................................................................................................. 6-18

Alarm events............................................................................................................... 6-19

Summary of steps............................................................................................ 6-22

Contents  v

The Alarm Setup editor............................................................................... 6-23

Specifying where to store alarm log files...................................... 6-24

Creating log files.............................................................................................. 6-25

Monitoring disk space............................................................................................... 6-26

Creating files periodically.......................................................................................... 6-27

Creating files at specified times ............................................................................... 6-27

Creating files when a particular event occurs........................................................ 6-28

Never creating new files ........................................................................................... 6-29

Deleting log files.............................................................................................. 6-29

About alarm log files..................................................................................... 6-31

How log files are named ........................................................................................... 6-31

Exporting alarm log files to ODBC format..................................... 6-32

Configuring alarm severity....................................................................... 6-33

Configuring alarm messages................................................................... 6-36

Types of messages ..................................................................................................... 6-36

Defining the content of the message...................................................................... 6-36

Adding remarks to the alarm log file at runtime....................... 6-40

Specifying alarm conditions for analog and digital tags .... 6-41

When can I configure an alarm for a tag?.............................................................. 6-42

Configuring alarms for analog tags.................................................... 6-43

Alarm thresholds........................................................................................................ 6-43

Alarm messages.......................................................................................................... 6-45

Advanced .................................................................................................................... 6-46

Configuring alarms for digital tags..................................................... 6-48

Alarm states ................................................................................................................ 6-48

Alarm messages.......................................................................................................... 6-50

Advanced .................................................................................................................... 6-51

Viewing the alarm log file ......................................................................... 6-53

vi  RSView32 User’s Guide

Creating an alarm summary..................................................................... 6-54

Creating an alarm summary file ............................................................................... 6-55

Creating an alarm summary object.......................................................................... 6-55

The parts of an alarm summary............................................................................... 6-56

Inserting headings...................................................................................................... 6-57

Choosing fonts ........................................................................................................... 6-59

Choosing colors and blink styles ............................................................................. 6-59

Formatting buttons.................................................................................................... 6-61

Choosing data............................................................................................................. 6-64

Filtering data ............................................................................................................... 6-64

Sorting data ................................................................................................................. 6-67

Using alarm data with commands ........................................................................... 6-68

Suppressing alarm printing...................................................................... 6-70

Suppressing alarm monitoring............................................................... 6-71

Suppressing alarm monitoring for tags................................................................... 6-71

Viewing suppressed tags ........................................................................................... 6-72

Using the Suppressed List ........................................................................................ 6-72

More RSView32 commands..................................................................................... 6-73

Starting and stopping alarm monitoring......................................... 6-73

Ways to start alarm monitoring ............................................................................... 6-73

Ways to stop alarm monitoring ............................................................................... 6-74

Chapter 7

Configuring data logging

What is a model?................................................................................................ 7-1

How to use multiple data log models ....................................................................... 7-2

Summary of steps.............................................................................................. 7-2

About data log storage formats.............................................................. 7-2

The .dbf file format........................................................................................... 7-3

Narrow .dbf file format .............................................................................................. 7-3

Wide .dbf file format................................................................................................... 7-3

Choosing between narrow and wide .dbf file formats ........................................... 7-4

How .dbf log files are named..................................................................................... 7-5

Long file names............................................................................................................ 7-5

Short file names............................................................................................................ 7-6

Contents  vii

Example of short file names for narrow .dbf format .............................................7-7

Example of short file names for wide .dbf format..................................................7-8

The ODBC storage format............................................................................7-8

How ODBC tables are named....................................................................................7-9

Using an existing ODBC data source........................................................................7-9

Creating a new ODBC data source......................................................................... 7-10

The Data Log Setup editor........................................................................ 7-11

Setting up a model ......................................................................................... 7-11

Setting up logging paths............................................................................ 7-20

Switching logging paths ............................................................................................ 7-20

Specifying logging paths ........................................................................................... 7-22

Using the DataLogSwitchBack command to switch logging paths

Using the DataLogMergeToPrimary command to move secondary files to the primary path

Creating .dbf log files................................................................................... 7-27

...................................................................................................... 7-25

................................................... 7-26

Monitoring disk space............................................................................................... 7-27

Creating files periodically.......................................................................................... 7-28

Creating files at specified times ............................................................................... 7-29

Creating files when a particular event occurs........................................................ 7-30

Never creating new files ........................................................................................... 7-30

Using the DataLogNewFile command to create files ........... 7-31

Deleting ODBC database records and .dbf log files............... 7-32

Specifying when to log data.................................................................... 7-35

Logging periodically .................................................................................................. 7-36

Logging on change .................................................................................................... 7-36

Logging on demand................................................................................................... 7-37

Using the DataLogSnapshot command ................................................................. 7-38

Combining logging .................................................................................................... 7-39

Providing operators with a way to log on demand............................................... 7-39

Choosing the data to log............................................................................ 7-40

viii  RSView32 User’s Guide

Editing the data log model........................................................................ 7-41

Changing logging paths using RSView32 Runtime .............................................. 7-41

Changing logging paths using the DataLogPath command................................ 7-42

Making runtime changes without editing the data log model

........................................................................................................................ 7-43

Changing the log rate for periodic logging ............................................................ 7-43

Changing the log file identifier string ..................................................................... 7-44

Displaying data in a trend ......................................................................... 7-44

Starting and stopping data logging.................................................... 7-44

Ways to start data logging......................................................................................... 7-45

Ways to stop data logging......................................................................................... 7-45

Chapter 8

Configuring activity logging

Which activities can be logged?............................................................. 8-1

Summary of steps.............................................................................................. 8-2

The Activity Log Setup editor................................................................... 8-2

Specifying where to store activity log files.................................... 8-4

Creating log files................................................................................................ 8-5

Monitoring disk space ................................................................................................. 8-6

Creating files periodically............................................................................................ 8-6

Creating files at specified times ................................................................................. 8-7

Creating files when a particular event occurs .......................................................... 8-8

Never creating new files.............................................................................................. 8-8

Deleting log files................................................................................................ 8-9

About activity log files................................................................................. 8-10

How log files are named ........................................................................................... 8-10

Exporting activity log files to ODBC format................................. 8-11

Specifying which activities to log....................................................... 8-13

Editing activity log setup........................................................................... 8-15

Using the activity bar................................................................................... 8-15

Hiding, showing, and moving the activity bar....................................................... 8-15

Messages in the activity bar ...................................................................................... 8-17

Contents  ix

Using the Activity Log Viewer............................................................... 8-17

Selecting a record....................................................................................................... 8-18

Understanding records.............................................................................................. 8-19

Tracking system usage .............................................................................................. 8-19

Starting and stopping activity logging............................................. 8-20

Ways to start activity logging ................................................................................... 8-20

Ways to stop activity logging ................................................................................... 8-20

Chapter 9

Configuring events

How to use multiple event files...............................................................9-1

Summary of steps ..............................................................................................9-2

The Events editor...............................................................................................9-2

Using the Accept and Discard buttons .....................................................................9-3

Setting up the evaluation interval..........................................................9-3

Creating events ...................................................................................................9-4

Editing events.......................................................................................................9-6

Starting and stopping event processing............................................9-6

Ways to start event processing ...................................................................................9-6

Ways to stop event processing ...................................................................................9-7

Chapter 10

Adding security

About security ................................................................................................... 10-1

Users and security codes........................................................................................... 10-1

Security function........................................................................................................ 10-2

Electronic signatures ................................................................................................. 10-2

Security Monitor utility ............................................................................................. 10-2

Summary of steps for setting up security codes...................... 10-3

Before you begin.............................................................................................. 10-4

x  RSView32 User’s Guide

Configuring security codes....................................................................... 10-4

Security codes ............................................................................................................. 10-5

The default.................................................................................................................. 10-5

Setting up security by inclusion ............................................................................... 10-6

Setting up security by exclusion............................................................................... 10-6

Preventing access to the Security Codes and User Accounts editors................ 10-7

Using strict security...................................................................................... 10-7

Turning off strict security......................................................................................... 10-8

Assigning security to a graphic display.......................................... 10-9

Assigning security to an OLE object............................................... 10-10

Assigning security to a tag..................................................................... 10-11

Configuring user accounts...................................................................... 10-12

About the default user............................................................................................. 10-13

Ensuring you always have access........................................................................... 10-13

Creating user accounts ............................................................................................ 10-13

Using electronic signatures to prevent unauthorized actions

Securing the Project Manager.............................................................. 10-17

................................................................................................................... 10-17

Preventing users from going out of the RSView32 project

Logging in at runtime.................................................................................. 10-19

Changing passwords at runtime......................................................... 10-19

.......................................................................................... 10-18

Contents  xi

Chapter 11

Creating graphic displays

About graphic displays and graphic objects............................... 11-1

The Graphic Display editor....................................................................... 11-2

The editor’s main components................................................................................ 11-2

Mastering basic techniques .................................................................... 11-3

Using the context menu............................................................................................ 11-3

Switching between normal and test modes ........................................................... 11-4

Using the toolbars...................................................................................................... 11-4

Selecting a drawing tool............................................................................................ 11-6

Selecting colors .......................................................................................................... 11-7

Selecting and deselecting objects............................................................................. 11-8

Using the grid ............................................................................................................. 11-8

Using the Rotate tool ................................................................................................ 11-9

Zooming in and out ................................................................................................ 11-11

Correcting mistakes ................................................................................................. 11-11

Setting up the display................................................................................ 11-12

Saving the display settings ...................................................................................... 11-12

Creating a default..................................................................................................... 11-13

Using the Display Settings dialog box.................................................................. 11-13

Specifying the display type ..................................................................................... 11-14

Allowing multiple running copies ......................................................................... 11-15

Specifying caching ................................................................................................... 11-16

Specifying the title bar and other display attributes ........................................... 11-17

Preventing scroll bars on the RSView32 main window..................................... 11-19

Specifying display size............................................................................................. 11-20

Specifying resize behavior ...................................................................................... 11-20

Specifying display position ..................................................................................... 11-21

Specifying a security code....................................................................................... 11-22

Specifying background color.................................................................................. 11-22

Specifying startup and shutdown commands...................................................... 11-23

Specifying colors for input fields........................................................................... 11-24

Specifying the behavior of interactive objects..................................................... 11-24

Specifying the behavior of objects with input focus.......................................... 11-25

Displaying the on–screen keyboard ...................................................................... 11-26

xii  RSView32 User’s Guide

Displaying graphics more quickly...................................................... 11-27

Removing displays from the cache ....................................................................... 11-28

Types of graphic objects.......................................................................... 11-28

Creating simple objects............................................................................ 11-29

Drawing a rounded rectangle................................................................................. 11-29

Drawing a rectangle or square ............................................................................... 11-30

Drawing an ellipse or circle .................................................................................... 11-30

Drawing a line .......................................................................................................... 11-30

Drawing a polyline or polygon .............................................................................. 11-31

Drawing a freehand object ..................................................................................... 11-32

Drawing an arc or wedge........................................................................................ 11-32

Creating text.............................................................................................................. 11-33

Font substitution at runtime .................................................................................. 11-34

Reshaping simple objects....................................................................... 11-35

Creating advanced objects..................................................................... 11-36

Objects described in other chapters...................................................................... 11-36

Using tag names ....................................................................................................... 11-36

Using tag placeholders ............................................................................................ 11-37

Using a parameter file to replace tag placeholders ............................................. 11-38

Listing tag names to replace tag placeholders ..................................................... 11-40

Creating numeric and string input fields .............................................................. 11-42

Using input fields at runtime................................................................. 11-46

Continuously updating tag values.......................................................................... 11-47

Keys ........................................................................................................................... 11-48

RSView32 commands ............................................................................................. 11-48

Using the on–screen keyboard............................................................................... 11-49

Creating numeric and string display fields ........................................................... 11-50

Creating labels .......................................................................................................... 11-54

Creating arrows ........................................................................................................ 11-55

Creating buttons....................................................................................................... 11-57

Editing a button object ........................................................................................... 11-61

Reshaping a button object...................................................................................... 11-61

Creating a recipe field.............................................................................................. 11-61

Creating a recipe file ................................................................................................ 11-62

Using a recipe at runtime........................................................................................ 11-65

Contents  xiii

Replacing text associated with objects....................................... 11-67

Creating and editing OLE objects...................................................... 11-69

Other methods for inserting OLE objects .......................................................... 11-71

Converting OLE objects ........................................................................................ 11-71

Creating and editing ActiveX objects............................................. 11-73

Using the ActiveX Property Panel........................................................................ 11-75

Using the ActiveX Toolbox................................................................................... 11-76

Recording and authorizing run-time changes using electronic signatures

................................................................... 11-79

Securing tag writes and commands....................................................................... 11-79

Tracking changes with activity logging................................................................. 11-80

Creating signature buttons .................................................................... 11-80

Specifying a caption for the signature button ..................................................... 11-81

Setting up the runtime behavior of the signature button .................................. 11-82

Specifying colors for the signature button........................................................... 11-85

Naming graphic objects............................................................................ 11-86

Working with objects.................................................................................. 11-87

Moving objects......................................................................................................... 11-87

Copying objects........................................................................................................ 11-88

Duplicating objects.................................................................................................. 11-90

Resizing objects........................................................................................................ 11-91

Arranging objects.......................................................................................... 11-92

Grouping and ungrouping objects........................................................................ 11-93

Performing group editing ....................................................................................... 11-94

Stacking objects........................................................................................................ 11-95

Aligning objects ....................................................................................................... 11-97

Spacing objects......................................................................................................... 11-99

Flipping objects...................................................................................................... 11-100

Applying colors ............................................................................................. 11-101

Applying fill patterns................................................................................. 11-102

Selecting fill patterns ............................................................................................. 11-102

Applying fill patterns............................................................................................. 11-102

How colors and patterns work ............................................................................ 11-103

Changing line properties........................................................................ 11-103

xiv  RSView32 User’s Guide

Peeking at objects...................................................................................... 11-105

Creating a background for your display...................................... 11-107

Objects that cannot be converted ....................................................................... 11-107

Importing graphic files from third–party applications ...... 11-108

Transparent backgrounds for image files...........................................................11-109

Converting imported objects to RSView32 native objects.............................. 11-109

Using bitmaps................................................................................................ 11-110

When could a bitmap help?..................................................................................11-111

Using graphic libraries ............................................................................ 11-112

Location of library files .........................................................................................11-112

Printing displays at runtime................................................................. 11-113

Chapter 12

Animating graphic objects

Types of animation......................................................................................... 12-1

Which objects can have animation?........................................................................ 12-2

Using the Animation dialog box............................................................ 12-2

About the Animation dialog box............................................................................. 12-4

Using Object Smart Path to visually set animation .............................................. 12-6

Testing animation ........................................................................................... 12-6

Using tag names and tag placeholders........................................... 12-6

Tag names ................................................................................................................... 12-7

Tag placeholders ........................................................................................................ 12-7

Using commands and macros................................................................ 12-7

Using expressions........................................................................................... 12-8

Setting minimum and maximum values.......................................... 12-8

Why specify minimum and maximum values? ...................................................... 12-8

Defining a range of motion........................................................................ 12-9

Objects that do not have a range of motion.......................................................... 12-9

Using OSP (Object Smart Path).............................................................................. 12-9

Configuring visibility animation .......................................................... 12-12

Contents  xv

Configuring color animation.................................................................. 12-13

The parts of the list box ......................................................................................... 12-14

Configuring fill animation........................................................................ 12-18

Configuring horizontal position animation.................................. 12-20

Configuring vertical position animation........................................ 12-21

Configuring width animation................................................................. 12-22

Configuring height animation............................................................... 12-24

Configuring rotation animation ........................................................... 12-25

Configuring touch animation................................................................. 12-28

Configuring horizontal slider animation........................................ 12-30

Configuring vertical slider animation ............................................. 12-31

Configuring OLE verb animation......................................................... 12-32

Attaching other types of animation to OLE objects.......................................... 12-33

Configuring ActiveX control .................................................................. 12-33

The object’s properties versus RSView32 animation......................................... 12-34

Naming an ActiveX object..................................................................................... 12-35

Attaching ActiveX control properties .................................................................. 12-36

Attaching ActiveX control events ...................................................................... 12-38

Viewing ActiveX control methods ....................................................................... 12-39

Using the Invoke command to call an ActiveX method................................... 12-40

Associating objects and displays with keys ............................. 12-42

Creating object keys................................................................................... 12-42

Using index numbers.................................................................................. 12-45

How index numbers are used ................................................................................ 12-45

Checking an object’s index number...................................................................... 12-46

Changing index numbers........................................................................................ 12-46

Creating a tab sequence .......................................................................................... 12-47

Using the Current [Tag] parameter.................................................. 12-48

Summary of steps .................................................................................................... 12-49

Examples................................................................................................................... 12-50

Creating display keys................................................................................. 12-54

xvi  RSView32 User’s Guide

Editing display and object keys.......................................................... 12-56

Modifying a key........................................................................................................ 12-57

Removing a key ........................................................................................................ 12-57

Removing all keys .................................................................................................... 12-57

Viewing the key list at runtime........................................................... 12-58

Disabling the key list ............................................................................................... 12-58

Applying animation to groups............................................................... 12-59

Checking the animation on objects ................................................. 12-59

Using the Animation menu and the Animation dialog box .............................. 12-59

Using Peek ................................................................................................................ 12-61

Changing the animation on objects ................................................. 12-63

Copying or duplicating objects with animation....................... 12-63

Copying animation without copying objects ............................. 12-64

Chapter 13

Configuring trends

About trends........................................................................................................ 13-1

Key concepts...................................................................................................... 13-2

Trend object ............................................................................................................... 13-2

Trend dialog box........................................................................................................ 13-2

Data source................................................................................................................. 13-3

Pens.............................................................................................................................. 13-3

Shading ........................................................................................................................ 13-4

Legend ......................................................................................................................... 13-4

Control tags ................................................................................................................ 13-4

Summary of steps............................................................................................ 13-5

Creating a trend object............................................................................... 13-5

Working in the Trend dialog box........................................................... 13-6

Trend configuration ....................................................................................... 13-7

Configuring the time axis.......................................................................................... 13-7

Configuring the vertical axis................................................................................... 13-12

Choosing a data source ........................................................................................... 13-13

Configuring control ................................................................................................. 13-15

Contents  xvii

Creating a legend...................................................................................................... 13-16

Pen configuration.......................................................................................... 13-18

Configuring the tag or value .................................................................................. 13-18

Configuring pen style .............................................................................................. 13-19

Configuring pen scale.............................................................................................. 13-21

Configuring shading ................................................................................................ 13-22

Creating a legend...................................................................................................... 13-25

Ensuring real-time trends have data............................................... 13-26

Comparing real-time and historical data...................................... 13-27

Creating control for a trend................................................................... 13-27

Trend control tags ................................................................................................... 13-28

How the trend control tags work.......................................................................... 13-30

Creating objects to animate a trend ...................................................................... 13-31

Masking pens............................................................................................................ 13-32

Specifying a start time ............................................................................................. 13-34

Using the Trends graphic library........................................................ 13-35

Setting the name of the Control Tag folder ........................................................ 13-36

Choosing fonts, colors, and lines....................................................... 13-37

Using the trend at runtime..................................................................... 13-39

Selecting pens ........................................................................................................... 13-39

Selecting points ........................................................................................................ 13-40

Changing the marker’s color .................................................................................. 13-41

Editing a trend................................................................................................. 13-41

Editing the trend object.......................................................................................... 13-41

Editing the trend configuration............................................................................. 13-42

Chapter 14

Creating expressions

About expressions.......................................................................................... 14-1

Expression components ........................................................................................... 14-1

Where you can use expressions........................................................... 14-2

Using expressions in a command............................................................................ 14-2

xviii  RSView32 User’s Guide

Creating expressions.................................................................................... 14-3

Expression buttons.................................................................................................... 14-4

Cutting, copying, and pasting expressions................................... 14-4

Formatting expressions.............................................................................. 14-6

Using the = (Equal) command................................................................. 14-6

Using tag names and tag placeholders........................................... 14-8

Using tag placeholders instead of tag names ......................................................... 14-9

Constants.............................................................................................................. 14-9

Arithmetic operators................................................................................... 14-10

String operands ........................................................................................................ 14-10

Relational operators .................................................................................... 14-11

How string operands are evaluated....................................................................... 14-11

Logical operators........................................................................................... 14-12

Bitwise operators.......................................................................................... 14-12

Built–in functions........................................................................................... 14-14

Tag functions............................................................................................................ 14-15

Time functions ......................................................................................................... 14-16

File functions............................................................................................................ 14-20

Math functions ......................................................................................................... 14-21

Security function ...................................................................................................... 14-22

Evaluation order of operators............................................................... 14-22

If–then–else........................................................................................................ 14-24

Nested if–then–else structure ................................................................................ 14-25

Chapter 15

Setting up navigation

Developing a hierarchy of displays..................................................... 15-1

Methods for moving among displays................................................. 15-2

Commands for moving among displays................................................................. 15-3

Reducing display call–up time.................................................................................. 15-4

Where to use RSView32 commands....................................................................... 15-4

Example of navigation methods ........................................................... 15-5

Contents  xix

Chapter 16

The tools................................................................................................................ 15-7

Precedence.................................................................................................................. 15-7

Creating macros ............................................................................................... 15-7

Using parameters ..................................................................................................... 15-10

Nesting macros ........................................................................................................ 15-10

Creating a macro that starts when a project starts.............................................. 15-11

Creating symbols........................................................................................... 15-11

Important guidelines ............................................................................................... 15-12

Key definitions ................................................................................................ 15-13

General rules about precedence ............................................................................ 15-14

Precedence and the F1 key..................................................................................... 15-15

Precedence and embedded ActiveX objects ....................................................... 15-15

Precedence and embedded OLE objects............................................................. 15-16

Reserved keys ........................................................................................................... 15-17

Tips for using keys................................................................................................... 15-19

Creating global keys ................................................................................... 15-19

Running global key files ........................................................................... 15-22

Sharing data with other Windows applications

Methods for sharing data........................................................................... 16-1

Retrieving historical data.......................................................................... 16-3

Retrieving tag names from data log files................................................................ 16-4

Bringing logged dBASE IV data into Microsoft Excel............ 16-4

Understanding the content of the log files................................... 16-6

Activity log files ......................................................................................................... 16-7

Activity log—ODBC format ................................................................................... 16-8

Alarm log files ............................................................................................................ 16-9

Alarm log files—ODBC format............................................................................ 16-11

Data log files—narrow .dbf format ...................................................................... 16-13

Data log files—wide .dbf format .......................................................................... 16-15

Data log—ODBC format ...................................................................................... 16-17

xx  RSView32 User’s Guide

Chapter 17

Creating a pivot table in Microsoft Excel .................................... 16-19

Starting the PivotTable Wizard.............................................................................. 16-20

Selecting the data source......................................................................................... 16-20

Joining tables and selecting data ............................................................................ 16-22

Organizing the pivot table...................................................................................... 16-24

Creating a chart ........................................................................................................ 16-25

Sharing tag values locally....................................................................... 16-26

Providing tag values to local OPC or DDE clients.................. 16-26

Enabling RSView32 as a server ............................................................................. 16-26

Setting up a local OPC client application............................................................. 16-26

Setting up a local DDE client application............................................................ 16-27

Getting tag values from servers......................................................... 16-28

Setting up RSView32 as the client......................................................................... 16-28

Enabling RSView32 for tag writes..................................................... 16-29

Sending DDEExecute commands to other applications.... 16-30

Using networks

Sharing project components during development and runtime

Sharing components during development ............................................................. 17-1

Sharing components at runtime............................................................................... 17-2

How to share components ....................................................................................... 17-3

Using OPC for peer–to–peer network communications........ 17-5

Identifying the RSView32 server computer........................................................... 17-6

Enabling an RSView32 OPC server for reading and writing.............................. 17-6

Configuring the RSView32 OPC client application ............................................. 17-6

Connecting to RSLinx Gateway as a remote OPC server... 17-9

Configuring RSLinx Gateway .................................................................................. 17-9

Configuring RSView32 for use with RSLinx Gateway ...................................... 17-10

.................................................................................................................... 17-1

Contents  xxi

Chapter 18

Running your project

Summary of steps ........................................................................................... 18-1

Specifying startup settings...................................................................... 18-1

Preferences.................................................................................................................. 18-3

Startup ......................................................................................................................... 18-6

Setting up a project in a new location............................................. 18-8

Setting the project path ............................................................................. 18-8

Changing application paths .................................................................................... 18-10

Changing the database path ................................................................................... 18-12

Specifying time, date, and number formats............................... 18-12

Running a project.......................................................................................... 18-13

Running a project automatically ............................................................................ 18-14

Monitoring disk space................................................................................ 18-14

Stopping a project ........................................................................................ 18-15

When a project stops............................................................................................... 18-15

Appendix A

RSView32 commands

Using RSView32 commands......................................................................A-1

Where to use commands ............................................................................................A-1

How to use commands...............................................................................................A-1

Using placeholders in commands .............................................................................A-2

Precedence....................................................................................................................A-4

Using the command line...............................................................................A-5

Using the Command Wizard.......................................................................A-5

Building a command string ........................................................................................A-6

The RSView32 commands, listed alphabetically.......................A-8

xxii  RSView32 User’s Guide

Appendix B

System tags

Alarms........................................................................................................................B-1

Communications ................................................................................................B-2

Graphics...................................................................................................................B-4

Time ............................................................................................................................ B-5

Trends........................................................................................................................B-5

User.............................................................................................................................B-8

Windows memory resources .....................................................................B-8

Appendix C

Differences between RSView32 and ControlView

Importing ControlView projects..............................................................C-1

Activity log.............................................................................................................C-1

Alarms........................................................................................................................C-2

Alarm banner and alarm status display.....................................................................C-2

Alarm log.......................................................................................................................C-2

Alarm summary............................................................................................................C-2

Commands..............................................................................................................C-3

Obsolete commands....................................................................................................C-3

Renamed commands ...................................................................................................C-4

Data log ....................................................................................................................C-5

Derived tags ..........................................................................................................C-5

Events........................................................................................................................C-5

Global keys.............................................................................................................C-6

Graphics...................................................................................................................C-6

Scan classes.........................................................................................................C-7

SLC addressing syntax..................................................................................C-7

Tag database........................................................................................................C-8

Contents  xxiii

Trends........................................................................................................................C-8

ControlView features integrated into RSView32 .......................C-8

Appendix D

Addressing syntax for Allen–Bradley programmable controllers

PLC addressing syntax................................................................................. D-2

SLC addressing syntax............................................................................... D-12

SoftLogix 5 addressing syntax............................................................. D-26

Mnemonic tables............................................................................................. D-30

Appendix E

Station addressing for nodes connecting to Allen–Bradley devices

Local station addressing .............................................................................E-1

Host name.....................................................................................................................E-2

Remote station addressing........................................................................E-2

DH and DH+ networks bridged by a 1785–KA....................................................E-3

DH+ and DH–485 networks bridged by a 1785–KA5.........................................E-6

Multiple DH+ networks connected by a Pyramid Integrator ..............................E-7

DH and DH+ connected to a TCP/IP network by a Pyramid Integrator ......E-10

Appendix F

Importing and exporting XML files

About XML.............................................................................................................. F-1

Creating XML files by exporting ............................................................. F-1

To export graphic display information to an XML file ......................................... F-2

Editing XML files................................................................................................ F-2

Saving XML files in Notepad .................................................................................... F-2

Importing XML files.......................................................................................... F-2

Importing graphic XML file....................................................................................... F-3

Graphic display XML file structure....................................................... F-3

Index.......................................................................................................................................................... I-1

xxiv  RSView32 User’s Guide

P Preface

Thank you for choosing RSView32™. RSView32 is an integrated package for developing and running automation applications.

Designed for use with Microsoft Edition Pack 1 or later, Windows 2000 Server with Service Pack 4 or Windows 2000 Professional with Service Pack 4, and Windows Vista Business with Service Pack 1 or later (32-Bit) or Windows Vista Home Basic with Service Pack 1 or later (32-Bit), Windows 7 Professional and Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition, RSView32 gives you all the tools you need to create effective monitoring and supervisory control applications.

with Service Pack 2, Windows XP Professional with Service

About the documentation

The RSView32 documentation set includes:

Getting Results with RSView32: A quick start guide to get you up and running with RSView32.

RSView32 User’s Guide: Comprehensive information about RSView32, procedures for creating and running an automation application, and reference information.

Windows® Server 2003 R2 Standard

RSView32 Runtime User’s Guide: Information on how to install, start, and use RSView32 Runtime.

Help: Online procedures and reference information.

Release Notes Additional information about RSView32. Read this file

before you begin working with the software.

 P–1

Technical support services

If you have questions about RSView32, please consult the user’s guides or the Help.

If you can’t find the answer, contact Rockwell Software Technical Support at:

Telephone: 440–646–3434

Internet Support: www.rockwellsoftware.com or

www.support.rockwellautomation.com

Support staff are available Monday to Friday from 8

A.M. to 5 P.M.

Eastern Standard Time, except during holidays.

When you call

When you call, be at your computer and ready to give the following information:

the product serial number

You’ll find this number on the Activation disk label and in the help About dialog box that you access from the RSView32 Project Manager.

the product version number

the type of hardware you are using

the exact wording of any messages that appeared on your screen

a description of what happened and what you were doing when the

problem occurred

how you tried to solve the problem

P–2  RSView32 User’s Guide

Chapter

1 Working with projects

This chapter describes:

files and components

adding, renaming, removing, and deleting components

printing from editors

using the Project Documentor and Project Transport Wizard as

you develop your project

What is a project?

A project consists of a folder on your hard disk that contains, at a minimum, the following items:

project file (.rsv)

tag folder

comprf (communications profile) folder

cache folder

The .rsv file contains general project information such as a list of project components and their directory locations and version numbers. By default, all project components are located locally in folders under the project folder, but they can also be located in other directories or on other computers.

 1–1

Project files

The following table lists the RSView32™ folders and the types of files they contain.

Folder Contents File

extensions

Project name RSView32 project file, system files, and

.rsv

the folders described below

System files: User accounts Security command list

.act .sec

Actlog Activity log files .dbf

Almlog Alarm log files .dbf

Als Alarm summary files .als

Cab

ActiveX

control setup files

.cab

Cache RSView32 internal files .ctl, .dat, .idx

Comprf Internal information on channels,

.csv, .ctl

nodes, and scan classes

Dlglog Data log models

Data log files Information for current file set Information for historical file sets

.mdf .dbf .dns .dlg

Dts Derived tag files .dts

Eds Events files .eds

Gfx Graphic display files .gfx

Key Global key files .key

Mcr Macro files .mcr

Par Parameter files .par

Rcp Recipe files .rcp

Tag Tag database files

1–2  RSView32 User’s Guide

Tag cache file

.db, .ctl, .dat .cac

Folder Contents File

Project name

Component

Tgs Tag monitor files .tgs

Vba VBA program files .vba

Working in the Project Mana ger

The Project Manager is the main tool for working with RSView32. Each time you create a project, a Project Manager appears showing the project name.

extensions

The Project Manager window is divided into two panes. When you first create a project, the left pane appears with a series of folders and the right pane is empty. As you create project components, they are displayed in the right pane.

Working with projects  1–3

Component

The path to the selected component . . .

This is a shortcut to a component that is not in the default project directory.

. . . is displayed in the status bar.

The Project Manager manages components, not files. A component is a file reference that is associated with the physical file’s name and path. The file can be located in a folder under the project directory, outside the project directory, or on another computer.

Viewing component locations

To view the location of the component’s file, select the component in the Project Manager and then check the location displayed in the status bar.

1–4  RSView32 User’s Guide

Adding components to a project

You can use the same files in more than one project by adding components to a project. You can do this using two different methods.

When you add a component in the Project Manager using the Copy Existing Component into Project option, you are creating a copy of the file in the project.

When you add a component using the second option, Create Shortcut to Existing Component, you are not creating a copy of the file in the project. Instead, you are creating a link to the file’s location outside of the project. The advantage of using this option is that there is only one copy of the file, and changes made to it are available to all projects using the file. The disadvantage of using this option is that it is more difficult to copy or move projects, because the files are not all located in the same place.

If you copy a component into a project using My Computer, Windows to the project using the Copy Existing Component into Project option. Instead, use the Create Shortcut to Existing Component option to add the component to the Project Manager.

Explorer, or File Manager, you cannot add the component

When you highlight the component in the right pane of the Project Manager, the path to the file is displayed in the status bar. Files that are located outside of the project have an arrow symbol on the component icon, as shown above for the Detail component.

If you move or delete a file using My Computer, Windows Explorer, or File Manager, the file reference is broken and the component name is greyed out in the Project Manager until the file reference is updated. To update the file reference, use either the Copy Existing Component into Project option or the Create Shortcut to Existing Component option.

Working with projects  1–5

To add a component to a project or update its file reference:

1. Select the editor that was used to create the desired component.

For example, to add a graphic display component, highlight the Graphic Display editor.

2. Right–click to display the context menu, and then click Copy

Existing Component into Project or click Create Shortcut to Existing Component.

3. In the dialog box, locate the component you want to add or

update, and click it.

Click and Shift-click to select a group of components, or Ctrl-click to select multiple individual components.

4. Click Open. The components appear in the right pane of the

Project Manager.

Renaming, removing, and deleting components

Use the items on the context menu to rename, remove, and delete components. The Remove item removes a component from the Project Manager. The Delete item deletes a component and its associated file from disk.

1–6  RSView32 User’s Guide

Renaming a component

Renaming a component changes the physical file name. If you change the name of a file that is referenced by another project, the component (file reference) will be greyed out in the other project. To update the file reference, select the component in the Project Manager, click Rename, and then type the new file name.

To rename a component:

1. Select the component in the right pane of the Project Manager.

2. Right–click and then click Rename.

3. In the To field, type the new name.

Working with projects  1–7

4. Click OK.

Removing a component

If you no longer want to use a particular file in a project, you can remove the component (file reference) from the project using the Remove item on the context menu.

Removing a component removes the component from the Project Manager. It does not affect the physical file.

To remove a component:

1. Select the component in the right pane of the Project Manager.

2. Right–click and then click Remove.

Deleting a component and file

If you no longer want to use a particular file in any project, you can delete the component and its associated file using the Delete item on the context menu. Deleting a component deletes both the file reference and the physical file from disk.

To delete a component and file:

1. Select the component in the right pane of the Project Manager.

2. Right–click and then click Delete.

Naming files

RSView32 supports long file names. File names, including the path, can be up to 200 characters long. For example, the following path and file name contains 30 characters:

C:\Bakery1\Gfx\Bakery Overview

1–8  RSView32 User’s Guide

Printing

Some file servers do not support file names longer than eight characters. If your server does not accept long file names and you type a name longer than eight characters, you will receive a message.

To avoid problems when issuing commands, do not use command names to name component files. For example, suppose you want to call an alarm summary file Summary 5. To avoid confusion with the Summary command, call the file Summary5.

File names can contain spaces. When using file names with spaces in commands, you do not need to enclose the file names in double quotes (“ ”) except when using the /P parameter with the Display command. For details about commands, see Appendix A, RSView32 commands.

Each RSView32 editor has a Print item on its File menu.

To print selections:

1. Select the item you want to print. The item can be a record in an

editor’s spreadsheet or it can be an object in a graphic display.

2. On the File menu, click Print.

3. Under Print Range, click Selection.

4. Click OK.

To print the entire contents of the window:

1. On the File menu, click Print.

2. Under Print Range, click All.

3. Click OK.

Working with projects  1–9

Selecting a printer

IMPORTANT

You can select only a printer that has been installed on your system. For information on installing a printer, see your Windows documentation.

The settings in the Print Setup dialog box do not affe ct runtime log printing set up in the Activity Log Setup and Alarm Setup editors.

To select a printer:

1. On the File menu in any RSView32 editor, click Print Setup.

1–10  RSView32 User’s Guide

2. If you don’t want to use the default printer, specify another printer.

3. Choose the appropriate orientation and paper options.

4. Click OK.

Selecting printer setup options

For detailed information about printer options, refer to your Windows documentation.

Selecting a network printer

RSView32 can print to a network printer. For detailed information about setting up network printers, refer to your Windows documentation.

Printing at runtime

You can also print graphic displays at runtime using the PrintDisplay command. You must provide the operator with a way to issue the command when you create the display. For example, create a button object, display key, or global key with the PrintDisplay command as the press action, or provide a command line in the graphic display. For more information about creating graphic displays, see Chapter 11, Creating graphic displays.

When you use the PrintDisplay command RSView32 prints the entire display, even if parts are covered by other displays. You can also use the ScreenPrint command to print an image of whatever shows on the monitor. For more information about these commands see Appendix A, RSView32 commands.

Using the Project Documentor

The Project Documentor is a utility that provides you with detailed information on RSView32 projects. This utility is a browser that allows you to view the contents of the project’s components and the tags used in these components. You can also print and export the information.

For more information, see the Project Documentor Help, included on the RSView32 Resources CD-ROM, and also available from the RSView32 Tools menu on the Windows Start menu.

Working with projects  1–11

Using the Project Transport Wizard

The Project Transport wizard lets you:

 rename a project

 copy a project

 delete a project

 back a project up to a .zip file

 restore a project that has been backed up to a .zip file.

For more information, see the Transport Help, included on the RSView32 Resources CD-ROM, and also available from the RSView32 Tools menu on the Windows Start menu.

1–12  RSView32 User’s Guide

Chapter

2 Setting up direct driver

communications

RSView32™ uses a direct connection to the drivers in RSLinx® to

communicate with most Allen–Bradley SoftLogix driver communications.

™

5 devices. This chapter describes how to set up direct

devices, as well as

You can also use DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) or OPC Process Control) to connect to third-party devices or servers, as described in Chapter 3, Setting up OPC and DDE communications.

You must use an OPC or DDE connection to handle unsolicited messages and to communicate with the PLC–5

ControlLogix messages see RSView32 Technical Notes on the RSView32 Tools menu.

5550 device. For instructions on using unsolicited

/250 or

Overview of direct driver communications

Communication through direct drivers involves:

channels

communication devices

communication driver software (RSLinx)

nodes (control devices)

(OLE for

 2–1

The following illustration shows an RSView32 station and its channel

RSView32

Communication channel

Nodes

Programmable controll

Network

Programmable controller

and nodes.

Programmable controlle

Communication channel

2–2  RSView32 User’s Guide

The communication channel is the connection from the RSView32 station to the network the programmable controllers are attached to.

Communication device

The communication device connects the communication channel to the computer. You can use internal devices, such as the 1784–KT/ KTX, or you can use external devices connected through the serial port.

Communication driver

IMPORTANT

The communication driver is the software that permits the computer to communicate with the communication device. For communication with most Allen–Bradley programmable controllers, use RSLinx.

For communication with SoftLogix 5 programmable controllers, you must use an RSLinx driver.

Node (control device)

The node is a programmable controller attached to a data highway or network. Once the RSView32 station is set up, it must periodically update its value table. This is done by scanning its nodes.

Setting up direct driver communication to programmable controllers

The instructions below summarize the steps for connecting to Allen– Bradley or SoftLogix 5 devices.

You cannot connect to an Allen–Bradley PLC–5/250 or ControlLogix 5550 using direct drivers. To connect to these types of programmable controllers, use OPC- or DDE–based communications as described in Chapter 3, Setting up OPC and DDE communications.

Setting up direct driver communications  2–3

Setting up communications without hardware or software

You can set up communications in RSView32, even if you do not have one or both of the following:

RSLinx drivers installed

the appropriate communications hardware installed

To do so, follow the steps in the next section, but skip step 1 and start with step 2.

To test your project without the appropriate hardware installed, see “Developing your project without a communication network” on page 2-22.

Summary of steps

Follow the steps below to set up direct driver communication with Allen–Bradley or SoftLogix 5 programmable controllers.

1. Start RSLinx. Configure and load the appropriate communication

driver.

2. Start RSView32 and create or open a project.

3. In the Channel editor, select a channel and assign the appropriate

4. In the Node editor, create nodes for each programmable controller

2–4  RSView32 User’s Guide

network type to it.

In the Primary Communication driver field, assign a driver to the channel. If you do not have drivers loaded, click None Loaded.

For details, see “Configuring channels” on page 2-7.

you wish to communicate with.

For details, see “Creating a node” on page 2-13.

5. If you want to change the default rate at which nodes are scanned,

open the Scan Class editor and edit the scan classes.

For details, see “Scanning for new tag values” on page 2-17.

6. In the Tag Database editor, create tags. For each tag, select Device

as the data source and assign the nodes and scan classes that you have defined.

For details, see Chapter 4, Creating tags.

7. Monitor communications.

For details, see “Monitoring communications” on page 2-20.

Configuring RSLinx drivers

RSLinx drivers provide a direct connection between RSView32 tags and Allen–Bradley or SoftLogix 5 programmable controllers. For details about configuring any of the RSLinx drivers, see your driver documentation.

You can also use RSLinx with OPC and DDE communications, as described in Chapter 3, Setting up OPC and DDE communications. You must use an OPC or DDE connection to handle unsolicited messages and to communicate with the PLC-5/250 or ControlLogix 5550 device. For instructions on using unsolicited messages see RSView32 Technical Notes on the RSView32 Tools menu.8.

Setting up direct driver communications  2–5

Using the drivers

IMPORTANT

To configure and use the RSLinx drivers with a direct connection, the drivers must be installed on the same computer as RSView32. Once the drivers are configured, RSView32 automatically starts the driver software whenever communication with a programmable controller is required—for example, to test run a graphic display or to run a project.

You must use the version of RSLinx that came with your RSView32 software. This version has been tested for compatibility with RSView32. Other versions may not function correctly.

Selecting a driver in RSView32

To select a driver in RSView32, the driver must first be configured in RSLinx. All configured drivers appear in the RSView32 Channel editor Primary or Secondary Communication Driver fields.

If the Channel editor is open when you add a driver in RSLinx, close the Driver list by clicking another part of the editor, and then re–open the list.

2–6  RSView32 User’s Guide

Configuring channels

Define up to four different communicatio n channels.

Specify the type of network you are using.

When you select a network type, these fields become active.

Click here to display the list of drivers for the selected network type.

Define up to four different communication channels.

To configure a channel:

1. In the Project Manager, open the System folder.

2. Open the Channel editor by doing one of the following:

double–click the Channel icon

right–click the Channel icon and then click Show

Setting up direct driver communications  2–7

3. Select a channel and fill in the following information:

Network Type

Using the following table as a guide, select a network type:

To Select

Communicate with programmable controllers on a ControlNet network

Communicate with programmable controllers on local or remote DH networks

Communicate with programmable controllers on local

™

or remote DH+

networks

Communicate with SLC

™

controllers on remote DH–

485 networks

Connect to Channel 0 of an Enhanced PLC

Communicate with SLC controllers on local DH–485 networks

Connect to an SLC with an RS–232 port

Communicate with Ethernet

programmable

controllers directly connected to the TCP/IP network

ControlNet

DH+

DH–485

TCP/IP

2–8  RSView32 User’s Guide

Communicate with SoftLogix 5 controllers

Communicate with SLC 5/05 controllers

To Select

IMPORTANT

Communicate with programmable controllers through the Ethernet interface of a Pyramid Integrator RSLinx Gateway

Not use a channel

Clear a channel configuration

™

, or

TCP/IP Bridge

None Loaded

To set a configured channel’s network type to None Loaded, first issue the ComStatusOff command. Because setting a configured channel’s network type to None Loaded deletes all the comstatus system tags from the tag database, you cannot set a configured channel’s network type to None Loaded if the ComStatusOn command has been issued.

Of the four communication channels you can co nfigure, only one can be configured for TCP/IP. For example, you cannot configure one channel for TCP/IP and another for a TCP/IP bridge.

To run a SoftLogix 5 controller with RSLinx and RSView32, configure the TCP/IP channel and use the SOFT5 driver or the AB_ETH driver.

For the SOFT5 driver, when configuring the SoftLogix 5 driver in RSLinx, enter the IP address or UNC name of the SoftLogix 5 controller in the Internet Address Mapping table.

If the SoftLogix 5 controller is not running on the same computer as RSLinx, the Windows

XP, Windows 2000 user account that is running RSLinx must be a member of the SoftLogix Administrators group on the SoftLogix 5 computer.

For the AB_ETH driver, when configuring the Ethernet driver in RSLinx, enter the IP address of the SoftLogix 5 controller in the Internet Address Mapping table. You must also enable the WinSock TCP/IP driver in SoftLogix 5.

Setting up direct driver communications  2–9

Messages

IMPORTANT

Type a number between 1 and 10. This is the number of messages RSView32 will send on a channel before requiring a reply. These messages are stored in the buffers of the programmable controllers on the channel (each controller has its own buffer). If a buffer overflows at runtime, a communication error is generated. If this happens, reduce the number of messages.

The Messages field applies to both the primary and secondary communication drivers.

Primary and Secondary Communication Drivers

The primary driver is the one your system will use most of the time. By default, this driver is the active driver. The secondary driver is a backup. Primary and secondary drivers must use the same network type.

Do not select a secondary communication driver for TCP/IP or TCP/IP Bridge channels. To create communications redundancy, use a second Ethernet card and co nfigure each card uniquely in Windows. Then use the NodeSwitch command at runtime to change the IP number if communication errors are detected.

2–10  RSView32 User’s Guide

To specify a driver, select the appropriate driver from the list. This list contains the drivers installed and running in RSLinx that are valid for the selected network type.

To configure communications without the appropriate hardware or software installed, select None Loaded as the driver.

To test your project without the appropriate hardware installed, see “Developing your project without a communication network” on page 2-22.

For details about configuring drivers, see “Configuring RSLinx drivers” on page 2-5.

Active Driver

The active driver can be Primary, Secondary, or None. By default, the Primary driver is active.

To disable a channel temporarily without removing its configuration, click None.

At runtime, users can switch between drivers if necessary. For details, see “Switching communication drivers at runtime” on page 2-11.

4. When you finish configuring channels, click OK.

Changing the channel configuration

To change the channel configuration once nodes have been assigned—for example, to move a project from a computer using DH+ to a computer using TCP/IP—create a new channel of the correct type. Re–assign the channel number for each node, then delete the original channel configuration.

Switching communication drivers at runtime

If the primary network fails at runtime, your system can switch to a driver on a pre–defined secondary network. You can set up your project so drivers switch automatically, or so operators manually switch the drivers.

Setting up direct driver communications  2–11

Commands for switc h ing drivers

Use the following commands to switch drivers:

DriverPrimary <channel>

Switches from the secondary driver to the primary driver on the specified channel.

<channel> The number of the channel (1 through 4) that is

being switched from its secondary to primary driver.

DriverSecondary <channel>

Switches from the primary driver to the secondary driver on the specified channel.

<channel> The number of the channel (1 through 4) that is

being switched from its primary to secondary driver.

DriverToggle <channel>

Switches from the current driver to the one not being used on the specified channel.

<channel> The number of the channel (1 through 4) that is

Switching drivers automatically

To switch drivers automatically, create an event in the Events editor. In the Action field of the Events editor, type a driver command as the action that will be triggered when an expression results to true. In the Expression field, create an expression that will trigger the action.

2–12  RSView32 User’s Guide

being switched from one driver to another.

Example: An event for switching drivers

In the Events editor, use the following:

Action DriverToggle 1

Expression comm_err(tag1)

where tag1 is a tag that is configured with a node on channel 1.

When the expression evaluates to true, the action is triggered.

Switching drivers manually

To switch drivers manually, operators must have a way to issue a driver command. Possible methods are:

creating a button and specifying one of the driver commands as

the press action. When the operator activates the button, the driver on the specified channel is switched.

displaying a command line. When the operator enters a driver

Creating a node

A node allows you to assign a logical name and an address to each programmable controller that RSView32 will communicate with. Each programmable controller is then referred to throughout RSView32 by this name. The node name carries all its configuration information, so attributes such as type of programmable controller, station number, and network type need not be repeated.

command on the command line, the driver on the specified channel is switched.

Setting up direct driver communications  2–13

Before you can configure a device node, you must set up communication channels. For details, see “Configuring channels” on page 2-7.

To create a node:

1. In the Project Manager, open the System folder.

2. Open the Node editor by doing one of the following:

double–click the Node icon

right–click the Node icon and then click Show

3. Fill in the following information for each node:

Data Source

Select Direct Driver.

For details about the OPC Server and DDE Server data sources, see Chapter 3, Setting up OPC and DDE communications.

Name

Type a name of your choice up to 40 characters long. This name represents the programmable controller. The name can have upper

2–14  RSView32 User’s Guide

and lower case letters, numbers, dashes, and underscores. Spaces are not permitted.

Enabled

Normally nodes are enabled, allowing collection of values from the programmable controller. However, during setup or troubleshooting you might want to disable a node to prevent communication timeouts or invalid data. When a node is disabled, tag values can still be read and written, but the values are read from and written to the value table instead of the programmable controller.

When a tag uses a disabled node at runtime, the tag’s state will change from valid to disabled. A tag’s state can be seen by viewing the tag in the tag monitor.

To disable nodes, clear the Enabled check box.

You can also enable and disable nodes at runtime, using the NodeEnable and NodeDisable commands. For more information see Appendix A, RSView32 commands.

Channel

Select the channel number on which this node resides.

Station

Type the station address of the programmable controller. For addressing syntax, see Appendix E, Station addressing for nodes connecting to Allen–Bradley devices.

If RSLinx 2.0 or later is installed and running on your computer, click the ... button next to the Station field to open the RSWho window that displays all active PLC stations for the selected channel. When you select a station from the RSWho window, the Station and Type fields are filled in automatically. RSView32 substitutes PLC-5 (Enhanced) for all PLC-5 series device types. Change the entry in the Type field to PLC-5 if you are using the PLC-5/10, 5/12, 5/15, or 5/25.

Setting up direct driver communications  2–15

For the SOFT5 driver, enter the UNC name of the SoftLogix 5 controller without the backslashes. For example, if the UNC computer name is \\ORION, type ORION. The computer name must be 8 characters or less.

For SoftLogix 5 controllers using the AB_ETH driver, enter the controller’s IP address.

Type

Select the type of device you are using.

For this device type Select

PLC–2 PLC–2

PLC–3 PLC–3

PLC–5/10, PLC–5/12, PLC–5/15, PLC–

PLC–5

5/25

PLC–5/11, PLC–5/20, PLC–5/30, PLC– 5/40, PLC–5/60, PLC–5/80

SLC 5, SLC 5/01, SLC 5/02, SLC 5/03 (OS

PLC–5 (Enhanced)

SLC 5

300)

SLC 5/03 (OS 301), SLC 5/04, SLC 5/05 SLC 5

(Enhanced)

SoftLogix 5 SoftLogix 5

To communicate with a SoftLogix 5 device you must use an RSLinx driver and a TCP/IP channel.

Timeout

Type the number of seconds you want RSView32 to wait before reporting a communication error. A timeout period of three seconds is usually enough.

4. Click Accept to save the node configuration.

5. When you finish configuring nodes, click Close.

2–16  RSView32 User’s Guide

Changing node information at runtime

To permanently change a node’s station number at runtime, use the NodeSwitch command. This command allows you to set up node– level redundancy. That is, if the programmable controller that a node is pointing to fails, you can immediately switch to another programmable controller.

NodeSwitch <node name> <station>

<node name> The name of the node that you want to change to

another programmable controller address.

<station> For device nodes, the physical address for the

programmable controller you want to change to.

When you use the NodeSwitch command to change a node’s address, the change appears in the Node editor’s spreadsheet. If the Node editor is open when you use the command, the change will not appear until you have refreshed the display by closing and re–opening the editor.

You can also enable and disable nodes at runtime, using the NodeEnable and NodeDisable commands. For more information see Appendix A, RSView32 commands.

Scanning for new tag values

When your RSView32 project is running, it must periodically update its tag values in the value table. This is done by scanning.

For projects communicating through direct drivers, values are updated by scanning the programmable controller address at the foreground and background scan rates specified by the scan class.

Setting up direct driver communications  2–17

RSView32 scan classes

Any tag that communicates with Allen–Bradley or SoftLogix 5 programmable controllers through direct drivers must be assigned to an RSView32 scan class. Each tag can then be assigned different foreground and background scanning periods. In this way, you determine how often a tag value is updated.

A scan class has two scan periods: the foreground period and the background period. The foreground period applies to graphic displays and the tag monitor. The background period applies to any component that performs a continual background activity, such as derived tags, events, alarms, and data log.

If the same tag is used by both a foreground and background component, the tag is scanned at the faster period. If a value is not required by a foreground or background component, its address is not scanned, greatly reducing system overhead.

Guidelines for configuring scan classes

Set foreground scan periods to be shorter than or equal to

background scan periods.

A scan period of zero means scan as quickly as possible. You can

set foreground scan periods to zero, but never set background scan periods to zero. For foreground periods, using zero is not recommended because this setting can result in so much traffic that overall system communication slows down.

Set scan periods for optimal efficiency. Specify a frequent scan rate

for tags representing fast–moving devices and a less frequent scan rate for tags representing devices that change less often.

This approach optimizes system performance, providing high– speed scanning where required and using less frequent scanning, which saves system resources, where acceptable.

2–18  RSView32 User’s Guide

Set the scan period to match the expected rate of change for the

tag’s data. For example, if you scan every five seconds for a change of state that occurs once an hour, the system is needlessly burdened. Conversely, if you scan too slowly, the system cannot monitor value changes that might occur between scans.

To configure a scan class:

1. In the Project Manager, open the System folder.

2. Open the Scan Class editor by doing one of the following:

double–click the Scan Class icon

right–click the Scan Class icon and then click Show

Setting up direct driver communications  2–19

3. Select a scan class and fill in a foreground and background period.

The period specifies, in seconds, how often the programmable controller address is scanned when its value is required by a foreground or background component. The foreground period applies to graphic displays and the tag monitor. The background period applies to any component that performs a continual background activity, such as derived tags, events, alarms, and data log.

To specify a period, type a number. You can use fractional seconds. For example, if you type .6 the address is scanned every six tenths of a second.

4. To save the configuration for a scan class without closing the

editor, select another scan class.

5. When you finish configuring scan classes, click OK.

Monitoring communications

Use any of the following methods to monitor communications:

Activities—In the Activity Log Setup editor, ensure

communication errors, warnings, and remarks are enabled and are set up to log to the log file and activity bar. At runtime, information appears in the log file and activity bar, indicating any problems.

Communication status—Ensure communication status is turned

on, otherwise communication errors will not be logged to the activity log file or activity bar (even if they have been configured to do so in the Activity Log Setup editor). By default, communication status is turned off until you run the project. To turn communication status on, use the ComStatusOn command.

2–20  RSView32 User’s Guide

Tag monitor—Use the tag monitor to check the communication

status for a device tag. The states are:

Disabled if the node has been disabled in the Node editor or

disabled using the NodeDisable command

Error if RSView32 has tried to acquire a value but could not

because of some kind of communication error, such as a node not being available or a DDE server not running

Stale if the tag value has been acquired before but does not

have an updated value

Uninitialized if the value has never been acquired

Valid if RSView32 has a valid value for the tag

None if there is a problem with the tag definition such as it is

not a valid tag type or if the tag database has been accessed with a third–party tool such as Microsoft

Access. If the underlying tag type is valid, editing and saving the tag and then redisplaying the tag monitor will fix the problem.

System\com tags—Use the system\com tags to receive a more

detailed error message. If the tag monitor reports an error, move to an empty cell in the tag monitor, type system\com* and, when the dialog box appears, click Select All. For a complete list of system\com tags, see Appendix B, System tags.

Setting up direct driver communications  2–21

Developing your project without a communication network

You can develop your RSView32 project to use direct drivers without having an Allen–Bradley network or programmable controller. To do so, use the None Loaded driver type.

1. Open the Channel editor.

2. Select a channel and, in the Network Type field, select a network

for the channel.

3. In the Primary Communication Driver field, click None Loaded.

Using the None Loaded driver type allows you to add or change tags without causing communication errors.

4. Disable the node by clicking the Enabled check box to deselect it.

2–22  RSView32 User’s Guide

Chapter

3 Setting up OPC and

DDE communications

OPC® and DDE connections allow you to communicate with a wide range of local and remote devices.

OPC is OLE for Process Control, used to connect RSView32 communication devices via vendor-specific OPC servers. DDE is Dynamic Data Exchange, used with external DDE servers such as third–party servers, to connect RSView32 to communication devices. RSView32 supports the OPC 1.0a and OPC 2.0 specifications.

If you will be connecting to communication devices using direct drivers, see Chapter 2, Setting up direct driver communications.

OPC servers provide a way to connect an RSView32 station (the OPC client) to:

™

communication devices, using RSLinx

For details, see the topics in this chapter.

third-party communication devices, using vendor-specific or third-

party OPC servers (such as KEPServerEnterprise Modicon

For details, see the topics in this chapter.

)

as an OPC server

™

, Siemens, or

 3–1

another RSView32 station acting as a remote OPC server on a

network. By connecting an RSView32 station set up as an OPC client to another RSView32 station set up as an OPC server, you achieve peer-to-peer communication of tag values across a network.

For information about setting up RSView32 OPC peer-to-peer communication on a network, see“Using OPC for peer–to–peer network communications” on page 17-5.

a third–party application with OPC server support, either on the

same computer or on a network

For details about connecting to third–party applications on the same computer, see “Sharing tag values locally” on page 16-26. For information about connecting to third-party applications on a network, see “Connecting to RSLinx Gateway as a remote OPC server” on page 17-9.

DDE servers provide a way to connect an RSView32 station (the DDE client) to:

communication devices such as Siemens or Modicon

a third–party DDE server such as Microsoft

3–2  RSView32 User’s Guide

For details, see the topics in this chapter.

Excel or Visual

Basic

For details about connecting to third–party applications on the same computer, see “Sharing tag values locally” on page 16-26.

Overview of OPC communications

RSView32

RSView32 OPC client module

Third-part y

OPC server

Third-party application with OPC server support

Non-Allen-Bradl ey programmable controller

Non-AllenBradley device

Remote computer * RSView32 OPC server

RSServe r

PLC network Network or

third-party communicatio n link

Remote computer * RSLinx Gateway (OPC server)

Remote computer * 3rd-party OPC server

OPC network link via DCOM

Computer running RSView32

RSView32

RSView32 OPC client module

RSServer

Third-party OPC server

Non-AllenBradley

programmable controller

–

Network or third-party communication link

The following illustration shows the different ways RSView32 can use OPC for communications.

Setting up OPC and DDE communications  3–3

Overview of DDE communications

RSView3 2

RSView32 DDE module

Third-part y

DDE server

CF_Text or AdvanceDDE *

AdvanceDDE



CF_Text or XLTable

Modicon, GE, Siemens, or other programmable controller

Other non-AllenBradley device

Third-party application , such as Microsoft Excel

* The third-party server can use AdvanceDDE format if the server uses the Rockwell Software server toolkit.

RSServe r

PLC network

Network or communicatio n link

Computer running RSView32

RSView32

Third-party application, such as Microsoft Excel

RSServer

Third-party DDE server

Network or communication link

The following illustration shows the different ways RSView32 can use DDE for communications.

3–4  RSView32 User’s Guide

Summary of steps

The instructions below summarize the steps for setting up RSView32 as an OPC or DDE client.

1. Start the OPC or DDE server.

2. Start RSView32 and create or open a project (the client).

3. In the Node editor, create nodes for each OPC or DDE server

and/or topic you wish to communicate with. In the node’s Data Source field, select OPC Server or DDE Server.

For details, see “Creating an OPC node,” next, or “Creating a DDE node” on page 3-12.

4. In the Tag Database editor, create tags and select Device as the

data source and assign the nodes that you have created.

For details, see Chapter 4, Creating tags.

Creating an OPC node

An OPC node allows you to assign a logical name, server name, and update rate for each OPC server you want to communicate with. The OPC node name can then be used throughout RSView32.

Setting up OPC and DDE communications  3–5

To create an OPC node:

1. In the Project Manager, open the System folder.

2. Open the Node editor by doing one of the following:

double–click the Node icon

right–click the Node icon and then click Show

3. Create a node by filling in the following information:

3–6  RSView32 User’s Guide

Data Source

Select OPC Server.

The Tag Database editor does not check addressing syntax for programmable controllers that communicate through an OPC server. If the syntax is invalid, an error will be generated at runtime.

For details about the DDE Server data source, see “Creating a DDE node” on page 3-12. For details about the Direct Driver data source, see Chapter 2, Setting up direct driver communications.

Name

Type a name of your choice to represent the OPC node. The name can be up to 40 characters long and can have upper and lower case letters, numbers, dashes, and underscores. Spaces are not permitted.

Enabled

Normally nodes are enabled, allowing collection of values from the device. However, during setup or troubleshooting you might want to disable a node to prevent communication timeouts or invalid data. When a node is disabled, tag values can still be read and written, but the values are read from and written to the value table instead of the device.

When a tag uses a disabled node at runtime, the tag’s state will change from valid to disabled. A tag’s state can be seen by viewing the tag in the tag monitor.

To disable nodes, clear the Enabled check box.

You can also enable and disable nodes at runtime, using the NodeEnable and NodeDisable commands. For more information see Appendix A, RSView32 commands.

Server

Do one of the following:

Click ... beside the Name field and select a server from the list

of registered servers. RSView32 fills in the remaining Server fields.

To use another RSView32 station as your OPC server, select RSI.RSView32OPCTagServer. Select Remote as the Type, and specify the Server Computer Name or Address as described next.

Setting up OPC and DDE communications  3–7

Fill in the Server fields manually. You can fill in the fields for an

OPC server that has not been installed yet and install the server later.

Name

Type the name of the OPC server that RSView32 will communicate with, typically in this format:

If the OPC server is RSView32 or RSLinx, you don’t need to specify a version number. For RSLinx, you don’t need to specify the vendor name, either.

Type

Select the OPC server type:

In-Process if the server is a .dll file.

Local if the server is an .exe file running on the same

computer as the OPC client.

Remote if the server is an .exe file running on a different computer connected to the OPC client computer via a network.

3–8  RSView32 User’s Guide

Server Computer Name or Address

If the OPC server is remote, type the server computer’s name or address, or click ... and select a server computer from the list that appears.

You can use these formats to specify the name or address:

Use this syntax For this

format

\\ComputerName UNC

Example

\\DTB1 (Universal Naming Convention)

ComputerName.Domain.com DNS (Domain

DTB1.NET2.COM Name System)

XXX.XX.XXX.XXX Raw TCP/IP

134.87.167.148

address

You set up the computer’s name or address in the Windows

Control Panel, as described in “Identifying the RSView32 server computer” on page 17-6.

For more information about IP (Internet Protocol) addresses, see page E-10.

Setting up OPC and DDE communications  3–9

Access Path

Use of this field is optional.

Use the access path field in the Node editor when:

you want to be able to switch between PLCs using the

NodeSwitch command for node redundancy

you want all tags in RSView32 to have the same update rate

You must leave the access path blank if you want to use different update rates for different tags in the tag database. If you leave the access path blank in the Node editor, specify the access path in the Tag Database editor’s tag address field.

For information about the syntax for the access path, see your OPC server documentation.

If you use this field, and you are communicating with RSView32 using OPC, the access path is the name of the current project on the server.

If you use this field, and you are communicating with an RSLinx OPC server, the access path is the name of a DDE/OPC topic on the server. If you leave the access path blank, you must specify the DDE/OPC topic as part of the tag’s address when you create the tag using the Tag Database editor.

Update Rate

Specify the fastest rate at which the OPC server sends data to the OPC client. The default is every 1 second.

The rate that the OPC server uses may be slower than the rate you specify. Type 0 to specify that the server use the fastest possible rate.

If the OPC server’s access path is a DDE/OPC topic, the update rate should not be faster than the topic poll rate.

4. Click Accept to save the node configuration.

3–10  RSView32 User’s Guide

5. When you finish configuring nodes, click Close.

The server name appears in the spreadsheet's Station or Server column.

Some columns do not apply to OPC nodes and are left blank.

The server name appears in the spreadsheet’s Station or Server column.

Example: Configuring an OPC node

The following example describes how to create a node to connect to a local OPC server using RSLinx.

Server Name: RSLinx OPC Server or

RSLinx Remote OPC Server. If you are using RSLinx 2.0, the driver name is RSLinx OPC Server. If you are using RSLinx 2.1, the driver name is RSLinx Remote OPC Server. You don’t need to specify a vendor or version number.

Access Path: PLC_HVAC1

The access path is the DDE/OPC topic name in RSLinx.

The figure below shows how the node looks in the Node editor.

Setting up OPC and DDE communications  3–11

Once you have created the node, assign it to a tag in the Tag Database editor. The address tells RSView32 where in the node to get the data.

Address: N7:12

The PLC-5

programmable controller called PLC_HVAC1 has been previously set up as a DDE/ OPC topic in RSLinx; N7:12 is the address in the PLC-5/250.

If you don’t include the Access Path when configuring the node, you can enter the tag’s address as [PLC_HVAC1]N7:12.

The figure below shows how the tag looks in the Tag editor.

Creating a DDE node

A DDE node allows you to assign a logical name for each DDE application and topic you wish to communicate with. The DDE node name can then be used throughout RSView32.

3–12  RSView32 User’s Guide

To create a DDE node:

1. In the Project Manager, open the System folder.

2. Open the Node editor by doing one of the following:

double–click the Node icon

right–click the Node icon and then click Show

3. Create a node by filling in the following information:

Data Source

Select DDE Server.

The Tag Database editor does not check addressing syntax for programmable controllers that communicate through a DDE server. If the syntax is invalid, an error will be generated at runtime.

For details about the OPC Server data source, see “Creating an OPC node” on page 3-5. For details about the Direct Driver data source, see Chapter 2, Setting up direct driver communications.

Setting up OPC and DDE communications  3–13

Name

Type a name of your choice to represent the DDE node. The name can be up to 40 characters long and can have upper and lower case letters, numbers, dashes, and underscores. Spaces are not permitted.

Enabled

When a tag uses a disabled node at runtime, the tag’s state will change from valid to disabled. A tag’s state can be seen by viewing the tag in the tag monitor.

To disable nodes, clear the Enabled check box.

You can also enable and disable nodes at runtime, using the NodeEnable and NodeDisable commands. For more information see Appendix A, RSView32 commands.

Application

Type the name of the DDE server or other Windows application that RSView32 will communicate with. For example, if Microsoft Excel is the server, type Excel.

Topic

Type the subject of the DDE communication. For example, if Excel is the application, the topic is a particular Excel spreadsheet.

4. Click Accept to save the node configuration.

5. When you finish configuring nodes, click Close.

3–14  RSView32 User’s Guide

Example: Configuring a DDE node

The application and topic appear in the spreadsheet's Station or Server column, separated by a vertical bar.

Some columns do not apply to DDE nodes and are left blank.

The application and topic appear in the spreadsheet’s Station or Server column, separated by a vertical bar.

The following example describes how to create a node to connect to a GE programmable controller using the RSServer for GE Series 90 protocol.

Application: SNPWIN

The application name is the server’s name.

Topic: cpuid[@connection_ID][:poll_rate]

The topic name is made up of a CPU ID string, an optional connection ID string (preceded by the @ character) and an optional poll rate (preceded by the : character).

The figure below shows how the node looks in the Node editor. The CPU ID is CPUID1, the connection ID is PORT5, and the poll rate is 10.

Setting up OPC and DDE communications  3–15

Changing node information at runtime

To change an OPC node’s server name and access path or a DDE node’s application and topic at runtime, use the NodeSwitch command. This command allows you to set up node–level redundancy. That is, if the server that a node is pointing to fails, you can immediately switch to another server.

NodeSwitch <node name> <parameter>

<node name> The name of the node that you want to change to

another server.

<parameter> One of the following:

<\\computer For OPC servers, the computer name, server name,

name\server and access path (if in use) for the OPC server you

name[|access want to switch to. Separate the access path from the

path]> server name with the | character.

<application For DDE servers, the application and topic,

|topic> separated by the | character, for the DDE server you

want to switch to.

When you use the NodeSwitch command to change a node’s server information, the change appears in the Node editor’s spreadsheet. If the Node editor is open when you use the command, the change will not appear until you close and re–open the editor.

For more information about the NodeSwitch command, see Appendix A, RSView32 commands, or see Help.

You can also enable and disable nodes at runtime, using the NodeEnable and NodeDisable commands. For more information see Appendix A, RSView32 commands.

3–16  RSView32 User’s Guide

Scanning for new tag values

When your RSView32 project is running, it must periodically update its tag values in the value table.

For projects using OPC, values are updated by the OPC server at the rate specified in the server product. The update rate you specify in the Node editor is the requested data rate. The server uses this rate to determine the fastest rate at which to notify your RSView32 project (the OPC client) of tag value changes, if there are any changes. For more details about setting the poll rate, see your server documentation.

For projects using DDE, values are updated by the server at the rate specified in the server product. When the server detects a change, it provides the changed value to RSView32. For more details about setting the poll rate, see your server documentation.

Scan class rates have no effect on DDE or OPC communications. They affect only direct driver communications.

Setting up OPC and DDE communications  3–17

Chapter

4 Creating tags

This chapter describes:

tags and the tag database

the importance of organizing tags

how to create analog, digital, and string tags

Tags and the tag database

In the tag database, you define the data you want RSView32™ to monitor. Each entry in the database is called a tag. A tag is a logical name for a variable in a device or in local memory (RAM). For example, a tag can represent a process variable in a programmable controller.

The current value of a tag, when required, is updated from the device it is connected to and stored in computer memory—referred to as the value table—so it is immediately accessible to all parts of RSView32. For example, graphic displays use tag values to control animation or update a trend, alarm monitoring compares current tag values to pre– defined limits, and data logging stores tag values to create a historical record.

 4–1

Tag types

RSView32 uses the following types of tags:

Tag Type of data stored

Analog Range of values.

These tags can represent variable states such as temperature or the position of rotary controls.

Digital 0 or 1.

These tags can represent devices that can only be on or off, such as switches, contacts, and relays.

String ASCII string, series of characters, or whole words

(maximum of 255 characters).

These tags can represent devices that use text, such as a bar code scanner which uses an alphanumeric product code.

System Information generated while the system is running,

including alarm information, communication status, system time and date, and so on.

4–2  RSView32 User’s Guide

RSView32 creates system tags when it creates a project. The system tags are stored in the folder called “system” in the tag database. You cannot edit system tags. You can use system tags anywhere you would use any other type of tag.

Data sources

When defining an analog, digital, or string tag, you must specify a data source. The data source determines whether the tag receives its values externally or internally.

Device

A tag with Device as its data source receives its data from a source external to RSView32. The data can come from a direct programmable controller driver or from an OPC Tags with Device as the data source count toward the total tag limit you purchased (150, 300, 1,500, and so on).

or DDE server.

Memory

A tag with Memory as its data source receives its data from the RSView32 internal value table. A memory tag can be used to store values internally. Tags with Memory as the data source do not count toward the total tag limit.

Organizing tags

Organizing tags makes database creation faster and simpler. To

organize tags:

establish naming conventions

use folders to group related tags

Naming conventions enable you and operators to use the RSView32 wildcards most effectively when searching for and displaying tags during development and runtime.

Creating tags  4–3

Naming tags

Tag names can be up to 255 characters long. If you create a folder, the folder name becomes part of the tag name.

The tag name can contain the following characters:

A to Z

0 to 9

underscore (_) and dash (-)

The tag name can be mixed case. Tag names preserve upper and lower case for readability but are not case sensitive. For example, the tag name MixerValve1 is the same as mixervalve1.

When a tag name starts with a number or contains a dash, enclose the name in braces { } when you use it in an expression, for example, {N33–0}. Also use braces when using wildcards to represent multiple tags in an expression, for example, {alarm*}. For more information about using tags in expressions see Chapter 14, Creating expressions.

Using folders to group tags

To organize tags, create a folder and include tags that are related to one another. To separate the folder name from the rest of the tag name, use a backslash (\). For example, tags in the folder called Pump would start with Pump\. For greater organization, you can nest folders. For example, you can organize the tag database first by area, then by machines in the area, and finally by devices in each machine. The result might be Area1\Machine1\Pump.

4–4  RSView32 User’s Guide

The tag database editor

Form

Folder Hierarchy

Query Box

To open the Tag Database editor:

1. In the Project Manager, open the System folder.

2. Open the Tag Database editor by doing one of the following:

double–click the Tag Database icon

right–click the Tag Database icon and then click Show

The Tag Database editor has the following parts: form, query box, folder hierarchy, and spreadsheet. Each part is described on the following pages.

Spreadshee

Creating tags  4–5

Using the Accept and Discard buttons

When you enter information, the Prev and Next buttons change to Accept and Discard buttons. Click Accept to save tag and alarm information. Click Discard to cancel changes to a tag.

Using the form

Use the form to create a tag. In the upper part of the form, define the basic characteristics of the tag, such as tag name, type, security, and specifics related to the tag type. In the lower part of the form, define the data source (where the tag’s values will come from).

Select the Alarm check box to define alarm conditions for an analog or digital tag. To edit alarms once they have been defined, click the Alarm button.

RSView32 supports 40,000 tags with alarms. Of these, 5,000 can be analog tags.

Using the query box

Use the query box to select the tags you want displayed in the spreadsheet. This allows you to edit tags in different folders without browsing the folder hierarchy. You can:

select a single tag by typing the tag name

select multiple tags by typing wildcards. The wildcards are:

4–6  RSView32 User’s Guide

This character

? Matches any single character.

* Matches any number of characters, including the

Does this

backslash (\) character.

Use this wildcard by itself to display all the tags in the tag database.

When you do searches, remember that the backslash in a folder name

This folder contains one or more folders.

This folder does not contain another folder.

Create Folder

counts as one character in the tag name.

Using the folder hierarchy

The hierarchy and spreadsheet work together. The hierarchy shows the tag folders and the spreadsheet shows the tags within the folders.

A folder icon known as root is always present in the hierarchy window, at the top of the folder hierarchy. This folder contains all the tag folders you and RSView32 create. For example, the system folder holds the system tags that come with RSView32. For a complete list of the system tags, display the contents of the folder or see Appendix B, System tags.

You can nest folders. If a folder has a plus (+) sign, it contains one or more folders. If a folder is blank, it does not contain any other folders.

Creating a folder

1. Click New Folder on the Edit menu or click the Create Folder

button on the toolbar.

2. Type the folder name.

Creating tags  4–7

3. Click OK.

The new folder appears in the hierarchy window.

Opening a folder

When you open a folder, its contents are displayed in the spreadsheet.

To open a folder, do one of the following:

double–click the folder

select the folder and press Enter

To open multiple folders:

1. Select the folders by doing one of the following:

2. Press Enter.

4–8  RSView32 User’s Guide

click a folder and then drag the mouse up or down

click a folder and Shift–click other folders immediately above

or below the first selected folder

click a folder and Ctrl–click other folders anywhere in the

hierarchy

The tags in the selected folders are displayed in the spreadsheet.

Adding tags to a folder

Create Folder

Once you have created a folder, you can add tags to it.

1. Select a folder in the folder hierarchy.

The folder name is displayed in the Name field of the form.

2. After the backslash (\), type the new tag name.

Nesting a folder

1. Select a folder in the folder hierarchy.

2. Click New Folder on the Edit menu or click the Create Folder

button on the toolbar.

3. Type a backslash (\) followed by the new folder name.

4. Click OK.

When you nest folders, remember that the backslash in a folder name counts as one character in the tag name.

Creating tags  4–9

To view a series of nested folders, resize the hierarchy box. To resize it,

IMPORTANT

Duplicate Tag Folder

place the cursor over the right border of the box until it changes to a double arrow. Drag the border to the required size.

Duplicating a folder

When you duplicate a folder, all the tags in the folder are automatically given the new folder name. If the folder contains folders, those folders are also duplicated.

Be sure to choose Duplicate Folder rather than Duplicate. Duplicate only duplicates individual tags.

To duplicate a folder and its tags:

1. Select the folder in the hierarchy.

2. Click Duplicate Folder on the Edit menu or click the Duplicate

Tag Folder button on the toolbar.

3. In the To field, type the new folder name.

4. Click OK.

4–10  RSView32 User’s Guide

Deleting a folder

Delete Folder

1. Select one or more folders in the hierarchy.

2. Click Delete Folder on the Edit menu or click the Delete Folder

button on the toolbar.

Using the spreadsheet

Use the spreadsheet to view tags. Use the query box or folder hierarchy to select the tags you want to view.

Moving through the spreadsheet

To scroll through the spreadsheet rows, do one of the following:

use the Prev or Next buttons in the form area

use the up arrow and down arrow keys

use the scroll bars on the spreadsheet

To select a row, click anywhere in the row or click the row number.

Resizing columns and rows

To resize a column or row:

1. Place the cursor over the division between the column or row, in

the top or side border, until it changes to a double arrow.

2. Drag the column or row to the required size.

Creating tags  4–11

Adding a tag

Insert Row

Duplicate

To add a tag, do one of the following:

click the New button in the forms area. This inserts a new row

above the highlighted row.

click Insert Row on the Edit menu or click the Insert Row button

on the toolbar. This inserts a new row above the highlighted row.

Duplicating a tag

1. Select the tag you want to duplicate.

2. Click Duplicate on the Edit menu or click the Duplicate button on

the toolbar.

A new row is inserted below the highlighted row. The new row contains all the same information except the tag name.

3. In the Tag Name field, type the name for the new tag.

4. Click Accept.

Editing a tag

You can edit all parts of a tag except the tag name and tag type.

1. Select the tag you want to edit.

The details of the tag appear in the form area.

2. Edit any details except the tag name or type.

4–12  RSView32 User’s Guide

Deleting a tag

Delete

Delete tags carefully. Once you click the Delete button, the tag is deleted. There is no confirmation message and you cannot undo the deletion.

1. Select the tag you want to delete.

2. Click Delete on the Edit menu or click the Delete button on the

Delete

toolbar.

Configuring tag type

The topics below describe how to complete the fields for analog, digital, and string tag types. For a description of how to complete the Data Source fields, see “Specifying a data source” on page 4-19. 3.

Configuring an analog tag

1. If the tag is part of a folder, select that folder in the folder

hierarchy. The folder name appears in the Name field and is the first part of the tag name.

2. Type a tag name. If the tag is part of a folder, type the name after

the backslash (\).

3. For Type, select Analog.

Creating tags  4–13

4. Fill in the fields as outlined below:

Security

To restrict access to this tag, select a security code. If access is restricted, operators cannot change a tag value without the proper security code. For detailed information about security, see Chapter 10, Adding security.

Description

Type a description of this tag, up to 128 characters long.

Minimum and Maximum

Type the minimum and maximum values that can be written to the programmable controller or server. These values do not affect what is read from the programmable controller or server. For example, if you specify a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 100, RSView32 would be able to read a value of 200 from a PLC and store it in the value table, but would not be able to write this value to the PLC.

The range between the minimum and maximum values cannot exceed the maximum floating point value (3.402823E

4–14  RSView32 User’s Guide

Scale and Offset

IMPORTANT

Type a number. For the scale, do not use 0. To disable the scale, type 1. To disable the offset, type 0.

The scale and offset modify the “raw data” that comes from and goes to the programmable controller before it is saved in the value table. The scale and offset also modify the value specified in RSView32 before it is written to the programmable controller. The scale is a multiplication factor—the value from the PLC is multiplied by the scale. The offset is a fixed value—after the value from the PLC is multiplied by the scale, the offset amount is added. This formula shows the relationship between the PLC value and the amount stored in the RSView32 value table:

RSView32 value = (PLC value  scale) + offset

Values from the programmable controller are first scaled, then added to the offset. When a value is written to the programmable controller, the process is reversed: the offset is subtracted and the scale is used for division. This ensures that the correct, unchanged value is sent to the programmable controller.

Units

Type a text label, for display only, up to 20 characters long. This specifies how the tag value is measured (for example, gallon, PSI, min, sec).

Creating tags  4–15

Data Type

The data types are:

Data type Description Range

Default Depends on the data

See below.

source and node type:

If Device is the data source, for direct driver nodes RSView32 matches the data format specified by the address, for example, N7:0=Integer, F8:0=Floating Point.

Do not use Default for OPC or DDE nodes, as this might produce unexpected results.

If Memory is the data source, Default is Floating Point.

Unsigned Integer Unsigned 16–bit integer 0 to 65,535

Integer Signed 16–bit integer -32,768 to 32,767

Long Integer Signed 32–bit integer -2,147,483,648 to

-2,147,483,647

Floating Point Single–precision (32–bit)

floating point

-3.402823E

1.175494E

+38

to -

-38

1.175494E

3.402823E

-38

+38

4–16  RSView32 User’s Guide

Byte Unsigned 8–bit integer 0 to 255

3–Digit BCD 3–digit binary–coded

0 to 999

decimal

Data type Description Range

IMPORTANT

4–Digit BCD 4–digit binary–coded

0 to 9,999

decimal

For tags with Device as the data source, select the data type that matches the format of the data stored in the programmable controller or Windows

application. If you are using direct driver nodes, use the Default data type to automatically match the data format specified by the address.

If you are using OPC or DDE nodes, do not use the Default data type because the default might not be as expected.

For tags with Memory as the data source, select the data type that matches the format of the data you will store in the tag. Choosing Default is the same as choosing Floating Point.

For a tag with a Long Integer data type, if the minimum, maximum, scale, offset, or initial value is used with a decimal point, RSView32 stores the value in floating point format. This means that the maximum value for the tag is 16,777,216, which is the maximum integer value for single–precision floating point numbers.

Configuring a digital tag

1. If the tag is part of a folder, select the folder in the folder hierarchy.

The folder name appears in the Name field and is the first part of the tag name.

2. Type a tag name. If the tag is part of a folder, type the name after

the backslash (\).

3. For Type, select Digital.

Creating tags  4–17

4. Fill in the fields as outlined below:

Security

Description

Type a description of this tag, up to 128 characters long.

Off Label and On Label

Type text up to 20 characters long that describes the off state (value = 0) and on state (value = 1) of the tag. The off and on labels must be different. One or the other, but not both, can be blank.

Configuring a string tag

1. If the tag is part of a folder, select the folder in the folder hierarchy.

The folder name appears in the Name field and is the first part of the tag name.

2. Type a tag name. If the tag is part of a folder, type the name after

the backslash (\).

4–18  RSView32 User’s Guide

3. For Type, select String.

4. Fill in the fields as outlined below:

Security

To restrict access to this tag, select a security code. If access is restricted, operators cannot change a tag value without the proper security code. For details, see Chapter 10, Adding security.

Description

Type a description of this tag, up to 128 characters long.

Length

Type a number between 1 and 255 to specify the length of the string tag in characters. RSView32 will accept only a length that is a multiple of the size of the Allen–Bradley controller data element you are addressing.

Specifying a data source

The following topics describe how to complete the Data Source fields. For details about configuring analog, digital, and string tag types, see “Configuring tag type” on page 4-13.

programmable

Creating tags  4–19

Specifying device as the data source

A tag with device as its data source receives its data from a source external to RSView32. The data can come from: 5. 6.

Allen–Bradley or SoftLogix

RSLinx

direct drivers

™

5 programmable controllers through

programmable controllers through an OPC or DDE server

another Windows program through an OPC or DDE server

To specify device as the data source:

1. Click Device.

2. Supply a node name by doing one of the following:

type a node name

double–click in the Node Name field to add a new node

click to open a selection list and select a node name

3. If you are connecting to Allen–Bradley or SoftLogix 5 devices

through direct drivers, select a scan class.

4–20  RSView32 User’s Guide

Rockwell Automation 9301 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Contents

P Preface

About the documentation

Technical support services

When you call

1 Working with projects

What is a project?

Project files

Working in the Project Mana ger

Component

Viewing component locations

Adding components to a project

Renaming, removing, and deleting components

Renaming a component

Removing a component

Deleting a component and file

Naming files

Printing

Selecting a printer

Selecting printer setup options

Selecting a network printer

Printing at runtime

Overview of direct driver communications

Communication channel

Communication device

Communication driver

Node (control device)

Setting up direct driver communication to programmable controllers

Setting up communications without hardware or software

Summary of steps

Configuring RSLinx drivers

Using the drivers

Selecting a driver in RSView32

Configuring channels

Changing the channel configuration

Switching communication drivers at runtime

Commands for switc h ing drivers

Switching drivers automatically

Switching drivers manually

Creating a node

Changing node information at runtime

Scanning for new tag values

RSView32 scan classes

Guidelines for configuring scan classes

Monitoring communications

Developing your project without a communication network

Overview of OPC communications

Overview of DDE communications

Summary of steps

Creating an OPC node

Creating a DDE node

Changing node information at runtime

Scanning for new tag values

4 Creating tags

tags and the tag database

Tag types

Data sources

Device

Memory

Organizing tags

Naming tags

Using folders to group tags

The tag database editor

Using the Accept and Discard buttons

Using the form

Using the query box

Using the folder hierarchy

Creating a folder

Opening a folder

Adding tags to a folder

Nesting a folder

Duplicating a folder

Deleting a folder

Using the spreadsheet

Moving through the spreadsheet

Resizing columns and rows