Created Date: October 22,2012

Created by: HMI Eng

The User Libraries do not reside in a separate format in the panel. What is used in the project is compiled in with no way to separate.

The Libraries that are exported using the software are not part of a project. They reside on the PC under:

\Program Files\AutomationDirect\C-more\User Sound

\Program Files\AutomationDirect\C-more\User Graphics

Created Date: October 22,2012

Created by: sshneider

Hey There and Thank you to HMI Engineering!

I know that this BB is filled with super brilliant people and it's easy to mistake me for one of them (maybe) but, I assure that I am not one of them. ;)

So, just to be clear... I think you are saying there is no way for me to recover project library data such as sound files or bitmaps from a program residing in a C-more? In other words... "Sorry Sid, it ain't gonna happen ".

If that is, in fact, the case, my response would be... "bummer ".

Created Date: October 27,2012

Created by: troydooley

Sorry for your loss of data! For your future consideration, we use a program called http://allwaysync.com/ to constantly backup our programs and any other valuable files. We have it set to sync each laptop (we have 3 for programming) every hour to our desktop, and keep a history of these files for 30 days. This keeps us pretty safe as we would have to have 3 laptops and a desktop to fail to lose our stuff...and it even has options for cloud backup like dropbox. It does all this automatically (after setting it up) and also prevents someone from messing up a PLC program with no way to get back. You would have 30 days to revert back to the original (can extend this as long as you would like) This way the file on any one of the laptops will be the same for when you go out to work on a PLC or touchscreen for example.

Anyways, just thought I'd pass this on as it is a convenient, cheap and easy solution to prevent this type of mishap!

Created Date: October 28,2012

Created by: sshneider

Hey Troy,

Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out. I keep pretty good bak ups of all my program files but with the C-more, User data such as custom alarm sounds, Bitmaps and other "Lipstick & Eye shadow " items are stored (by default) in other directories which it never dawned on me to back up. Now I know.

I really love C-more as an HMI but the more I use it, I have more tweaks and other added features that I'd like to see implemented (I feel the same way about the P3K Suite).

Sometimes AD is "on fire " and updates and improvements come out rapid fire and then there will be a big lull and nothing happens for a while. I say "nothing happens " but I know that's not entirely true because undoubtedly AD Engineering is working on something else (like the Do_more PLC series). While this is great for users of those other products it doesn't help the throngs of us who are already using/supporting existing products.

I suppose that the folks at AD have their hands full supporting so many products. It can't be easy for them to allocate their limited resources. I sure would like to have just a few more improvements though that would prevent the unexpected and help make the task at hand a little easier.

In the meantime.... I'll live!

Created Date: November 03,2012

Created by: sshneider

C-More Suggestions Part Duex

Well, you asked so here goes (btw- I already posted some of these previously but maybe if I whine enough, someone will eventally listen)

CMORE WISH LIST

1. Better Mouse Support- Add Zoom and Pan to those of us with a wheel mouse (can you even buy a mouse without a wheel these days). I 've anyone has ever used AutoCAD or Solidworks you would feel disabled without Zoom/Pan on the wheel.

2. How about some shortcut keys for Snap to Grid and while you 're at it keys for the diff zoom levels (until the mousewheel thing gets worked out).

3. User definable Pop-Up/Visibility option display position definition. Currently items are visible in the same position as they are placed on the screen. That's nice but, if you are working on a screen that is chock full o ' stuff and then you place your pop-ups over that you can't get at the stuff underneath without moving the pop-up. This is a tad cumbersome. I have taken to placing these pop up items off the side of the screen and C-more decides where they shall appear. While I am usually pleased with most of C-more's decisions, I would really like to be the person making this one.

4. Layers would be nice. Say you are laying out a Tank Farm, it would be cool to have your tanks on one layer, your valves on another, your piping on another and so on. The "Use a background screen " feature demonstrates that this technology is already kinda built in to the product, it just wasn't developed any further.

5. .jpg image support. Let's face it .bmp is kinda like "Latin ", people still use it but it's a dying breed.

6. Truetype Font support. The fonts included are good albeit utilitarian. For some projects it would be nice to be able to add a little pizazz. I'm sure most programmers will not find this important but, with some Customers it's about the "Sizzle " not the Steak and without the Customer's Check there is no need for programming right?

7. Consolidate Program File & User Data Library Data- When the P3K was introduced one of the revolutionary things about this unit was that ALL data (Ladder, Comments, data view) resides in ONE (1) file (not like the old Direct Logic style where there were 10 different file types for each program (Oy). This made it REALLY easy to stay organized and be assured that you had EVERYTHING in one place. Apparently C-more does NOT currently do this. In fact, it seems that this User Data (i.e. Custom Graphics, Custom Sounds, etc) is uploaded to the Unit and then never accessible/exportble afterwards. Hence the problem that started this thread in the first place (i.e. what if you loose (or have Stolene) your Programming Computer? The current answer... "You 're Screwed ".

8. .mp3 sound file support- same story as item #5. .wav files are dinosaurs-let's get modern and start compressing our sound files.

9. Fix the video display issues associated with the interaction between the shared Internet Explorer components. I 've reported this few times already. EVERY toshiba Laptop I have owned exhibits video refresh problems and does NOT like Internet Explorer to be in use while C-more Programming software is open. Closing Explorer Helps, Closing Object Help Helps but IMHO why should I have to close stuff and do "workarounds " if the software was doing what it was supposed to do in the first place?

10. Import Tagnames update- If I have a numeric entry button assigned to a tag and then change data type in P3k (i.e. for from an Integer to a Float), export the tag dbase, import into C-more-the display format is not updated on the existing object and everything is ALL buggered up . Can't C-more recognize this change somehow and call your attention to/fix it? Also, if you change the Tagname, C-more does recognize that and will change the name on the object (I assume this is because it is linked via the PLC System ID/address) but does NOT delete the old tagname in the C-more Tagname Dbase eventhough it no longer exists in the P3K Tagname database. Therefore your C-more Tagname Database becomes cluttered up with a bunch of obsolete tagnames. In a nutshell, it would be nice to have some kind of Tagname Audit/Purge/Fix utility function in C-more for Dummies like me who change/update Tagnames like most girls change their shoes.

11. NEMA 4X SS Bezel for ALL C-mores. The Plastic bezel is ok but NOT acceptable for anykindof food service facility that usually require SS hardware. Soooooo many C-More's could be out there replacing AB ( "You can get better but you will never pay more ") Panelviews if this were implemented. Seems like a "No Brainer " to me :rolleyes:

12. PID FACEPLATE OBJECT- This is really a small thing but this IS a wish list...

I have 1 Customer who is REALLY confused regarding the OUTPUT value being displayed in this object. The Bar meter which show 0-100% is clear but the value really confounds them. erhaps this is MY fault because of the wayI have it programmed and I guess I could do it another way but C-more could make it easier. I am using an Analog value scale 0-65535 to control the VFD and therefore when the drive is at 50% power the Output Bar reads 50% and the Output Value reads 32767 (1/2 of 65535). Customer has NO IDEA what 32767 represents and I don't really want to get into it with them for numerous reasons. Would be nice to be able to select or scale this display value.

13. What is the deal with the SUPER LONG Boot up times when a USB Pen Drive larger than 2Gb is plugged in? G-d forbid you plug in a 8Gb USB Drive- You might as well go and make yourself a sandwich and watch some TV while you wait for that Girl to put on her make up and get ready. Seriously- You can't even find USB Drives smaller than 4Gb nowadays and those are on there way out. Perhaps and update on the USB Protocol to the new 3.0 MAY be in order here?

That's it (for now). IMHO these items would help me TREMENDOUSLY. That being said, I still love C-More and think that even with it's quirks it is still the most Kick A$$ HMI out there.

As always, Thank you AD for continuing to release and support really GREAT products with SUPER talented support staff. I really am very grateful to you for making my job easier!

Created Date: November 05,2012

Created by: HMI Eng

We hear everything and everything is seriously considered. That being said, I think you would get agreement around the table on most if not all of these.

I have a question on #13. The only log boot up (Initializing) times I am aware of are when there is when the "Stored Data Points " is set high with a lot of trends. C-more must read all of this data back into RAM so the user can scroll through their history on trends.

Pen Drive size should not affect this; only the amount of data stored.

Are you saying just by plugging in an 8Gb drive and powering up C-more, the initializing time is longer than with smaller drives, even with no data?

Created Date: October 19,2012

Created by: sshneider

Hey all, I have a fairly large C-more project (ver 2.76) project file with all kinds of custom alarm sounds and Bitmap objects. The programing computer which had all the source files crashed, files lost.

I'd like to "extract " the sounds and bmps out of the C-more. Got new computer, fresh install of ver 2.76, tried reading project from Panel- works good. Tried exporting User library (selected every file type option)- No work good. Is there another metod or am I missing something here?

Thanks!