adccommunitymod (AutomationDirect) asked a question.
Created Date: June 10,2000
Created By: Russ
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While we are talking about new features for DirectSoft, let's toss around a few "wish list " items for DSData: 1. It would be really useful if you could sort the element and item columns in the standard windows ascending/descending fashion. It would make finding a specific element much easier in a long list. 2. It would also be nice to have an option to start DSData minimized in the system tray and / or hidden from the users view. 3. The ability to import and export a Topic, Item, Element list to a CSV or delimited text file. 4. The ability to define update rates for each Item in addition to rates at the Topic/SubTopic level.
Created Date: June 10,2000
Created by: Russ
While we are talking about new features for DirectSoft, let's toss around a few "wish list " items for DSData:
1. It would be really useful if you could sort the element and item columns in the standard windows ascending/descending fashion. It would make finding a specific element much easier in a long list.
2. It would also be nice to have an option to start DSData minimized in the system tray and / or hidden from the users view.
3. The ability to import and export a Topic, Item, Element list to a CSV or delimited text file.
4. The ability to define update rates for each Item in addition to rates at the Topic/SubTopic level.
Created Date: June 28,2000
Created by: Kristjan Haukur
This obviously suggests that scaling of data is easy in DSData. We need the scaling for use in our HMI, for writing Set Point values of 21.4 as 214 in the PLC (DL240). How is this done? Coverting 0-1000 to 0-100.0?
Regards
Kristjan
Created Date: June 28,2000
Created by: Russ
Hi Kristjan,
Perhaps I'm just a little dim today, but what "obviously suggests that scaling of data is easy in DSData "? Are you saying that you would like to see DSData support some sort of engineering units conversion process? Usually, most MMI packages have some sort of mechanism for dealing with this issue, although for OPC items, I can see why it would be a good idea to have implemented at the data server level.
Created Date: June 29,2000
Created by: Kristjan Haukur
Of course what no one except me could read between the lines was my problem http://forum1.automationdirect.com/board/rolleyes.gif
I'm currently working on an air conditioning control system using DL450 PLC and Iconics ' Genesis32 HMI. This is a first time using this combination and I thought that DSData was a good choice. It was.
Still, before the new combination, the TI405 I/O server took care of the scaling and this was very convenient. But it wasn't OPC. It was a little disappointment finding out that DSData does not support scaling as the new TI505 OPC server does. The TI505 is just very expensive. The DSData is inexpensive and reliable. Scaling option would make it even more attractive.
Kristjan
Created Date: July 03,2000
Created by: Mike McClanahan
I agree with all that Russ had in his first post. It would be nice if DSData supported OPC V.2 then engineering units would be supported. The scaling of data from decimal to integer and back is no big deal, we do it all the time in our VB programs. It would also be nice if the new OPC alarm specification could be included (I think that they are working toward this with the new report by exception stuff they are working with).
Created Date: July 05,2000
Created by: Russ
Mike,
To carry over from the other thread, I had the same problem with getting DSData to work with VB and OPC too. Like you, I used the FactorySoft OPC DLL Wrapper, mostly because they had a convenient Windows Install package available.
To add to the "wish list ", this would be another item I would like to see addressed in future releases of DSData:
There needs to be a section of the program install routine that at least asks if it should install the OPC DLL Wrappers for you. The DSData manual should also tell you the Automation Wrapper DLL needs to be installed, and you need to reference the OPC Automation Type Library in VB for things to work properly. As I understand it, there is no reason why this should not be easy to do. According to the official OPC Data Access Automation Interface Standard, Version 2.02, the OPC Data Access Automation Wrapper DLL is freely available to all OPC members for inclusion "as-is " with the vendors ' server products.
Regards,
Russ O 'Rourke
Created Date: July 13,2000
Created by: Mike McClanahan
Here's a biggie.
Either the ability to run DSData as an NT service or to TOTALLY hide the program from a user. I just had a project manager shut down the system because the ignored the message warning him that he was about the shut down the system with Conversations Active. An option in the DS300.ini file to hide the program from the taskbar and the screen on startup would be nice.
Maybe an added OPC command to High/Show the DSData program (added functions are allowed) that way you could program when to show/hide the program.
Created Date: July 13,2000
Created by: Russ
I 've had similar problems with unintended shutdowns too, Mike.
Another extra OPC command I would like is the ability to enable logging of items that were added programmatically. The logging feature is handy, but it's a real pain to go back and manually re-enable logging for each item every time the client program is restarted.
Created Date: July 14,2000
Created by: Mike McClanahan
I like that idea Russ, the ability to turn on and off the logging of a point when you wish. Good Idea.
Created Date: July 14,2000
Created by: Russ
Thanks Mike!
Actually, I was thinking that it might not require an "OPC command " to accomplish. When defining the item, to enable logging maybe it should be done with a new Data Modifier. It might look something like "PLC.V6003:L ", where L is the modifier for logging.
Any comments / other ideas?