Created Date: April 15,2002

Created by: lonh

I 'am writting a VB program for a Asphalt company. They are using the DL405 PLC. I have the DSDATA SERVER with DirectSoft32. I am doing the vb side of it there is someone else doing the plc side. We have never used or worked with directsoft or dl405. I have written several vb programs useing Allen-Bradly and CimQuest server over a 56k datahighways. Cimquest has a very good vb manual and build in OCX(Activex) components that you just apply to the vb form. We hav 'ent found any good examples that we can understand. the one that come with the software is a Excel and dose not explain how to get vb and the plc to talk to each other. I cant find any syntax to help me. I call support and the do not support VB. Any help would be greatful.

Created Date: April 16,2002

Created by: Gerry

If you are using the VB program for any control(i.e. pushbuttons, etc.) then you should use the ECOM Module for communications. I 've used serial communications using DDE and have found that its fast enough for monitoring purposes, but any type of control is much better using the ECOM Module.

As far as programming, there is no OCX as far as I am aware. In my past projects I used DDE with VB. With newer projects I use a WinPLC and an OPCServer application.

I would recommend you use the ECOM Module with the OPCServer that comes with the DSData Server.

To get started, go to the OPC Foundation at www.opcfoundation.org, and download the OPC Data Access Automation Interface Spec. Start a VB project and add the OPC Automation 2.0 Reference. That will add the object described in the Spec. to your project and your off. It took me some time to understand the OPC Standard and how its supposed to work. But after that its all down hill.

Good Luck!

Created Date: April 21,2002

Created by: Mike McClanahan

I think that I finally have our VB program that uses OPC, VB6, W2K and Access Databases ready to go out on the world. We had a little problem with the Microsoft Winsock control that has been replaced with the winsock control (freeware version from Catalyst) that seems to have stopped the problems. We have also put together a program that reads the DirectLogic exported CSV documentation file and imports it into the database file to reduce a lot of the typing that needs to be done. If someone at automation direct will tell me how and where to send the files to I will let them post this up on their web site for an OPC/VB sample.

Mike

Created Date: May 08,2002

Created by: Ray Kissane

I would like to know the status of the offer by Mike McClanahan to have his code posted on Automation Direct site?

There are several people who would benefit from this. I have had problems trying to implement the OPC standard with VB6 and I have had speed problems with the DDE protion of DSDATA so any help we can get would make everyone life easier. Look at the number of past threads on this issue.

If Automation Direct is worried about liability problems posting a thrid party code, they can make a disclamer statement that they have not tested the code and is being present as is.

If Automation Direct does not want the code posted on their site then Mike at Mrplc.com there is place for files to be posted for PLC Direct code.

Once again this is something the would benefit many users of Automation Direct products.

Ray

Created Date: May 09,2002

Created by: Mike McClanahan

I am trying to finish up some of the documentation in the program so it will make a little more sense. Fran at Host has offered to try and get it posted on their site and I hope to email him the VB code sometime this weekend. Make sure that you read the readme1st.txt file that will be included because it will have some specific information on how to install the software and the tcp/ip ports that are used incase you might have a conflict with your existing system.

Also for those of you who want to try it a little easier than a full blown system I will include a note on the example that softwaretoolbox.com has on their VB/OPC sample that I based these programs on. There are a couple of small things that had to be changed in the program to work with DSData but it made a good learning tool.

Mike