Messages

1

Feature Request / DDE or Excel Driver for read/write to Windows application or Excel

« on: August 21, 2023, 09:43:24 AM »

I know DDE is ancient and there are a lot of reasons NOT to use it, but I need to AHMI to communicate
(send data and receive data) via DDE to a specific application or non DDE communication (read/write) to Excel.

More info
There are multiple Bronkhorst liquid flow meters that are networked together via proprietary protocol called FlowBus. 

A device sits on that network and provides two way (read / write communication) to each flow meter
though a window application.
That windows application (FlowDDE or FlowDDE2)  is used to share data between the device and any windows app that can communicate via DDE
I'd like to use DDE to link AHMI with that FLowDEE to communicate with each flow meter as needed
DDE format is as follows (standard DDE format)
Server "FlowDDE" or "FlowDDE2" application running on Windows
Topic: Node # of specific to each flow meter
Item: paramater your requesting or writing for a specific topic 9(ie Flow, Temperature, Density, Set-point,
Process Variable ,etc)

I'd like a component or driver that can
1) read values from a DDE server (from Server,Topic,Item)  and display them on an AHMI screen via Analog Display,  Panel Meter, etc
2) wrtie values to a DDE server (to Server,Topic,Item) to be written to the corresponding  flow meter fields - mostly set-point
changes, but could be PID parameters, alarm values, resets, etc.

If that's not possible
Can I have the above that can do the same with an excel spreadsheet as I have the DDE data (from flow meters) reading
perfectly into excel cells at an acceptable refresh rate of a few times/sec. I just need to get the data from excel cells
to the AHMI screen.

So either a DDE "driver' or Excel "driver" or link to facilitate two way data exchange

Thanks
Rich

2

Support Questions / Re: Simple DDE Access to display values from (and possibly write to) a DDE device

« on: August 16, 2023, 07:53:14 PM »

Thanks for the reply

It's not a "issue" for support, I was just lookin for info or guidance

The big picture is I need AAHMI to communicate directly with a DDE server and I was inquiring about the best way to do that. Thought there may have been a component or code already available to "drop in" to AAMI

There are multiple liquid  flow meters that are networked together via FlowBus protocol.  A device sits on that network that serves information via DDE only and is accessed through FlowDDE software which facilitates 2 way communication between the flow meters and the outside world via DDE.

All the other interface options like EtherCat, Ethernet/IP, DeviceNet, Profinet, modbus are NOT available on these flow meters - it only communicates over the FlowBus network so I can't use anything else but DDE or ACSII commands to send and receive flow meter data (mostly real)  like flow rate, temp, density, alarm status, setpoint, PV, OP ,etc.
ACSII is too slow, so I'm trying to get the DDE path to work

Thanks for you help
I'll post in another section

Rich

3

Support Questions / Re: Simple DDE Access to display values from (and possibly write to) a DDE device

« on: August 16, 2023, 02:56:45 PM »

I'm trying to communicate with  software/server  from Bronkhorst called FlowDDE.  The reference manual link  is below - see section 5 for DDE info. 

This software/server polls flow meter data on it's network (FlowBus) and makes the data available via the FlowDDE server.

Unfortunately, the 2 ways to get to the Flow DDE data are DDE (subject of this thread) and ASCII string requests and responses over serial comms (RS232) - too slow.

Flow DDE info here...
https://www.bronkhorst.com/en-us/products-en/accessories-and-software/flowware/flowdde/

Ref manual link here...
https://www.bronkhorst.com/getmedia/4c1645ae-f1f5-4223-87a1-35596bf7df26/Manual-FlowDDE.pdf

When connecting to FlowDDE via Excel - the updates are superfast - like a few / second for up to 20 fields
When connecting PLC to make ASCII string requests - updates take way to long  before get to HMI screen.

Appreciate any help or advice

Thanks
Rich

4

Support Questions / Re: Simple DDE Access to display values from (and possibly write to) a DDE device

« on: August 15, 2023, 10:35:17 PM »

Update
Got the DDE dating reading into excel fast now - like a few updates/sec for about 20 values, good enough for me. Back to your post above, why do I want to run excel in the background, when what I really want is to have Advanced HMI read (via DDE) the values directly from the device (application) that it (excel) is reading from now. Seems like reading to excel and then reading excel data with AAHMI adds a step. (Maybe I'm missing something)  if excel can read and update DDE values , I think there should be a way for AAHMI to do the same
So the question is...is there a piece of code or object or something that I can use or drop into AAHMI that will
1) display values from a DDE "address"
2) continuously "poll" that address and update display with latest data
3) write values from a AAHMI text or other object to a DDE "address" upon "enter"

Thanks a lot
Rich
 

5

Support Questions / Re: Simple DDE Access to display values from (and possibly write to) a DDE device

« on: August 15, 2023, 03:29:11 PM »

thanks backphi

I actually have excel reading some of the data from the device via DDE conversation now. It's pretty slow to update - like seconds - no sure why - though it would be "instant", maybe the device on the DDE side is polling too many registers. Not sure.  I think I may try another route which is to send ASCII string (RS232) requesting specific info and then reading back the responses from the device - it's non instant, but it's better than the DDE timing. Thanks 

6

Support Questions / Simple DDE Access to display values from (and possibly write to) a DDE device

« on: August 14, 2023, 11:02:18 PM »

I know that DDE is ancient and not used that often, but I need to display data that is only available though a DDE interface

Here's some text from the manual...

BASIC PARAMETER COMMUNICATION
Client applications communicate to the FlowDDE server by using DDE messages. Before messages can be exchanged, a
DDE link had to be made. A DDE link consists of three parts: the server, the topic and an item. For separation the
characters '|' and '!' may be used, so a DDE link in e.g. Microsoft Excel becomes Server|Topic!Item.
For standard instrument parameters and the FlowDDE server, these are:

it looks like my question got cut off - so here it is
How to I poll, access and display the DDE Data with advanced HMI

Thanks
Rich

7

Support Questions / Datalogger2 not creating file or logging

« on: January 20, 2019, 03:46:28 PM »

Hi
I'm a lite user of AdvancedHMI and wanted to start logging some value(s) (up to 10 per timestamp from a AB SLC 500 addresses N7:xx or F8:xx) to a local text file periodically.
I tried Datalogger2 - could not get it to create or  write to a file - tried manipulating a lots of the properties.. file name in quotes, not it quotes, etc
I did get Datalogger1 to write a singe value per timestamp to file with minimal set-up
Tried Datalogger2 with exact same property values, did not work
Any ideas what may be preventing Datalogger2 from working (ie creating/writing data to file)?
Are there any instructions or a set-up guide for datalogger 1 or 2
Datalogger 1 would be ok for me, but I can't  see how to log more than one value per timestamp.
Thanks

8

Support Questions / Re: Tag limit per screen, blinking/cycling of toggles and pilots

« on: December 16, 2013, 08:54:43 AM »

ok..here it is...
Assembly version - 3600
File version 3600
thanks

9

Support Questions / Re: Tag limit per screen, blinking/cycling of toggles and pilots

« on: December 13, 2013, 11:05:07 AM »

Hi.  Sorry..I did not see this reply till now
I'm having the same type of issue with Indicators and Buttons flashing when the should not be (ie when visibility bit values set to 0 or false)
usually happens when there are a lot of info/bit tag related items displayed on one screen
I really love this product and wish i could get rid of this annoying problem
I am embarrassed to say that I can not find the "version" if of the driver I'm using
The driver is titled... "EthernetIPforPLCSLCMicroCom1"
The AB PLC is a SLC500 -  SLC/5/05
Thanks for all your help/advice/support

10

Support Questions / Tag limit per screen, blinking/cycling of toggles and pilots

« on: November 25, 2013, 04:15:39 PM »

Hi
It seems like I can build a screen that accesses say 10 plc addresses or tags and everything is fine
Say I have 5 toggle switches that toggle motors on/off and then 5 pilot lights that indicate the that the motors are running..all good
Then I add, say some text or other toggles or something that controls or depends on a PLC integer or bit values to that same screen and I will get a constant blinking/cycling of all pilot lights and toggle switches when I activate that screen.  Is there a limit to the amount of tags any one screen can access or is there a way to eliminate this blinking/cycling.
Thanks

11

Support Questions / Data Exchange Limit per Screen??

« on: July 26, 2013, 12:22:41 PM »

Hi
I have a pretty busy screen - >15 I/O and data point being displayed/controlled
when I add another button to toggle a bit  and run in bebug mode,  all the bit values start to turn on and off randomly. There is no activity in the PLC bit data tables I am accessing.  I'm trying to figure out why adding one more data point or bit field to this screen would cause this kind of reaction in Advanced HMI - is there some kind of limit to the amount of data that can be exchanged in any one screen
Can you think of anything else that may be causing this
Thanks

12

Support Questions / Re: System.Net.ComNetOS exception error

« on: July 25, 2013, 02:48:26 PM »

Ok. thanks. I'll think about how to proceed.   I'll just keep things as they are for now.  Maybe I'll upgrade to 4.5 at some time in the future.   Thanks

13

Support Questions / Re: System.Net.ComNetOS exception error

« on: July 25, 2013, 01:16:59 PM »

ok - did it. thanks... Attached is a screen shot of all the updates that have NOT been applied to my Win 7 OS. with out these updates installed...AdvancedHMI works fine.   This may be useful if you want to try to narrow down which one or ones of these is causing the problem.  Please let me know if you determine which, if any,  updates I can safely install w/o compromising AdvancedHMI. Thanks

14

Support Questions / Re: System.Net.ComNetOS exception error

« on: July 25, 2013, 11:28:57 AM »

OK. Did a complete VB2010 Express Uninstall and a complete .net 4.0 uninstall and then re-installed everything and got it working.
 Now, how to I disable all windows updates or how do I know which ones NOT to apply - right now...I think the updates are automatic when I shut down...no prompt or anything..  I[m asking just so I don't accidentally trigger and update. Thanks

15

Support Questions / Re: System.Net.ComNetOS exception error

« on: July 23, 2013, 02:09:55 PM »

Ok.. I'll try that... one more thing.. should I uninstall .net 4.0 and then re-install or just re-install right "on top of" the existing installation.  thanks a lot