Topics

61

Open Discussion / New Version of 3.99f now available

« on: May 17, 2016, 01:52:17 PM »

An update has been posted and here is a summary of fixes/additions:

PLC5 - added bit writing, fixed floating point
MessageListByValue - added IniFileName property
Ethernet Drivers - Corrected a problem when using the default IP address
IsPLC5 property - made it hidden
GraphicIndicator - Fixed problem with font color (ForeColor)
ChartBySampling - Added ability to chart boolean values
DateTimeDisplay - Renamed and added DisplayFormat property
BarLevel - Added PLCAddressMinimum and PLCAddressMaximum, Minimum and Maximum account for ValueScaleFactor
PLCAddressItem - Implemented Description and Name
BasicLabel - Was not showing prefix on boolean value
VerticalSlide - Corrected for ValueScaleFactor compensating of scale
DataSubscriber2 - Added function GetValueByName
Added new control SelectorSwitch3PosByValue

62

Application Showcase / AdvancedHMI on iPhone/Android

« on: April 27, 2016, 04:55:02 PM »

I did a quick test today just to see how it would work. I have a microPC on my network with a PLC5 and a CompactLogix. I created a very simple AdvancedHMI application and put it on the PC. The microPC has Windows 10 Pro which allowed me to enable Remote Desktop connections.

I then installed the Microsoft Remote Desktop app on my iPhone. Using that app I connected to the microPC with AdvancedHMI running. This then allowed me to view data from the PLC and control it with some buttons directly from my iPhone.

Attached is a screen shot taken on the iPhone.

The same Microsoft Remote Desktop app is also available for Android.

63

Open Discussion / New Version of 3.99e now available

« on: April 27, 2016, 12:28:25 PM »

An updated has been posted. ControlLogix users will definitely want to upgrade. Here are the release notes:

V3.99e
PLC5 - Reworked the PCCC based drivers to improve support for PLC5. Now supports Floating and String in PLC5
DF1Com - renamed for more consistency, added PLC5 support
ChartBySampling - Modified for when XValueType is set for Time
EthernetIPforCLX - Fixed a problem that could potentially create too many threads
ChartByArray - Added PLCAdddressYAxisMax property
Modbus - Adapted drivers to newest driver model
ModbusRTU - Fixed so it would allow changing baud rate after connection
DataSubscribers - Changed BeginInit and EndInit to Public
EthernetIPforCLXCom - DataReceived would not fire if required more than 1 packet (partial transfer)
MfgControl.AdvancedHMI.Drivers.Common.CalculationsAndConversions.WordsToString - Added overload to handle array of strings
BasicLabel - Added a Return immediately after processing a Boolean
EthernetIPforCLX - Added and overload to make BeginReadMultiple easier to use

64

Tips & Tricks / Using GraphicInidcator to Show Multi States

« on: April 22, 2016, 09:49:02 AM »

The GraphicIndicator is used to switch between images based on bits in the PLC which can be used to display different states of an object. This walk through will show how to make a schematic symbol of a 3 way valve switch through different states.

- Download and save the 3 attached images to a location you will be able to easily find again
- From the Toolbox, add a GraphicIndicator to your form
- In the Properties Window, click in the GraphicAllOff property, then click the ellipsis button (3 dots)
- A new windows will open to select a graphic. Click the Import button
- Browse to the location you saved the images to
- Select ThreeWayValveLeft.png file
- Click the OK button to close that window
- Now go to the GraphicSelect1 Property and repeat the process, but this time import ThreeWayValveCenter.png
- Repeat once again with GraphicSelect2 property and ThreeWayValveRight.png

You can now do a quick test to make sure those steps were completed correctly.

- Go to the ValueSelect1 property and set to True
- You should now see the valve change to the image with the red in the center position
- Change ValueSelect1 back to False
- Change ValueSelect2 to True
- The image should change to the right position

We can now make bits in the PLC control which image is to show.

- You will need 2 bits from the PLC. One to select center position and one to select right position. Both off will change to left position
- Set PLCAddressValueSelect1 to the address of your first bit
- Set PLCAddressValueSelect2 to the address of your second bit

When you run the application, the 2 bits will change the valves different states. Not that ValueSelect1 has priority. If both bits are True, it will show the center image.

65

Support Questions / Not All Drivers Showing In ToolBox

« on: April 21, 2016, 01:41:19 PM »

This is an issue with Visual Studio 2015 that seems to occur randomly. For me it has come and gone. I have reported to Microsoft as a bug. If you have also seen this same problem, please vote for it, so it can be brought to a higher level of attention. This is the link to the report:

https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/details/2606706/class-that-implements-icomponent-doesnt-always-show-in-toolbox

66

Additional Components / Pilot Light Graphics

« on: April 10, 2016, 08:11:50 AM »

Way back around version 3.21 there was a slightly different looking PilotLight. Attached are the images that were used for them. These are the raw images than can be used in the GraphicalIndicator

67

Application Showcase / HMI for Press

« on: February 27, 2016, 07:27:23 AM »

This is an HMI I am working on that is going to replace an older PanelView. It communicates with a ControlLogix L73 over Ethernet.

68

Tips & Tricks / Making New Forms Default to a Certain Size and Color with Templates

« on: February 21, 2016, 03:09:26 PM »

If you ever created a multi form project, then you know the default size for a new form is 300x300. This usually means you have to resize every new form you add. Visual Studio has a nice tool to simplify this. Once you setup a new form the way you want, you can export it as a template then it will show up in your item list when you do a Add New. Try this:

- Open either a new or existing project in Visual Studio
- In Solution Explorer, right click the project and select Add Existing Item
- Select Windows Form from the list and give it the name FormTemplate
- You will now have a new 300x300 gray form
- Change the form size to something like 800x600
- You can also change any other properties like the BackColor
- From the menu select File->Export Template
- It may ask you to save the project
- You will now have an option to select the template type. Select Item Template
- Click Next
- In the list, put a check in the box next to FormTemplate
- Click Next
- It will now ask about references, just click Next
- In the next windows give your template a name
- Make sure the box "Automatically Import the Template.." is checked
- Click Finish

Now when you add a New Item yo your project, you should see your form template in the list. If not, try exiting VS and re-open, then try again.

69

Tips & Tricks / DataSubscriber2 Walk Through

« on: January 06, 2016, 09:16:30 PM »

This guide will step you through using multiple addresses with a single DataSubscriber2. This example uses the ModbusTCP driver, but it can be substituted for any driver.

- Add a ModbusTCPCom driver from the ToolBox to the form
- Set the IP address to that of your PLC
- Set PollRateOverride to 2000 (2 seconds0
- Add a DataSubscriber2 from the ToolBox to the form
- In the Properties window next to the PLCAddressValueItems property click the ellipsis (3 dots)
- A collection editor window will open up
- Click the Add button
- In PLCAddress enter 40001
- Click the Add button again
- In PLCAddress enter 4002
- Click OK
- Double click the DataSubscriber in the tray below the form. This will take you to the DataChanged event handler
- Enter this code:

Code: [Select]

        If e.PlcAddress = "40001" Then
            MsgBox("Address 40001 value=" & e.Values(0))
        End If

        If e.PlcAddress = "40002" Then
            MsgBox("Address 40002 value=" & e.Values(0))
        End If

Now run the application and every 2 seconds you should get a pop up with the values.

70

Additional Components / Another Gage and Clock

« on: January 05, 2016, 05:04:24 PM »

This one may take a little work to integrate with AdvancedHMI:

https://code.google.com/p/wcontrols/

71

Open Discussion / The How and Why of AdvancedHMI Licensing

« on: December 11, 2015, 07:49:51 AM »

The AdvancedHMI software carries a unique licensing model and I wanted to make a post to explain how to comply and why the license in the way it is. A majority of the license model is motivated to keeping the software free.

The usage and deployment licensing is based on a slightly modified version GPL. This is an open source license that does not allow the use of the software in closed source applications. The "modified" part is because there are some compiled DLLs that are required to be part of the solution. These DLLs can only be re-distributed along with the AdvancedHMI solution.

Why is it based on the open source model? For several reasons:

1) Software reputation protection. Controls engineers heavily frown on hardware or software they are unable to modify to suit their needs. If AdvancedHMI solutions were deployed as closed source, the next developer would become very frustrated because they could not make even minor changes. This in turn would mean they would heavily discourage the use of AdvancedHMI. Our goal is to make AdvancedHMI use encouraged by all of those who use it. Think of it as the likes of a PanelView which you can upload the program and freely make your own modifications.

2) Let's be fair. The software was free to you, so it should be free to the next guy.

3) Our protection. Once in a while we come upon machines with an AdvancedHMI application and are asked to make modifications. If we did not have access to the full source, then we would have to tell our customers that we cannot even work with our own software. Imagine you deployed a machine with a PLC, then was called back to make a modification, but discovered someone password locked your own program.

4) Self-proliferating Marketing Model. The development of AdvancedHMI has taken thousands of hours to develop. Since the software is free, we do not make any immediate income from the sale of the software, so we rely on other means such as support and development. In order for this to work, it is important to have a very large user base. Once again since the software is free, there is no marketing budget. This is where we rely on the software to market itself. Our hopes is that once a solution is deployed, another person will come along to study or modify that application. In the process, they will discover the power of AdvancedHMI, then hopefully become yet another user.

72

Tips & Tricks / Completely cleaning a Solution when VS gives problems

« on: November 21, 2015, 04:11:26 PM »

Since AdvancedHMI is an open source project that uses it's own components, Visual Studio can get problematic from time to time. When it does, the best solution is to fully clean you AdvancedHMI project.

- Open your AdvancedHMI project in Visual Studio
- Window->Close All Documents
- File->Save All
- Exit Visual Studio
- Using Windows Explorer, go to the folder with your AdvancedHMI project
- Delete the 6 following folders:
   \AdvancedHMI\bin
   \AdvancedHMI\obj
   \AdvancedHMIControls\bin
   \AdvancedHMIControls\obj
   \AdvancedHMIDrivers\bin
   \AdvancedHMIDrivers\obj

- If your PC is setup to show hidden files, also delete AdvancedHMI.sou
- Re-Open your project in Visual Studio
- Build->Clean Solution
- Build->Rebuild Solution
- Open MainForm from Solution Explorer

73

Tips & Tricks / Do-More PLC with AdvancedHMI

« on: November 20, 2015, 05:46:35 PM »

http://accautomation.ca/create-a-plc-with-hmi-training-and-learning-environment-free/

74

Open Discussion / User Group

« on: November 06, 2015, 08:31:21 PM »

I am considering creating a local user group for the SC, NC, and GA area. We would meet quarterly to see new features, learn the software, and show our projects.

How many people would be interested and would attend meetings?

75

Additional Components / Live Video

« on: October 05, 2015, 04:53:56 AM »

This control will show a live video from a webcam or video capture device. It has been tested using a GrabBee Deluxe to display from a composite video source.

The control is based on DirectShow.net library, so it takes a few extra steps to install.

- Download the DirectShowLib-2005.dll library from here:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/advancedhmi/files/advancedhmi/3.5/Misc

- In Solution Explorer, right click AdvancedHMIControls\Support directory and select Add->Existing Item
- Change the filter to All Files (*.*)
- Browse to and select DirectShowLib-2005.dll
- In Solution Explorer, Right Click the AdvancedHMIControls project and select Add->Reference
- Browse to AdvancedHMIControls\Support and select DirectShowLib-2005.dll

- Download the attached LiveVideo.vb file
- In Solution Explorer, Right Click AdvancedHMIControls\PurchasedControls and select Add->Existing Item
- Browse to and select LiveVideo.vb
- Build the solution

You will now have a LiveVideo control in your Toolbox that can be added to the form.

If your PC has more than one video device and the display is from the wrong device, increment the VideoDeviceIndex property until you get the right video feed.