Community
Try "researchers"
Home Blog Page 104

The Seven Allen-Bradley and Rockwell websites I use the most

By
Shawn Tierney
-
Allen Bradley Website Featured Image

(Updated 11/06/2017)

In today’s pre-Thanksgiving Day article, I’m sharing the seven Allen-Bradley and Rockwell website links I use the most

#1: The Allen-Bradley Literature Library

http://www.ab.com/literature

It’s in there! The manual, that is. Most every product question can be quickly answered by cracking open the user’s manual. And since I’m a road warrior, all my manuals are in PDF format and recently downloaded from Allen-Bradley’s Literature Library.

Allen-Bradley Literature Library

#2: Rockwell’s Knowledgebase

http://rockwellautomation.custhelp.com

Rockwell has thousands upon thousands of expertly written AID’s (aka Tech Notes.) This is my first stop whenever I hit a wall when troubleshooting a system.

Rockwell Knowledgebase

#3: Rockwell’s Tech Support Direct Dial

http://www.rockwellautomation.com/global/support/direct-dial.page

I really don’t like phone trees. Why does it always seem like the least used products are first in the list? “If you’re calling for information about a 30 year old PLC please press 1.” Ugh.

And could those automated attendants talk a little slower? I often find my thoughts wandering as I wait for my choice and the miss my selection… which means I have to hit the repeat button and listen to it all over again.

Well, I use to. That was before I found this link (and associated PDF) that allows you to bypass Rockwell’s Tech Support phone tree and get right to the group you’re looking for.

 Rockwell Support Direct Dial

#4: Rockwell’s Compatibility and Download Center

compatibility.rockwellautomation.com/Pages/home.aspx

I’m using this site more and more to find which products are supported on what operating systems. It’s also a good starting point for downloading firmware and software updates.

 Rockwell Compatibility and Download Center

#5: Rockwell’s Silver Series website

http://www.ab.com/silver

http://www.rockwellautomation.com/global/solutions-services/capabilities/migration-solutions/product-search/overview.page

With so many old products seeing their final days, this new and improved “Silver Series” website is a much needed tool to check the expected availability of legacy products.

 Rockwell Silver Series

#6: Rockwell’s Downloads page

http://www.rockwellautomation.com/rockwellautomation/support/downloads.page?

An oldie but goodie, this link brings you to a page that then links to many other important download pages, including:

  • Software updates
  • Add-On-Profiles
  • Electronic Data Sheets
  • PC Cards Utilities and Downloads
  • Reset Codes for Activations
  • Safety Products Online Library
  • Sample Code Library
  • Free Downloads

Rockwell Downloads

#7: Integrated Architecture Tools

http://www.ab.com/go/iatools

There are so many resources at this one stop I had to put it on my list.

From IAB, to the Ethernet Capacity Tool, to the System Ferret, to dozens of videos, if you haven’t checked this link out you don’t know what you’re missing!

Integrated Architecture Tools

I hope you find this article about my seven most used Rockwell websites helpful.

If you have a link you use often and it’s not listed above please let us know by using the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

shawntierney avatar
Latest posts by Shawn Tierney (see all)

PanelView Plus – Seven things you need to know before using

By
Shawn Tierney
-
7 Things about PanelView Plus

NOTE: Check out the new version of this article HERE.

PanelView Plus 700I still run into clients who are just beginning to use the PanelView Plus, even though it was released a decade ago.

So for all everyone out there who is new to the PanelView Plus, here are seven things you need to know:

1) PanelView Plus hardware features:

PanelView Plus 700-1500
PanelView Plus 700 – 1500

The original PanelView Plus came in four different versions, all of which support upto firmware version 5.1.

Note: PanelView Plus models loaded with newer firmware do support older runtime projects, all the way back to v3.0. This means there is no need to downgrade the panel’s firmware to gain legacy support. In fact, some newer panel can not be downgraded to older firmware.

All terminals include (at a minimum) a CompactFlash Card slot, a USB Port, and a DB9 Serial Port. Most terminals also came in Touchscreen only, Keypad only, and Touchscreen/Keypad combination units.

  • PanelView Plus 700, 1000, 1250, 1500 (7″ to 15″ displays)
    • The original and standard PanelView Plus with replaceable bezels and modular construction.
  • VersaView CE / PanelView Plus CE 700, 1000, 1250, 1500 (7″ to 15″ displays)
    • Identical to the PanelView Plus, but with more memory and the Windows CE OS exposed
  • PanelView Plus 400 and 600 (4″ and 6″ displays)
    • A smaller, all plastic version of the PanelView Plus
  • PanelView Plus Compact
    • Lower cost, DC only versions of the 4″, 6″, and 10″ PanelView Plus.
    • Reduced software functionality includes one PLC, 25 display, and 200 alarm limits.
    • None of these units support add-on communications modules.

2) PanelView Plus 6 hardware features:

PanelView Plus 400 and 600
PanelView Plus 6, 400 & 600

The new PanelView Plus 6 comes in four different versions as well, and most support firmware versions 6.0 – 7.0.

However, one big difference is none of these units support IO networks. Specifically, PanelView Plus 6 terminals do not support RIO, DeviceNet, and scheduled ControlNet.

PanelView Plus 6 models do support all runtime file versions back to 3.2. That is, as long as the runtime is using a supported communication path (see note above.)

These units include (at a minimum) an SD Card slot, a USB Port, and a DB9 Serial Port. Most terminals also come in Touchscreen only, Keypad only, and Touchscreen/Keypad combination units.

  • PanelView Plus 6 (standard) 700, 1000, 1250, 1500 (7″ to 15″)
    • Like the original, but with more horsepower, memory, and Window CE.
  • PanelView Plus 6 Enhanced 700, 1000, 1250, 1500 (7″ to 15″)
    • Identical to the PanelView Plus 6 (standard) but with Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Office viewers
  • PanelView Plus 6 400 and 600 (4″ and 6″)
    • Similar to the original but with some of the added PanelView Plus 6 features
    • Unlike the original, none of these units support add-on communications modules.
  • PanelView Plus 6 Compact
    • Same restrictions as the PVPlus Compact, but with some of the new features of the PanelView Plus 6.
    • Currently only available in 4″ and 6″ models.

3) Every PanelView Plus comes preloaded with FactoryTalk View Machine Edition Runtime software and license.

Every PanelView Plus has a licensed copy of the ViewME runtime software pre-installed. This software runs “.mer” runtime project files created on a PC using the FactoryTalk ViewStudio development software (formerly RSViewStudio.)

RSLinx Enterprise in ViewStudio Project4) Communications from ViewStudio to the PanelView Plus and Allen-Bradley programmable controllers requires RSLinx Enterprise

Communications from FactoryTalk ViewStudio to the PanelView Plus, and from the PanelViewPlus or ViewStudio to an Allen-Bradley programmable controller, requires RSLinx Enterprise. FactoryTalk ViewStudio comes with RSLinx Enterprise and it’s highly recommended you install it along with ViewStudio.

5) RSLinx Communications setup consists of two configurations: Local and Target

For the ViewStudio project components (graphic displays, alarms, trends, etc) to communicate with an A-B programmable controller, you’ll need to configure the RSLinx Enterprise communications setup. This setup consists of two sections:

  • The Local/Development tab is for the communications from ViewStudio to an A-B programmable controller, as well as from the Transfer Utility to the PanelView Plus.
  • The Target/Runtime tab is for communications from the PanelView Plus to an A-B programmable controller.

RSLinx Enterprise Communications Setup Window

6) After adding or changing tags, be sure to “refresh all folders.”

After you change or add to your HMI tags, programmable controller tags, or RSLinx Enterprise communications setup, be sure to right click in the tag browser and “Refresh all folders” in order to browse for new tags in ViewStudio.

ViewStudio Tag Browser Refresh All Folders

7) Be sure to check “run on startup” and “replace communications” when using the Transfer Utility to download to the PanelView Plus.

You can transfer your ViewStudio ME .mer runtime file through RSLinx Enterprise to your PanelViewPlus using the included Transfer Utility. However, be sure to check the “run on start-up” and “replace communications” checkboxes. This insures your project starts when the PanelView Plus starts, and that your project’s communication settings replace the previous terminal settings.

Transfer Utility BannerI hope you’ve found these seven tips for using the PanelView Plus helpful.

If you’d like to add your own tips to this list just reply to this post using the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

shawntierney avatar
Latest posts by Shawn Tierney (see all)

ControlLogix – Seven Things You Need To Know Before Using

By
Shawn Tierney
-
7 Things about ControlLogix


Rockwell Allen-Bradley's ControlLogixIt’s easy to forget that not everyone has used Rockwell’s ControlLogix.

In fact, I was just reminded of this last week when I needed to review the below list of basics with a client:

1) Each new ControlLogix controller needs to have firmware downloaded to it.

Every time you open up a new ControlLogix, you’ll find a controller with essentially no firmware. So your first step should be to fire up Rockwell’s “Control Flash” tool to download firmware to your new controller.

Control Flash Banner

2) Each ControlLogix controller supports multiple firmware versions, but can only be flashed to one version at a time.

Just like most electronics and cell phones, each ControlLogix controller supports a range of different firmware revisions. However, no one controller supports all revisions. Note: The most popular and widely supported version used today is version 20.

Logix Firmware Banner

3) To find the firmware your controller supports, open the release notes found in the RSLogix 5000 or Studio 5000 help menu.

UPDATE 08/2022:

Starting with version 20.05, Rockwell stopped including this helpful chart in the software, so now the best place to find which versions your Logix controller supports is by using one of the below links:

There are many places where Rockwell lists hardware and firmware compatibility: AB.com, product manuals, tech notes, etc.

But I’ve found the easiest place to find a compatibility listing is inside RSLogix . Studio 5000, in the “release notes” which are found in the “help” menu.

RSLogix 5000 Release Notes Banner

4) RSLogix 5000 or Studio 5000 Standard (or better) is required to program the ControlLogix

The lowest cost programming software Rockwell sells to program the ControlLogix is RSLogix/Studio 5000 Standard. You can also use RSLogix/Studio 5000 Full or Pro. You can not use RSLogix/Studio 5000 Mini or Lite.

RSLogix 5000 Versions Banner

5) You can only program your ControlLogix controller with the same major release of software (RSLogix 5000 or Studio 5000) which matches the firmware currently loaded in your ControlLogix controller.

For examples, if you’ve decided to flash your ControlLogix controller to v20.xxx, you will need to install RSLogix 5000 v20.xxx on your PC in order to program your controller. This is often referred to as “lock step.”

But if you have a newer ControlLogix which only supports v21.xxx and greater, you’ll need to install the matching version of Studio 5000 on your PC.

NOTE: In almost all cases the minor revisions of software and hardware do not need to match. For the only exception to this, see this article.

RSLogix 5000 Banner

6) Previously, when you purchased RSLogix 5000 you received multiple versions. However, this is not currently the case.

UPDATE 08/2022: To get versions of RSLogix prior to 20.05, customers must now purchase the Legacy option when purchasing Studio 5000. 

UPDATE 2014: A few weeks after this article had been written, and several months after the Previous Versions disc had been removed, Rockwell thankfully started including it once more. You can read the full article here:


Because ControlLogix controllers support multiple versions, for years Rockwell shipped several of the latest RSLogix 5000 versions with newly purchased copies of RSLogix 5000.

However, at some point in 2013 Rockwell changed this practice and is now only shipping Studio 5000 version 21 (see updated info above) with new orders of the part number which previously represented RSLogix 5000 packages.

Here at “Insights In Automation” we really hope Rockwell changes this practice ASAP. Most clients we know are not using v21, so unfortunately they are forced to download past versions from AB.com.

Rockwell AID 29461
Click on the above picture to read this tech note (you’ll need a support contract to access it)

7) You can install multiple versions of RSLogix 5000 and/or Studio 5000 on the same PC.

The nice thing about RSLogix 5000 and Studio 5000 is, since version 10, you’ve been able to install multiple versions of RSLogix 5000 and Studio 5000 on the same PC.

This means you can actually have RSLogix 5000 versions 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 all installed “side by side.” You can also install Studio 5000 versions 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 as well (currently only v19-30 support Windows 7)

However, Rockwell does not officially support RSLogix 5000 versions prior to 19 on Windows 7, so you may run into issues with older versions.

Note: You can also install one pre-10 version as well, but just one at a time per OS.

RSLogix 5000 Support for Operating Systems
Click on the above picture to see this support matrix at AB.com

I hope you’ve found these seven things you need to know before using ControlLogix helpful!

If you’d like to add your own tips to this list, just reply to this post using the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

shawntierney avatar
Latest posts by Shawn Tierney (see all)

Additional products shown at Automation Fair 2013

By
Shawn Tierney
-
Show Floor at Automation Fair 2013 Featured Image

In my final post about Automation Fair 2013, I’ll include pictures of other products and booths which caught my eye at this years event.

Ethernet/IP had a big presence at this years show, as in previous years. But the EIP booth that caught my eye (shown below) touted the breath and depth of Ethernet/IP’s adoption by industry.

EthernetIP booth at Automation Fair 2013Molex had a large booth close to the entrance of the Fair, and they were showing off an impressive number of communications modules:

Molex booth at Automation Fair 2013PlantPAx has been gaining momentum of late, and I thought they had a well made booth:

PlantPAx booth at Automation Fair 2013Micro850 on DeviceNet? According to the Rockwell representative, its as easy as 1-2-3 with no RSNetworx or mapping required.

Micro800It looks like a Micro830, but don’t be fooled. This isn’t a new Safety PLC, but rather a new Programmable Safety Relay:

Programmable Safety Relay at Automation Fair 2013Well, that’s it for my Automation Fair 2013 coverage. If you have any question on the above products, or on Automation Fair itself, please click on the “post a comment or question” link below, or contact me directly using the “contact” link in the site’s top menu.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

shawntierney avatar
Latest posts by Shawn Tierney (see all)

Prosoft shows Ethernet over Blue Hose (9463) at Automation Fair 2013

By
Shawn Tierney
-
Prosoft Ethernet over Blue Hose Featured Image


Prosoft Ethernet over Blue Hose at Automation Fair 2013At this year’s Automation Fair, Prosoft showed a new product that allows Ethernet communications to be transmitted over “blue hose,” or more specifically, “Belden 9463.”

The targeted market for this product is legacy migrations of PLC-5 and SLC-500 systems. These older systems often relied on Data Highway Plus (DH+) for peer to peer communications, and RIO for remote I/O communications.

DH+ and RIO both use Belden 9463, a shielded twisted pair cable that allowed for networks up to 10,000 cable feet. And Belden 9463, with it’s blue outer jacket, is affectionately known in plants around the world as “blue hose.”

The Prosoft system (pictured below) relies on two main components: a master device and at least one slave device. Additional slave devices can be added as needed up to 32 devices. However, each device must be within 1500 cable feet of the previous one. This means a network of 10,000 feet would require a minimum of one master and six slaves.

Each device contains three Ethernet ports for use with remote Ethernet devices. In testing, Prosoft found they could easily accommodate remote Ethernet/IP I/O with an RPI as low as 3ms. For most applications that update rate will be more than adequate.

The Prosoft Ethernet over Blue Hose system, consisting of at lease one MCE-BHM-AC and one MCE-BHS-AC, should be available early next year. The target price for one master and one slave is just under $3,000.

Prosoft Ethernet over Blue Hose Closeup at Automation Fair 2013If you have any questions or comments please click on the “post a comment or question” link below,

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

shawntierney avatar
Latest posts by Shawn Tierney (see all)

RSLogix 5000 version 20.03 (P2)

By
Shawn Tierney
-

In The Automation Podcast, Episode 2, we discuss what makes version 20.03 of RSLogix 5000 different for all previous minor revisions.

NOTE: You can read more about RSLogix 5000 v20.03 in our companion blog HERE.

Listen to the Podcast:


Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

shawntierney avatar
Latest posts by Shawn Tierney (see all)

Micro820 at Automation Fair 2013

By
Shawn Tierney
-
Micro820 Featured Image

The soon to be released Micro820 on display at Automation Fair 2013:

Micro820 at Automation Fair 2013The Micro820 is the newest entry in Rockwell’s Micro800 family. The unit is outfitted with two communication ports. The first is Serial communications accessible via a terminal block connection. The second is a standard Ethernet port. Unlike the Micro830 and Micro850, this unit does not have a built-in USB port.

Note: You can listen to our companion podcast about the Micro820 HERE.

The 820 also has a built-in real time clock (RTC) and accepts Micro-SD cards for program back-up and datalogging. But, because of the Micro-SD card support we are told this unit does not support the plug memory module used on the 830 and 850. Also unlike the Micro830 and 850, this unit does not support Micro Motion control. Specifically, we were told it does not support PWM outputs, and only supports low speed PTO outputs.

In the below picture to the right of the Micro820 you’ll see a new four line text display being release for use with the 820. This unit connects to the Micro via serial, and displays four lines of text. This unit is more “Text display” than HMI as the text is transmitted to the display via ASCII commands. The unit also sports a handful of function keys, a four color backlight, and a USB port for programming the Micro820.

Micro820 Closeup at Automation Fair 2013Coming out with the Micro820 is the latest version of Connected Components Workbench, CCW 6.0. This new version includes support for the new Micro as well as two new features that have been highly requested.

First, CCW 6.0 will have the ability to change the processor type of a Micro program. In the past, if you had written a program for a Micro830 and wanted to use it in a Micro850, your only option was to copy and paste the code from one project to another. But with CCW 6.0 we were told this is now a simple selection in the software.

The second highly requested feature is the ability to upload and download to the PanelView Component from CCW. Previously, the PVc project would have to be exported from CCW and then transferred using the PVc’s dashboard. However, we were told CCW 6.0 now includes an upload / download utility to automate this process.

Well, that’s all the information I was able to get about the new Micro820. At the time of Automation Fair Rockwell hadn’t yet released prices on these items, but we should see them announced before they end of the year.

If you have any comments or questions about this post please feel free to use the below “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

shawntierney avatar
Latest posts by Shawn Tierney (see all)

The Automation Podcast, Episode 1: Introductions

By
Shawn Tierney
-

The Automation Podcast, Episode 1, is the first episode of The Automation Podcast and introduces the host, Shawn Tierney as well as the “Insights In Automation” family of websites.

NOTE: You can read more about http://www.TheAutomationPodcast.com and http://www.InsightsInAutomation.com in our “About Us” section HERE.

Listen to the Podcast:



Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

shawntierney avatar
Latest posts by Shawn Tierney (see all)

The 1769-AENTR as seen at Automation Fair 2013

By
Shawn Tierney
-
1769-AENTR Featured Image


1769-AENTR close up at Automation Fair 2013Mid-morning of the first day of Automation Fair 2013, I had the fortune of participating in a show floor meeting with Dexter Long, the CompactLogix product manager for Rockwell Automation. The meeting was to discuss the newly announced (and long desired) 1769-AENTR. As the part number implies, this is an Ethernet/IP adapter for the 1769 line of I/O modules.

Note: You can listen to our companion podcast about the 1769-AENTR HERE.

On the front of the unit you can see the reason for the trailing “R” in the part number: dual Ethernet/IP ports. These ports make up a two port Device Level Ring (DLR) switch sharing a single IP address. Also on the front of the unit you’ll notice three rotary switches for setting the IP address manually, similar to other A-B Ethernet devices.

According to Dexter, the unit supports all A-B 1769 I/O modules. He also mentioned that Rockwell has also successfully tested several encompass partner 1769 products as well.

Unlike the unfortunate launch of the 1747-AENTR, this unit is being launched with support for the largest 1769 I/O systems: thirty I/O modules across three I/O banks.  The unit also comes with an Add-On profile with support for version 20 and 21 of RSLogix 5000.

One important note that came out of our meeting is that the 1769-AENTR does not support rack optimized I/O. This seems to imply that each module will require it’s own connection. This is not an issue for the connection rich 5370 multi-core CompactLogix processors (L1xER, L2xER, L3xER.) But, owners of the older connection limited processors (L23E, L32E, L35E) need to take note: with their limited connection count you could easily run out of connections with even a medium sized 1769-AENTR system.

1769-AENTR Automation Fair demoThe 1769-AENTR is expected to ship this January (2014) and come at a list price of $980. While more expensive that a similar Point I/O adapter (the 1734-AENTR) it is less than the aforementioned 1747-AENTR, and substantially less than purchasing a 1769 Ethernet/IP Processor.

Well that’s it for my impressions of the 1769-AENTR. at Automation Fair 2013. Check back in he coming days for more impressions of products from this years show. In the mean time, if you have any comments or questions please feel free to use the “post a comment or question” comment section at the bottom of this page.

Update: You can hear Shawn’s thoughts on the 1769-AENTR in Episode 2 of “The Automation Podcast” HERE

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

shawntierney avatar
Latest posts by Shawn Tierney (see all)

Automation Fair 2013: Day One

By
Shawn Tierney
-
Automation Fair Featured Image


Automation Fair Main EntranceDay one of Automation Fair 2013 was full of impromptu meetings with old acquaintances, and learning details of new and soon to be released automation products.

NOTE: Information about the 1769-AENTR has been moved to this post here.

Day One begins:

Automation Fair Registration and Badge PickupAs we walked into the convention center we encountered a huge line of show attendee’s waiting to pick up their Automation Fair show badges. However, our “Horizon Solutions” group of 140 attendees had all received our badges the night before due to the expertise of Horizon’s marketing department. So thankfully we were able bypass the long registration and badge pickup line and proceed directly to the show floor (thanks Chuck and Emily!)

Note: In the picture on the right you can see the registration and badge pick-up area later in the day after the initial opening crowd had passed through.

Hands-on Lab Registration:

An improvement over years past, modern Automation Fair lab registration can be done online prior to the actual event. To do so is a three step process of registering for the show, choosing hands-on labs, and later confirming your choices.

But for those who miss the early bird sign-ups prior to Automation Fair, onsite registration is also available. When the show doors open between 6:30 and 7am, computer kiosks are made available for attendees to register for any openings in the hands-on sessions. Seats in these sessions are first come first serve, so the earlier you arrive the more likely you’ll get an open spot.

Below you can see my snapshots of this years Hands-on Registration area. From left to right: Registration instructions, large display showing current class availability, and registration kiosk / laptop:

Automation Fair Hands-on Labs SignAutomation Fair Hands-on labs openingsAutomation Fair Hands-on Labs signupLunch

Lunch at Automation Fair always amazes me. This year I watched for nearly an hour as hundreds of people poured into the gigantic lunch area to eat. The efficiency of the whole operation is really quite good, as is the food served.

Below you can see a panoramic of the lunch room I took well after the lunch crowd had dissipated:

Automation Fair Lunch PanoramicShow Floor

This years show floor seemed larger than last year. Not everyone thought so, but I wasn’t alone in this observation. All the major vendors were present, along with dozens of minor ones.

Below is a panoramic I took on the floor during the after lunch slowdown as many where attending the afternoon hands-on labs and technical sessions:

Automation Fair Show Floor PanoramicWell that’s it for my Automation Day One update. Tune in over the coming days for more of my pictures and reflections on Automation Fair 2013.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

shawntierney avatar
Latest posts by Shawn Tierney (see all)

Rockwell’s Automation Fair 2013: What would you like to know or see?

By
Shawn Tierney
-
Automation Fair-2011 Featured Image


Automation-Fair-2011-04Rockwell’s Automation Fair 2013 is almost upon us, and I was one of the lucky few at my company chosen to attend this year’s event.

With that in mind, I wanted to ask YOU our loyal readers if there are any questions you’d like me to ask, or products you’d like me to look into, while I’m at the show this week?

Or perhaps you would like me to grab some pictures of particular products, booths, or people while I’m at the show?

Well, if you have either questions or picture requests please click on the “post a comment or question” link below to submit them to me, and I promise to do my best to get to all your requests while I’m at this week’s event in Houston!

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

shawntierney avatar
Latest posts by Shawn Tierney (see all)

ViewPoint – How to setup and use

By
Shawn Tierney
-
ViewPoint in Internet Explorer


Rockwell's ViewPoint LogoYesterday in this article I described how to download and install FactoryTalk ViewPoint.

Today I’ll walk you through how to use FactoryTalk ViewPoint to publish content for a FTView Machine Edition application destined to run on a PanelView Plus.

NOTE: ViewPoint supports running on the PanelView Plus and ViewSE, but does not support ViewME station runtimes on a PC. For more detailed information on ViewPoint see this post from last week.

Publishing ViewPoint content to run on a PanelView Plus.

When you’ve finished your ViewStudio for Machine Edition project and wish to enable ViewPoint support, the first thing you’ll need to do is install the ViewPoint Administration Tool which we covered in yesterday’s article here.

Once installed, you’ll find a new option under the “Application” menu. Select it to start the ViewPoint Administration Tool:

FactoryTalk ViewPoint AdministrationAfter selecting it you will see the ViewPoint splash screen…

FactoryTalk ViewPoint Splash…followed by the FactoryTalk ViewPoint Administration Tool Wizard, as seen below:

FactoryTalk ViewPoint Administration WizardTo successfully publish your content to ViewPoint, you’ll start here on the default page by selecting which screens you wish to be published. You’ll also need to select an initial display which will be the first display users see when they log in to ViewPoint from their browser.

Once you’ve made those selections, select the “publish displays” button in the bottom right corner.

ViewPoint Publish Step 4Once all the selected displays have been published, click on the “security settings” option in the top red menu bar.

This reveals two new security tabs as shown in the following two screenshots:

ViewPoint Publish Step 5ViewPoint Publish Step 6NOTE: I recommend “view only” access (i.e. no control) in most situations as it would typically be improper to control a manufacturing system remotely.

Once you’ve setup the security to your system’s requirements, you’ll need to press the “save” button on the bottom right.

Now you’re finished with the ViewPoint setup and can close the ViewPoint Administration Tool Wizard.

Creating a PanelView Plus runtime with ViewPoint content

To transfer our newly published ViewPoint displays and security settings to our PanelView Plus we need to create a new Runtime File.

First, select “Application” and “Create Runtime” from the ViewStudio menu as you would normally do:

ViewPoint Runtime Create 1Next, at the very bottom of the “Create Runtime Application” pop-up window insure you have the “include ViewPoint content” checkbox checked, and that the version selected matches the version installed on your PanelView Plus:

ViewPoint Runtime Create 2Once the runtime file is created, download it like any other runtime file. Note: it may take longer to download as in now includes the additional ViewPoint content.

When the project runs on the PanelView Plus you should be able to connect to it using your PC’s web browser. When you do you should see the default display of your running project as in the example below:

FactoryTalk ViewPoint In Internet ExplorerI hope this post about how to use the ViewPoint Administration Tool to publish ViewPoint content to a PanelView Plus was helpful. If you have any comments or questions please don’t hesitate to click on the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

shawntierney avatar
Latest posts by Shawn Tierney (see all)

ViewPoint – How do you get it?

By
Shawn Tierney
-


FactoryTalk ViewPoint SplashIn a blog post last week I described ViewPoint as a software package which adds webserver capabilities to the PanelView Plus and FactoryTalk View Site Edition (aka Supervisory Edition.)

However, before you can publish your FactoryTalk View Studio graphic displays using ViewPoint, you’ll need to download and install it first. In today’s article I’ll show you where to get ViewPoint, and how to install it.

Downloading the ViewPoint Administration Tool.

To start, we need to download a copy of the FactoryTalk ViewPoint Administration Tool. To do this we start by visiting this Rockwell website:

http://download.rockwellautomation.com/webupdates/enter.aspx

Once there, you’ll need to enter the serial number of your FactoryTalk View Studio development software, as well as your company name:

ViewPoint Download Step 1

Once your company name and serial number is accepted, you’ll be brought to the software download page. Type “ViewPoint” into the search box and press enter:

ViewPoint Download Step 2You’ll now see ViewPoint show up in the list below the search box (as seen below.) Select it, and then press the red “Download Now” button:

ViewPoint Download Step 3Accept the license agreement to continue:

ViewPoint Download Step 4If you’ve downloaded software from Rockwell before, you’ll already have their download manager installed. If that’s the case, you’ll be taken directly to downloading the software as pictured below:

ViewPoint Download Step 5However, if you don’t have Rockwell’s downloader software installed, you’ll be prompted to walk through downloading and installing it before you can download ViewPoint.

Installing the ViewPoint Administration Tool.

Once the ViewPoint Installer is downloaded, you’ll need to drill down through the folders until you find the ViewPoint “setup” program shown below:

ViewPoint Install Step 3Now double click on the “setup” program to launch the installation wizard.

This wizard is fairly straight forward and depending on your version of ViewStudio you’ll either have the option to install ViewPoint for ViewME, or ViewPoint for both ViewME and ViewSE (as seen below:)

ViewPoint Install Step 4Additional installation notes:

– If Windows IIS is required but not installed, you’ll be prompted to install it and a link will be provided to do so (this is a handy link – thanks RA!)

– If you’ve downloaded a version of ViewPoint which is incompatible with the version of ViewStudio you have installed, you won’t be able to proceed with the installation and there will be a note pointing out the version incompatibility.

Well I hope the above explanation of how to download and install ViewPoint is helpful. Now that we have ViewPoint installed, for the next blog I plan to walk you through publishing your ViewME project using this software. Until then, if you have a comment or question please don’t hesitate to click on the “post a comment or question” link below to post them.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

shawntierney avatar
Latest posts by Shawn Tierney (see all)

View Studio – Can you save Machine Edition 6.0 projects as a previous version?

By
Shawn Tierney
-
ViewStudio v60 Project in v51 Featured Image


Back on August 20th I blogged here about if it was possible to save a FactoryTalk ViewStudio Machine Edition version 7.0 project as a previous version. I found that while you could open a v7 project in v6.1 by saving the project as a v6.1 MER, you could not open any older MER’s in older versions of ViewStudio.

So in today’s blog we’ll investigate whether we can save a FactoryTalk ViewStudio Machine Edition version 6.0 project as a previous version.

Creating and saving a FactoryTalk ViewStudio 6.0 Project

The first step is to create a simple v6.0 ViewStudio ME project. For this test I created a single screen with numeric displays, as well as an RSLinx Enterprise shortcut to a PLC as shown below:

ViewStudio Project open in v60Next, I created three runtimes for my test as seen below:

Save ViewStudio MER As v60 Save ViewStudio MER As v51 Save ViewStudio MER As v50For the last step in ViewStudio 6.0, I created a v6.0 APA file to test as well (not shown)

Attempting to open the v6 project in v5.1

With all my file creation duties in ViewStudio 6.0 complete, I shut down that VMware image and started my ViewStudio 5.1 image.

Once running, I first attempted to restore the v6.0 APA file on the 5.1 system and was greeted with the following message:

Open ViewStudio v60 APA In v51I wasn’t surprised this didn’t work, but wanted to be thorough so I gave it a shot.

Next, I attempted to restore the v5.1 mer I had saved in v6 above. To do this, I opened the FactoryTalk ViewStudio Application Manger and used the following steps:

Restore ViewStudio v51 MERRestore ViewStudio v51 MERRestore ViewStudio v51 MERAfter successfully restoring the 6.0 project using the 5.1 mer, I wanted to be sure everything worked so I opened the project in ViewStudio:

Open Restored ViewStudio ProjectAs you can see below, everything looks in order:

ViewStudio v60 Project in v51Successful with 5.1, I now moved on to ViewStudio 5.0.

Attempting to open the v6 project in v5.0

To start, I attempted to restore the v50 MER file using the same procedure I used above with version 5.1, but the end result is shown below:

Try to restore ViewStudio v50 MERThe only other thing I could think of doing was to import the v50 project. This is done using a procedure I first learned from Rockwell Tech Note, 8913 – Recovering a Project from the MER File which was previously a public document but now requires a tech connect.

After running the .MER on my machine using ME Station, I copied the contents of the ~mer00 folder from the temporary directory as described in Tech Note 8913. But when I attempted to import the .MED file into ViewStudio 5.0 I received the following error message:

Try to import ViewStudio v60 MEDConclusion:

In conclusion, while you can restore a version 6.0 project in ViewStudio 5.1 by saving the 6.0 project as a 5.1 MER, this is unfortunately not the case with older versions like v5.0.

I hope you find the above information helpful, and as always if you would like to comment please feel free to click on the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

shawntierney avatar
Latest posts by Shawn Tierney (see all)

ViewPoint – What is it?

By
Shawn Tierney
-


FactoryTalk ViewPoint SplashMany clients have asked me, “What is ViewPoint?”

Simply put, ViewPoint is an extension to FactoryTalk View Site Edition and the PanelView Plus which adds web server functionality to the FactoryTalk View project.

Web Client Compatibility

When Rockwell implemented ViewPoint, they did so as a Silverlight browser plugin that works well on computers running Microsoft Windows or Apple OSX.

FactoryTalk ViewPoint In Internet ExplorerHowever, much like Adobe Flash, on release Silverlight was not supported on mobile devices. And a recent web search reviled that while there is much interest in getting Silverlight to run on Apple and Android mobile platforms, as far as I can tell not even Microsoft’s own Surface RT tablet can run the Silverlight web browser plugin.

So for now, running a ViewPoint client is limited to Windows and OSX PC’s, including tablet PC’s like Microsoft’s Surface Pro.

UPDATE 11-06-2017: In version 8.10, ViewPoint went from being a Microsoft Silverlight application to being a HTML 5 application. This change improved compatibility with browsers, operating systems, and devices that do not support Microsoft Silverlight.

That said, many users complained ViewPoint 8.10 was extremely slow, and one of the major features of ViewPoint 9.0 was a 50-70% speed increase in page loading on mobile devices.

ViewPoint on the PanelView Plus:

ViewPoint for the PanelView Plus is actually a free add-on.

PanelView Plus 700-1500For early PanelView Plus models, you’ll need upgrade the firmware to version 5.1 with ViewPoint. You’ll also need to insure your PanelView Plus has at least 64mb of Flash memory and 128mb of storage space. For details on upgrading memory on old PanelView Plus models see this public Rockwell Technote #68098.

For PanelView Plus 6 models (700 – 1500) ViewPoint is already installed. Hopefully Viewpoint will also be released for the PanelView Plus 6 600, and PanelView Plus 6 Compact 600 and 1000 by the end of the year.

UPDATE 11-06-2017: Viewpoint is also compatible with the PanelView Plus 7 Standard and Performance.

ViewPoint on the PC:

ViewPoint for the PC is a chargeable add-on for FactoryTalk View Site Edition Station Runtime or Server. ViewPoint does not support Machine Edition Station Runtimes, which to me seems more like a marketing decision than a technical one.

The cost to add ViewPoint to your ViewSE system depends on how many client licenses you need. For a single client license it will run you $1,060.00 (9522-VWP01RENE, as of 11-01-2013) while three client licenses cost $3,180.00 (9522-VWP03RENE, as of 11-01-2013.) The ViewPoint server is included with these client packages, so those part numbers include everything you’ll need to add the ViewPoint functionality to your ViewSE system.

ViewPoint in ViewStudio:

FactoryTalk ViewPoint AdministrationAfter obtaining ViewPoint for your PVPlus or ViewSE system, you’ll also need to install the ViewPoint Administration software onto your ViewStudio  development system. This software can be freely downloaded from Rockwell’s Product Compatibility and Download Center, however you’ll need a support contract to do so.

Once installed, you access the ViewPoint Administration Console from within ViewStudio. It’s found under the “Application” menu. Then it’s a simple matter of chosing which displays will be published to the ViewPoint server, as well as choosing any security options.

FactoryTalk ViewPoint Administration WizardThe ViewPoint Administration wizard is quite intuitive, and once you’re done publishing your displays (with the PanelView Plus you also have to create and download a runtime file) you’re ready to connect to your ViewPoint server with your PC’s Web Browser. Note: Rockwell currently tests Internet Explorer 6 and 7 and Firefox browsers for use as ViewPoint Clients, however you may find other browsers work as well.

For more information on Rockwell’s ViewPoint, please see the following two documents:

I hope the above explanation of what ViewPoint and how it works was helpful. Keep an eye on the blog in the coming days as I’ll be posting the steps to publish a ViewME Runtime with ViewPoint. Until then, if you have a comment or question please don’t hesitate to click on the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

shawntierney avatar
Latest posts by Shawn Tierney (see all)

PanelView Plus – Remote Control or Monitor using Apple iPad or iPhone

By
Shawn Tierney
-
Apple iPad and iPhone connected to PanelView Plus 6 Featured Image


Apple iPad Box ShotLast week I had the opportunity to show a client how to use his Apple iPad and iPhone to remotely control his PanelView Plus 6. Afterwards, I thought it would make an excellent blog post.

The first step is to setup your PanelView Plus as a VNC server, and we covered how to do this in this blog post earlier in the week. So today we’ll walk you through connecting to your PanelView Plus running as a VNC server using your Apple iPad or iPhone as a VNC client.

Note: If you didn’t read the previous article in this series you may not be aware that this procedure works with any PanelView Plus with the Windows CE desktop, like the VersaView CE (later renamed the PanelView Plus CE,) PanelView Plus 6, and PanelView Plus 7.

Setting up your Apple iPad or iPhone to remotely monitor and control your PanelView Plus:

On your Apple device you’re going to need a “VNC Client.” Fortunately for us, Rockwell tested and recommends a free app we can download from the Apple app store. Below are the steps to download and setup this app:

1) On your Apple iPad (or iPhone,) open the Apple App Store and search for “Mocha VNC Lite:”

1 Apple iPad App Store - Mocha VNC Lite

2) Download and install this app:

2 Mocha VNC Lite program icon3) Open the “Mocha VNC Lite” app and select “New” to edit a new configuration.

3 Mocha VNC Lite config new connection

4) Enter the IP address of a PanelView Plus that is running VNC server software (as described in  this blog post.) Also add your VNC password and a name for your configuration, as shown below:

4 Mocha VNC Lite config new connection settingsNote: It’s best if your Apple device is on the same subnet as your PVPlus. If not, you’ll need to be sure your router is correctly routing between the two subnets.

5) Press the “Back” button on the top left of the app to return to the menu, and then select connect.

5 Mocha VNC Lite Connect to PVPlus6) Select your new setup and connect. After a few moments you should see your PVPlus screen appear on your Apple device. Pictured below is my Apple iPad 2 using the Mocha VNC Lite app to connect to a PanelView Plus 6 running VNC server software:

1 Apple iPad 2 connected via Mocha VNC Lite to PanelView Plus 67) I ran through the above steps a second time on my iPhone 5s, and the result can be seen below:

2 Apple iPhone 5s connected via Mocha VNC Lite to PanelView Plus 68) Here I’m showing both my iPad 2 and iPhone 5s connected simultaneously (along with my PC) to a single PanelView Plus 6 running VNC server software:

3 Apple iPad 2, iPhone 5s and Windows 7 PC simultaneously connected to a single PanelView Plus 6 using VNCI hope the above procedure on how to connect your Apple iPad or iPhone to your PanelView Plus using VNC was helpful. If you have any questions or comments please click on the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

shawntierney avatar
Latest posts by Shawn Tierney (see all)

PanelView Plus – Remote Control or Monitor via VNC

By
Shawn Tierney
-
PC VNC Viewer connected to PVPlus6 Featured Image


UPDATE: To see this same procedure for a PanelView Plus 7 click HERE.

Shawn Tierney at Worcester Water Trade Show 2002In today’s article we’ll discuss how you can remotely monitor and control your Allen-Bradley PanelView Plus using VNC (Virtual Network Computing.)

The ability to use handheld devices with HMI or SCADA systems has been around for a long time. In fact, in the picture to the right you can see me back in 2002 with a Windows CE based HP Jornada Pocket PC on display (on kiosk behind me) running RSView32 Active Display Client via Terminal Services.

While Terminal Services, now known as Remote Desktop Services, is still a valid solution for Server based applications, today smaller systems often use Virtual Network Computing (aka VNC) to enable remote monitoring and control. Note: You can find more detailed information about VNC at this Wikipedia page.

In fact, Rockwell has been providing a VNC server for certain versions of it’s PanelView products for some time now. And with it enabled you can monitor and control your PanelView Plus remotely from any VNC client.

Before we go into the details of setting up VNC on the PVPlus, lets first be clear which PanelView Plus models have the ability to be a VNC server:

PanelView Plus support for VNC:

  • The VersaView CE, later renamed the PanelView Plus CE, was the first PanelView Plus product that allowed access to the Windows CE desktop, and one of the CE Applications Rockwell tested and made freely available was VNC Server software.
  • With the PanelView Plus 6, all models allow access to the Windows CE desktop and they all come with several applications preinstalled, including VNC server software.

Note: Prior to the release of the PanelView Plus line and Machine Edition 3.0, Rockwell had a 6181 Industrial “Windows CE” PC they promoted as an HMI. This product came with a ViewME runtime installed and also supported being used as a VNC server. You can see it pictured above – it’s the HMI with the gray bezel on the left.

Setting up the PanelView Plus 6 to be a VNC server:

Now that we’ve run through the PanelView Plus models which support VNC, lets walk through how to set it up on a PVPlus 6:

1) From the PVPlus 6 Configuration Mode screen select Exit, or F8:

3 PanelView Plus 6 WinCE Desktop2) Enter in the password required to exit to the desktop (the default is “password.”)

2 PanelView Plus Exit Config Mode Password Prompt3) Once at the desktop, select “Start, Settings, Control Panel:”

3 PanelView Plus 6 WinCE Desktop

4 PanelView Plus 6 Open Control Panel4) Now open the “Services” applet:

5 PanelView Plus 6 Control Panel6 PanelView Plus 6 Control Panel Services Applet5) Select “VNC Server” to turn it on.

7 PanelView Plus 6 Control Panel Services Applet VNC Off8 PanelView Plus 6 Control Panel Services Applet VNC On6) Close the “Services” applet and open the “Sever Config” applet:

9 PanelView Plus 6 Control Panel Server Config Applet10 PanelView Plus 6 Control Panel Server Config Applet Defaults7) Here on the VNC tab we’ll uncheck the “View Only” mode, check “Enable Security,” and finally select “Password” and type in a remote control password of our choosing:

11 PanelView Plus 6 Control Panel Server Config Applet Edited with Password8) At this point we’re finished with the server config so we click on OK to close the dialog box, and then click on “yes” to the popup:

12 PanelView Plus 6 Control Panel Server Config Applet Exit Confirm9) We are now done setting up the PanelView Plus 6 as a VNC server. We can either manually restart ViewME Runtime, or we can just reboot to reload our default application.

Part Two: Setting up your Personal Computer to connect to your PanelView Plus using VNC:

Since the PanelView Plus 6 comes with “TightVNC Server,” I’ve decided to use the TightVNC client for my PC. Here’s how I went about getting it and connecting:

1) To start, I visited http://www.TightVNC.com and downloaded their software:

1 TightVNC webpage2) Next I did a custom install as I only wanted to install the VNC Viewer (client) on my laptop.

3) Once installed, I ran the TightVNC viewer and entered the IP Address of my PanelView Plus 6, as shown below:

2 TightVNC viewer aka PC Client4) Then I clicked on “connect,” entered my password, and was greeted with a window representing my PanelView Plus 6:

3 TightVNC viewer connected to PanelView Plus 65) Since I had enabled “control,” I was able to “remotely control” my PanelView Plus 6 by navigating screens, change values, and pretty much doing anything I could do from in front of the PVPlus 6. And everything I did in the TightVNC viewer on my PC was mimicked on the PanelView Plus 6’s display.

Well, I hope the above procedure on how to remotely control your PanelView Plus with your PC using VNC was helpful. Later in the week I’ll show you how to monitor and control your PanelView Plus 6 remotely using a free VNC client app on your Apple iPad and iPhone – here’s a preview:

3 Apple iPad 2, iPhone 5s and Windows 7 PC simultaneously connected to a single PanelView Plus 6 using VNCIn the mean time, if you have any questions or comments please click on the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

shawntierney avatar
Latest posts by Shawn Tierney (see all)

Rockwell Software Temporary Activations

By
Shawn Tierney
-
Rockwell Temporary Activation Email Featured Image


Update: for the most recent article on this subject click HERE.

Rockwell Temporary Activation Request FormRockwell Software Temporary Activations are designed to allow clients the ability to try Rockwell Software products prior to purchasing them.

When the program was originally launched, the local Rockwell Automation representative or Authorized distributor would start the process by filling out an online request form on the Rockwell Software extranet. If the request was approved, they would receive an email with instructions and files for creating a Master Floppy Disk. Once the disk was created, the local rep would also need to burn the software onto CD, and then deliver both items to the client.

But for the last few years a more modern approach has been implemented. The online form is still completed by the local Rockwell Automation representative or Authorized Distributor. Once the form is submitted, usually in mere minutes a “Temporary Activation Email” is received with a temporary “FactoryTalk Activation,” as well as a link to download the software. This email is nearly identical to the email customers receive when they order software, and all the local representative has to do is forward the email on to the end client.

Rockwell Temporary Activation EmailNOTE: Temporary activations typically only last for 30 days, and they do not include a tech support contract. They are designed primarily as a trial period, and typically limited to one temporary activation per “client address” per “product.”

Update: Rockwell recently extended access to the “temporary activation request form” to Machine & Equipment and Partner Level OEM’s, as well as Recognized and Solution Partner System Integrators. They can now request their own 48 hour temporary activations primarily for use when visiting customer sites to make modifications, or for client demonstrations.

So if there is a software package from Rockwell that you would like to test drive before purchasing, Rockwell Software temporary activations is a convenient way to do so. Just contact your local Rockwell Automation representative or Authorized Distributor with your request and you’ll likely have your temporary activation email the same day.

I hope you find the above information about Rockwell’s Temporary Activations helpful. If you would like to leave a comment please click on the “post a comment or question” link at the bottom of this article.

Have a great weekend!

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

shawntierney avatar
Latest posts by Shawn Tierney (see all)

FactoryTalk Activation Grace Period

By
Shawn Tierney
-
Rockwell Software Grace Period Featured Image


FactoryTalk Activation SplashWhen FactoryTalk Activation (FTA) was first released, many clients expressed reservations about moving to it. For some it was the fact that the older “Floppy Master Disk” activation would allow the use of the original “Master Disk” as a back-up activation in case the movable activation file was lost or corrupted.

To address this, in CPR9 Rockwell added a FactoryTalk Activation “Grace Period” mode into software products which used FactoryTalk activation. This “Grace Period” allowed customers to install and run the software on a new PC for up to seven days without activation.

In an emergency situation, if the client’s PC crashed and they were in a remote location without the ability to contact Rockwell’s activation group for a reset, this “Grace Period” mode gave them a temporary solution to get back up and running quickly.

Rockwell Software Grace Period Mode Popup 1To utilize the “Grace Period,” clients install their Rockwell Software on a new PC (or virtual machine) that has not previously had the software in question running in “Grace Period” mode. Note that during installation some multi-version products, like RSLogix 5000, do require a valid serial number to run in “Grace Period” mode in the desired version (i.e. Pro, Full, Mini.)

When the software is launched for the first time without activation, the client will be greeted with a pop-up window stating, “The product has not been activated but will continue to run in a grace period for seven days.” This seven day period is from the moment this pop-up first appears, and even if the software is not launched again during this period it will still expire exactly seven days later. The “Grace Period” is also not resettable by changing the PC’s clock back in time, as once the seventh day triggers the end of the “Grace Period” the software will no longer run in “Grace Period” mode no matter how the PC clock is manipulated.

Rockwell Software Grace Period Mode Popup 3Once the “Grace Period” ends, a second popup will be displayed upon subsequent launching of the software. It reads, “Failed to activate (product name.) The grace period has expired.” For those products without a demo mode (like RSLogix) you’ll be asked to activate the product and if you chose not to the product will not launch. For those products with a demo or free mode (RSView, RSLinx) the software will start in that mode.

Rockwell Software Grace Period Mode Popup 2If you activate the software after the “Grace Period” has expired you’ll be greeted with a third pop-up which reads, “This product has been activated. The grace period has ended for (product name.)” The software should now run with the features enabled by the activation used.

You can also find the pop-ups window messages described above in Rockwell’s Diagnostic viewer. This software is found in the Start Menu under FactoryTalk Tools. Below I’ll paste in three screen shots of Diagnostic viewer messages which correspond to the pop-up windows mentioned above:

Rockwell Software Diagnostic Viewer 1Rockwell Software Diagnostic Viewer 2Rockwell Software Diagnostic Viewer 3For more information about Rockwell Software’s “Grace Period” mode, please reference these public Rockwell technotes:

I hope the above information about Rockwell’s “FactoryTalk Activation Grace Period mode” was helpful. If you have a comment on this article please click on the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

shawntierney avatar
Latest posts by Shawn Tierney (see all)

FactoryTalk Activation Quick Start Videos from Rockwell Allen-Bradley (A-B)

By
Shawn Tierney
-
Rockwell FactoryTalk Activation Quick Start Video Featured Image


FactoryTalk Activation SplashRockwell’s FactoryTalk Activation (FTA) can be a little intimidating and frustrating for new users.

However, since FTA was released Rockwell has published nine FactoryTalk Activation Quick Start Videos on their Allen-Bradley website at http://www.AB.com, and in today’s article I’ll list all of these videos, and provide a direct link to view each:

UPDATE 10-06-2017: Rockwell has removed these helpful videos from their website and I have been unable to find them reposted elsewhere.

FactoryTalk Activation Quick Start Videos by Allen-Bradley (A-B):

Rockwell FactoryTalk Activation Quick Start Video ListingVideo 1: Choosing a Host ID (link to video)

I hope you find the above listing of Rockwell’s FactoryTalk Activation Quick Start Videos helpful. If you would like to leave a comment please click on the “post a comment or question” link at the bottom of this article.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

shawntierney avatar
Latest posts by Shawn Tierney (see all)

1...103104105...109Page 104 of 109

The Automation Blog™ is the internet's most popular independent Industrial Automation News and Product How-To website. Since rebranding as The Automation Blog™ in 2013, we've helped millions of visitors get up to speed on the latest industrial automation technologies, as well as teach them how to use current and legacy automation products. Special thanks to our Sponsors, Advertisers, and Community Members who make it possible for us to continue our work!

The Automation Blog™, The Automation Show™, The Automation Podcast™, The Automation Minute™, The Automation Guy™, The Automation Exchange™, The Automation Forums™, as well as Automation Tech Tips™, Automation Tech Talk™, Automation Files™, Automation Tutorials™, Automation Exchange™, Automate News™, Automate Show™, Automation Show™, Automation News Show™, Automation New Headlines™, Let's Talk Automation™, Automation This Week™, Automation After Show™, Automation Morning Show™, InsightsIG, InsightsIT, and InsightsIA are trademarks of Insights In Automation® All rights reserved. Other trademarks are property of their respective companies.

Quick Links:

Feedback & Information

Copyright © 1999- 2024 Insights In Automation® All Rights Reserved. The content found on this site is solely for the use of our audience and may not be copied, republished, or reproduced in anyway without our express written consent. It also may not be used to train any computer, ai, or other system. You can read our Privacy Policy here and our additional Terms here..