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hotwires

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Posts posted by hotwires

  1. A related question. I have constructed a working AB Compact Logix Ethernet IP CIP PCCC driver usingTCP CLIENT connect, message composer, build message, copy to buffer, TCP TX, TCP RX,  etc. It polls and receives two REALS from CPX and brings them into Unistream REAL’s. I use FSM pointer in decade steps. QUESTION is: does the program scan make a second pass before updating and executing the next finite state machine block? Example: rung “pointer” UINT8 = 10 (true) -> TCP TX -> STORE #20 to tag “pointer” UINT8. So the TCP TX happens in that scan. Next rung is:

    EQUAL tag “pointer” to #20 (true) -> TCP RX -> STORE #30 to tag “pointer” 8UINT

    Point is if a ladder scan advances the FSM pointer thru each rung in one scan, no waiting for data received bits or the like… does the scan only execute the first true FSM rung OR does it instantly update the pointer register (accumulator) and execute the next rung in the same scan. I am running a TCP error checking region at the top of a unilogic function, will it make a pass at the top and detect link lost between executing sequential subsequent rungs? Or does error checking logic need rungs between each FSM rung? Let’s say in this TCP communication driver. 
     

  2. If you are still needing help, I'll look through my files and see if I can post a snippet (photo) of the logic I used to convert ASCII string from a gram scale to an integer for comparison to a tolerance (window) and give an output if weighed part is "bad". Back when I worked on this the help section was sparse and (even though I would consider myself an intermediate programmer ((on a scale of: novice, intermediate, advanced, and expert)) it took me a considerable amount of time to reach an efficient solution. See photo below for a start. The - sign will need a little addition logic. Let me know if you need help with that part.

    SnippetPLC.JPG

    • Upvote 1
  3. 18 hours ago, Saragani said:

    I think it reads the file from the ftp, calculates a checksum on both files and  if its different then it overwrites the original if you selected to.

    Checksum driven; THANK YOU for a quick and concise answer. That should work nicely. I stumbled through the process of  fetching a file from PC (Filezilla) to SD via FTP Client on UniStream. I would suggest adding “checksum difference” to FTP help section. “If the files are different” is slightly ambiguitous. My assumption was “filename differences”, if it is indeed a checksum based update then files with the same name could be overwriten. POWERFUL feature, LOVE IT. 

     

  4. @Saragani

    Message composer worked nicely. Now on to FTP client with dynamic filenames. How much can to tell me about the FTP COMPARE? What defines that the file is different for overwrite? File name? File size? Meta data?

    I found in help section. No clear definition of what "file is different" means. Assuming filename. Any more context clarity you could provide would be greatly appreciated. I want to develop my application to it's FULLEST potential. Clean, lean, and mean.

    Please and Thank You

  5. Now to construct a way to make the “/Media/Docs/“ and “.pdf” static and the “pdfFileName” dynamic all in one variable string. I only want to indirectly reference the actual filename portion. Below is what I have so far as a "reference by filename only" indirect path string builder. Is there a better way?

     

    UniLindirectPathBuilder.JPG

  6. 17 hours ago, NoamM said:

    Hi hotwires,
    Regarding the "PDF Viewer" widget when:
    image.png   

     
    The value of the tag ("myTag") assigned to "Path" property should be set like you are in the root of your SD card. For example, for this SD card layout:

        MyDir
            MyFile.pdf

    The path will be "/MyDir/MyFile.pdf"

    Dan Logee  suggested using   “/Media/Docs/V1210.pdf”

     

    UPDATE: THE ABOVE SYNTAX WORKS ON SD CARD! MUST HAVE /Media/Docs/yourDocHere.pdf

  7. Has anyone had success with the new "indirect, External SD, path via tag feature? This functionality is pivotal to one of my upcoming projects. I am not having any luck getting it to work with SD card installed in Unistream (\Docs\example.pdf) . If I put sample file in root directory of DOK (USB flash drive) it will open file from filename in tag no issues. I have not tried root directory on SD card. Project direct puts them in "docs" folder. Help file show syntax when file is in subfolders however I have no success. Help, please and thank you.

  8. USB com to PC does override local com port, however the packet your scope is showing would indicate port is under MODBUS control.  1 stop bit is more common. Dude, your data presentation is totally awesome. "A problem well defined is a problem half solved".  Vision is sending "datagram" out, high probability your VFD is not recognizing message to send an answer back. I take it polarity swap did nothing?

  9. An oscilloscope across the data pair can be helpful in determining if anything is happening on the pair. I may be the odd man out on having a scope on hand, that said if you have access to one don't refrain from using it as a troubleshooting tool. The wire swap idea is worth a try. It is my understanding that "A" and "B" don't necessarily have a universal congruency to + and -

  10. Integrate audio into MP4 video player. Between VLC media player and Audacity (both free, open source, trusted media editors) you could merge MP3 into MP4, then video plays in sync with desired audio. Unistream is not an audio mixer, audio files have to play one at a time. I suspect a Video player launch would  override sound player file  "in progress".  I recent spent a lot of time trying to perfect video and RTSP streaming widget on a USP156-B10. Support can give you specifics on CODECS, max frame rates, bit rates, etc. That's a dance they had with my recently. 

  11. Rog:

     

    If you have any specific questions in the future everyone on the forum will help if/when they can. As has been reminded to us recently: this forum is mainly comprised of users and is NOT the official Unitronics support channel (although some support team staff are members and answer). If it is an urgent issue call/email support and post here. It usually evening/weekends when I cruise the forums. Some of the gurus frequent late at night. The not calling subroutine has got me more than once in Visilogic and UniLogic, I'm finally learning if bits/integers are unresponsive to check for calling first (before panic mode, lol). 

    The seminar was worth my trip for the "control+enter" to CR a text line. That one had stumped me for some time, I was creating second and third text boxes for extra lines of text. Granted that was probably in the help somewhere. Another thing I've learned is to scour the help section for info. Visilogic help is excellent and UniLogic help is "filling out" as time progresses. 

     

    Hotwires

    • Like 1
  12. I ran into a bug that was a show stopper a few years back. Here’s the good news: a fix was released. It took a few weeks, keep in mind (someone correct me if I’m wrong) software fixes come out of Isreal. If anyone gets a fix released in less than a week please let me know how it was done. 

    Unitronics is pushing the envelope of what a PLC can (or was ever intended to) do. The competition won’t have the same bugs when they don’t even offer the same features. 

    Would you mind sharing what the other bug is? I am planning on developing new applications for several Unistreams this year in a manufacturing facility.

    Everyone depends on swift support, these PLC’s control the machines that control our paychecks. Sometimes I’ll find a solution on my own before the forum or support team replies; other times I have to wait it out. I’m not a software hacker so bug fixes have to wait. 

     

     

  13. Fair enough. I predicated it with “quick fix”. Unitronics is good about feature requests (generally) but they can take some time. 

    I envisioned a PTC contact to defeat screen saver and an NTC contact to restore sceen saver at client disconnect. Theorically that leaves nothing to forget. 

    Annoyinng: I agree. I’ve been stonewalled with similar issues myself. I work with another major PLC brand and they have their issues too.  For the price, features, support, and possibility of feature requests making a release; I deal with the little things and enjoy the greater good I can realize with Unistream. 

  14. What PLC model/series? When you say PC, controlling group of PLC’s, how? Are you talking HMI software like Wonderware on master PC? Without some HMI software for PC you could use remote access (or VNC if Unistream) to a single master PLC that in turn controlled others via MODBUS. Vision has .NET however that is out of my league. Both Vision and Unistream have webservers. 

    I suspect the other guru’s will ask For specific example of what/how you are controlling on the group of PLC’s. There are ways and I’m sure the group here can get you pointed in the right direction. 

    When you say “user interface” on PC it leads me to think HMI software that would in turn exchange data via OPC, MODBUS, or .NET. 

    If you don’t need HMI at each PLC look into remote I/O to a single PLC then remote access that PLC on PC. Need more info to really hone out a good recommendation. 

     

     

  15. Perhaps a unique bit that responds to VNC screen clicks. Could be ORed in ladder with general.touched bit. Hopefully next release will fix the “number of VNC connections” bug as well. If that counter worked reliably it could “partially” solve the screen saver problem. A compare could detect when a VNC Session was established and disable screen saver. When connected clients=0 screen saver could Resume. 

     I believe there is a VNC connected bit, if you’re needing a quick fix you could defeat the screensaver when the VNC connected bit is true .

  16. Not sure I understand the need to STORE "grade a" to itself. Unless it's to a different data type with same tag name (didn't think UniL allowed that). 

    It's a different animal than Visilogic, no debate there. I am getting used to Unilogic. I get annoyed by UDFB's being put in place of functions that used to be integrated in Visilogic. To be fair (in my critism) Allen Bradley is doing the same thing in CompactLogix, functions integral to uLogix now require complex subroutine (ex: day of week and scale with parameters). Examples in UniLogic: vector linearization.

    the training is good. I did the UniLogic class with Dan Logee in Rockford a few years ago, highly recommended. 

  17. UniLogic is NOT = to AB. The sooner I accepted that the easier I could sleep at night. It's a semi-reciprocal relationship: AB can do things UT can NOT and UT can do (probably a greater quantity) of things that AB can NOT.  Pick the tool that best fits your mission (or budget in some cases) and run with it. 

    On another note: only one of my suggestions made it into a version UniLogic, only because I could prove it worked with Vision but not with Unistream. Involved MODBUS, a Unistream master, V430 slaves, rs232 radio modems, and no (user definable) serial data timeout. 

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