Modicon Software

B

Thread Starter

B A Scarper

I'm confused. There are so many choices. Just what do I choose to program Modicon PLC's?
I have heard about this ProWORX 32, but I know of nobody that has used it yet. Any views?
 
B
There are actually only two software packages to choose from when programming a Modicon PLC.

For ladder logic programming use the Proworx software. It supports the entire "Modicon" PLC line (legacy and new). The current product, Proworx NxT is being replaced with Proworx 32.

For IEC programming, use the Concept software. It provides all 5 of the IEC programming languages for the Modicon Quantum, Momentum and newer Compact PLC modules.
 
I have used both the ProWorxNXT and Modsoft and have found both to work very well. If you prefer programming through a Windows environment, you would be much happier with ProWorx. Modsoft is DOS based and not as easy to navigate. I am not even sure if you can still get a copy of Modsoft from Schneider Electric.
 
Modsoft is an obsolete software package that does not support many of the newer modules that have been released, and should not be used for any new projects. Proworx is a 984 ladder logic editor family, with the current offering being proworx32. Concept is the IEC software with 5 languages including ladder logic. If software is to be used for a new customer then Concept should be used. If for an existing customer without concept then the customer should be shown the benefits of concept and be allowed to decide if it is the right time to move forward and make the transition. The only reason Proworx remains a software offering is to support customers that will not change to concept and would otherwise be lost as modicon customers. This is purely a customer driven decision on the part of modicon. Concept is an extremely good software package, but possible too large of a step up for many existing customers to accept.
 
J

Joseph Luft, FasTrak SoftWorks, Inc.

Brian,
There is one other option: PLC WorkShop for Modicon - 32 Bit is Windows programming software for the entire Modicon line. This is a solid package that has already been on the market for a number of years.

The ProWORX 32 has reportedly been pulled from the market recently and the demo is no longer available from the Modicon website as of today (10/10/02). I'm not familiar with the nature of the problem. I'm sure Modicon can shed more light on this.

Feel free to contact me if you have further questions.

Thanks. Joseph Luft
FasTrak SoftWorks, Inc
[email protected]
414-358-8088
 
I am an I&E tech with ChevronTexaco. We use the Quantum line of Modicon PLC and the software we chose to use is PLC WorkShop for Modicon - 32 Bit from FasTrak SoftWorks, Inc. Some of the integrators that we have used on projets were fimilar with the modicon PLC instruction set, but had never used PLC Workshop for Modicon. The software is so easy to use that in a matter of a few minutes they had mastered it.

Contact Joseph Luft
FasTrak SoftWorks, Inc
[email protected]
 
I downloaded the trial version of FastTrak's software as I saw it as a viable alternative to what Modicon offered. However I was shocked to find that it was not all that it was made out to be. It was easy to install and learn quickly, but I found that it was very rudimentry in its functionality. ProWORX Plus and Nxt provided much more in terms of operational utilities. For now I shall stay with Plus until the long awaited ProWORX 32 1.1 version comes out. A colleague told me that major improvements have been made to it!
 
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