Control.com - Nerds in Control

I am looking for a graphical editor or active-x based MMI package that I can use in conjunction with Visual Basic and/or Visual C++. I am using
VB to write custom front ends . Typically, An MMIC/SCADA developing package like Wonderware, RSView, or Cimplicity would be used; however, our applications demand more functionality (socket streaming, comm port control, database access, etc), less overhead, and no cumbersome tagname
and activation/liscencing limitations (NO KEYS PLEASE!).

The biggest drawback to using VB has been creating graphic displays/layouts of our equipment. The VB IDE only supports a few type
of graphic elements (lines, circles, rectangles). I need to show a simple equipment layout (in lines, arcs, polygons) and be able to
programatically change the attributes (color and visibility) of these elements or groups of elements individually to provide the user feedback
on the status of the equipment. Also, we do all of our layouts in Autocad, so being able to import dxf would be a BIG plus.

I have already found a package that comes close;
activeSHAPES by M&M Software GmbH:
"http://www.mm-software.de/mmenglish/Solutions/activeSHA PES/Demo/demo.html":http://www.mm-software.de/mmenglish/Solutions/ac tiveSHAPES/Demo/demo.html

Does everything mentioned above; however, M&M has no plans on developing/supporting the software past it's current version. I would still buy it, but the editor caused entities to chage dimension after zooming in or out.

Thank You

Jim Tompkins
KG Moats and Sons
jtompkins@kgmoats.com

Try Visio from Microsoft. I don't know if it will work for you but its worth a look. There is an extensive shaped library.

Write your own user controls in VB. When I need something like that, I just write it. Keypads, confimation boxes, LED's, switches ect... It
usually takes less than an hour and can be reused in other apps.. Third party controls and graphics are usually lacking something anyway..

SL-GMS [ "www.sl.com":http://www.sl.com ] is an excellent package for low level HMI development. SL is the backend graphics engine for several major DCS products including Foxboro I/A. Tilcon RTD[ "www.tilcon.com":http://www.tilcon.com ] is another good package. They both also happen to be platform independent. I hope this helps.

Try symbol factory. i forgotten the url, but i think u can easily find out from searcg engine.

Rgds.

IOComp instrunentation controls, "http://www.iocomp.com/":http://www.iocomp.com/ , gives you a pretty complete set of controls to work with. To bring in Autocad file you can use Visio.

HTH,

David Wooden
Senior Software Engineer, Systems Integration
Automation and Enterprise Solutions Group
TAS Division of Omron Electronics LLC
Office: (847) 884-7034 Extension 432
Fax: (847) 884-9383
E-mail: david.wooden@omron.com

Jim, I am reviewing a set of Active X components from Software Toolbox. No done yet, but will have a good idea in a couple of weeks.
"softwaretoolbox.com":http://www.softwaretoolbox.com is a place to start

Review will be in "automationmag.com":http://www.automationmag.com
in a wee bit:)::

Cheers from:
Jeremy Pollard, CET
jpollard@tsuonline.com
On The Web - http://www.tsuonline.com
PLCopen North America - plcopenna@tsuonline.com www.PLCopen.org
the Training Factory, Inc.
Programmable Controller Support Systems
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Here are a couple of off the shelf things you could consider

a) "www.symbolfactory.com":www.symbolfactory.com

b) "www.instrumentationactivex.com":www.instrumentationactivex. com

John Weber

I agree with you; however, I am not looking for Keypads, LED's, etc. I want to build a layout (mostly conveyor systems) that incorporates animated objects (changes in color, linetype, movement, etc) that I can control in VB code.

For the benefit of anyone on the list that is interested:
I have spend a great deal of time searching on the internet for an editor of some type that will allow me to do this. I have recently found several candidates. Suprisingly, I found these links on websites that deal mostly with Java and HTML. Here are my findings:


GenLogic Glg Toolkit:
"http://www.genlogic.com/main.html":http://www.g enlogic.com/main.html

SL Corporation - SL-GMSDraw Dynamic Graphic Editor:
"http://www.sl.com/sl_gms_pkg_axdev.html":http:// www.sl.com/sl_gms_pkg_axdev.html

Iconics - GraphWorX32:
"http://www.iconics.com/products/graphworx32.asp& quot;:http://www.iconics.com/products/graphworx32.asp


Each of these have the following features:

Common graphics editor for building dynamic graphic screens, very similar to to the editors used in Wonderware and RSView. The files that these editors create can then be run (deployed) within Active-X, MFC (Visual C++), or Java environments, depending on which deployment/viewer options that have been purchased. Animation to these run-times is then accomplished in code in there respective environments. In addition, I believe all of these support more than (1) operating system (BTW: My understanding is that Java is not OS dependant). Iconics even has a Pocket PC option.

I am currently evaluating the GenLogix Clg Toolkit, as GenLogic has a fully functioning trial version editor available for downloading, and has listed there pricing on there website (very reasonably). I am hoping on evaluating the other two in the beginning of the week and making a decision. I should be receiving a trial for SL on Monday, and I have not contacted Iconics yet.::


Jim Tompkins
KG Moats and Sons
jtompkins@kgmoats.com

Hi

Ive got extensive knowledge of SL-GMS but not the other two systems you mentioned. You can use VBscript with SL-GMS, i have used this feature to add very advanced functionality to my submodels, you can pass real time process values into your VB code as parameters, which enables you to easily change colour, linetype, movement, etc).

When you install SL-GMS, the VBscript editor can be initiated from the main Grafx editor screen, but this option must be activated first. To do this double click on the file /Examples/Modscript/modscript.reg. There is also a good help file which tells you everything you need to know with good example code to get you started.

SL-GMS is a very flexible tool. You can also insert process grafx into html for interactive webpages.

I hope this has been of some help.

Regards

Paul

ActiveShapes is a good ActiveX with object design.

I would recommend you to try the demo (conveyors).

Hope this can help.

Vincent QUILLET
ASALOG (France)
CD 60
13320 BOUC BEL AIR
T=E9l. : 04 42 94 06 87
vquillet@asalog.com
www.asalog.com

This is right up Parijat Controlware's alley.
http://www.parijat.com/

These guys have a SCADA/HMI toolset for VB. I've never used them directly, but it looked pretty good when I was checking it out.

-James
Sage Automation, Inc.

Have you considered National Instruments LabViewRT with their Fieldpoint devices? Their software supports Active-X and is very versatile and can opperate on a Windows 2000 or XP OS (as well as several others.

Go to "www.ni.com":http://www.ni.com

William Reed
WGI
Denver, CO

I recently came across vHMI at "http://www.vhmiautomation.com/HMICD.html":http://www.vhmiau tomation.com/HMICD.html

I have not used their software, but they provide a fully functional HMI package, including source code at a very low price. This might offer you a
good basis for a custom HMI.

Kevin Mahoney
SI Solutions
kmahone2@maine.rr.com

Have you looked at Siemens ProTool/Pro V6.0 just realeased this week? It allows for 50 VB scripts 100 lines each.

Have a look at USData's Factory Link.

Have you looked at LabVIEW from National Instruments? It is a graphical programming environment that creates compiled code but the code is built by essentially drawing a flowchart of your program. It has an add-on package
called the Datalogging & Supervisory Control module (DSC) that provides standard MMI functionality. I have used it for many applications, some MMI & other data acquisition, test, & measurement, and am very pleased with it. You can find more at "www.ni.com/labview":http://www.ni.labview .

James Tillett
Bonneville Power Administration
jetillett@bpa.gov

I have succefully used activeShape, an ActiveX from mm-software, three years ago.

See "http://www.mm-software.de/mmenglish/Solutions/solutions.html&quo t;:http://www.mm-software.de/mmenglish/Solutions/solutions.html and try it.

its is best if you look in advant controllers system by ABB.this are fullly modular OCS programming with advanced graphics interface.for
more details contact ABB .supratim_pal@rediffmail.com

Iconics Genesis32 SCADA software is a fully functional MMI package that uses Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) as a scripting language. Included with Genesis 32 is a product called
Scriptworx which allows you to trigger your VBA code periodically or based on events that occur in your control system.
You can get more info a "www.iconics.com":www.iconics.com

Try Ken Eldridge at opcsystems.com He's world class.

Have a look at "www.pcvueinc.com":http://www.pcvueinc.com they have a good product called Frontvue that has an embedded VBA.

Very good graphic designer, you should take a look. http://www.cstsoft.com