What's New in CIMPLICITY Machine Edition v2.11

Welcome to CIMPLICITY Machine Edition!

This document contains release information on CIMPLICITY Machine Edition v2.11 for Windows NT, 95, 98, and 2000. Formerly referred to as the FrameworX line of products, this release marks the start of a new name and numbering scheme.

The following table lists previous versions of FrameworX products and their new names:

The names of variable data types have been changed to correspond with their IEC 1131-3 equivalents. In addition, several new IEC 1131-3 data types have been added. The changed names for data types are as follows:

In general, projects created with older versions are automatically updated with the new data types. Note that not all data types are supported by all products, target types, or components.

In general, when creating a target, you now specify both a target Type and Model property. A target's Type indicates the general class, platform, or "operating system" used by the target. The Model is a more specific specification for the target; possible models depend on the target type. With some restrictions, you can change a target's model as often as you like.

CIMPLICITY View and CIMPLICITY Logic Developer - PC now support two new "classes" of Windows CE-based target units. These include ControlStation CE II, ViewStation CE II, ControlStation CE IIx, ViewStation CE IIx and VenturCom RTX - Real Time Extension (This target is for Logic Developer - PC only).

You can now view and edit properties of variables in a fully-configurable spreadsheet-like table. This also lets you change the properties of several variables at the same time.

When working with CIMPLICITY View, Logic Developer - PC, or Logic Developer - PLC projects, you can generate a report that lists all variables currently not referenced in your project. The report includes an option to delete those variables from your project.

CIMPLICITY Machine Edition 2.1 includes a file transfer utility that works through the HTTP protocol. This utility can be used to transfer files to and from Windows CE targets.

If you're using CE II or CE IIx units, you can backup or restore a downloaded project between CE backup targets via a data card. For more information, look up "Copying downloaded CE II and IIx projects between targets" in the CIMPLICITY Machine Edition help Index.

Internationalization support for CIMPLICITY View Runtime

The new Languages folder lets you set up translations for text entries in your HMI's graphical panels. You can then switch between languages at runtime with the new SetLanguage script function.

You can now configure alarm groups to automatically trigger an e-mail notification when variables go into an alarm state.

When importing Process Window^TM projects, CIMPLICITY View now automatically converts Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) expressions to View-compatible algebraic expressions.

You can now add JPEG images (*.JPEG or *.JPG) as Image objects on graphical panels. JPEG files are extremely small, making them well-suited for Windows CE targets.

Web Access features have the following improvements.

• Multiple panels: You can now view multiple panels over the web at the same time.
• Input animation: Buttons, sliders, and other input animation is now usable from remote views of a panel.

When working online with a project, you can now use the Data Watch tool to monitor values of variables while online with a project.

When viewing variable references in the References tab of the Feedback Zone, information on where variables are used in the HMI is now much more specific.

Several new View script functions have been added. These let you read data from CSV (Comma-Separated Value) files into memory and extract the data you need.

In addition to those described in previous features, the following script functions have been added:

• HttpCopy: Copies a file from the local computer to an Internet server (or vice versa).
• HttpDelete: Deletes a file on an Internet server.
• RestartWindows: Restarts Windows NT. Useful when creating applications that will not display standard Windows drop-down menus.
• SetLanguage: Switches the currently-used language in the HMI. Uses the new Languages grid feature.
• SendEmail: Sends an e-mail to a specified address or group of addresses.

The GE Fanuc TCP/IP driver allows View on a Windows NT or Windows CE target to communicate with any GE Series 90 PLC that supports TCP/IP communication.

Improved support for Sequencer and Conversion CFB instructions

Support for Sequencer and Conversion CFB instructions are now available on both Windows NT and Windows CE targets. The new Conversion CFB instructions are ITOD (DINT to BOOL array) and DTOI (BOOL array to DINT).

A "Warm Standby" target is a backup target that runs alongside the primary target. If a major fault occurs, the application automatically switches to the Warm Standby backup target.

The IPC library now supports change-based values.

DNOutN is a new DeviceNet CFB which allows you to send ASCII commands to Whedco and GE Fanuc S2K motion controllers over DeviceNet networks.

Logic Developer - PC now supports the Instruction List (IL) language. This low level language is one of five languages specified by the IEC 61131-3 standard.

The following system variables have been added. For more information, search for #ALW_OFF or #ALW_ON in the Help Index.

• #ALW_OFF: In IL blocks, #ALW_OFF can be used to change the state of a BOOL variable to OFF (0).
• #ALW_ON: In IL blocks, #ALW_ON can be used to change the state of a BOOL variable to ON (1).

When the Logic Developer - PC Controller is running, an icon appears in the system tray on the Windows taskbar. The system tray icon changes depending on the state of the Controller. For more information, look up "Controller: An Overview" in the CIMPLICITY Machine Edition help Index.

On a Controller start or reset, all non-retentive variables are cleared to zero if an initial value is not specified. For more information, look up "values" in the CIMPLICITY Machine Edition help Index. Then select "Setting or Changing a Variable's Values."

New and updated Logic Developer - PC drivers

(New) This driver provides communications between the Logic Developer - PC controller and I/O points across an Ethernet network, providing that the I/O uses the Modbus TCP protocol. A standard Ethernet card is used for communications.

(New) This driver provides an interface between the Logic Developer - PC controller and a network Modicon Modbus Plus Distributed I/O (DIO) network.

(New) The Modbus Slave driver connects the Fusion PC controller with a Modbus communications link. This driver does not directly interface with I/O devices. Rather, the Logic Developer - PC controller appears as a slave to the Modbus master.

(New) The SS Technologies Profibus I/O driver connects the controller to devices that use the Profibus DP (Process Field Bus: Decentralized Periphery) protocol, on SST Profibus ISA, PCI, PC104, and UCS cards that use the new SST Profibus configuration tool. The driver allows the interface card(s) to operate only as a DP Master. The Profibus I/O driver uses SST Profibus for driver configuration.

(Improved) The GE Fanuc CNC driver now supports Ethernet communications.

Improved application wizards

Application wizards have been redesigned to be more consistent and easier to use. In particular, the program flowchart editor has been greatly improved and is no longer limited to when the motion program was first created.

The Motion Calculator (used to design new motion blocks) now lets you create triangular and trapezoidal motions.

You are no longer limited to downloading an entire application at once to the motion controller. You can download individual motion blocks, motion programs, and the controller's configuration script.

The Motion Scope utility lets you graphically tune the motion controller or view plots for up to three parameters. As you make changes to the controller's gain parameters, the results are plotted in a chart.

For more information, look up "Motion Scope utility" in the CIMPLICITY Machine Edition help index.

The local Motion Developer computer can now communicate with motion controllers over DeviceNet networks. You can configure DeviceNet communications with new properties of a motion controller or motion drive target

If you have a motion application saved as a text file, you can now import that application into your project. This is especially useful for projects created with CCS For Windows^TM.

New to the Machine Editon family for version 2.1, Logic Developer - PLC is a next-generation software tool for programming GE Fanuc PLCs. With Logic Developer - PLC, you develop a control application and then download it to a PLC for execution.

Logic Developer - PLC is fully integrated with common CIMPLICITY Machine Edition tools.

This release of Logic Developer - PLC supports the following logic types:

• Ladder Diagram (LD blocks)
• Instruction List (IL blocks)
• C (executable C code, created with GE Fanuc's C Programmer's Toolkit)
• Motion
• Local Logic (LL)
• CAM profiles

Runtime diagnostics for Logic Developer - PLC include:

• Fault Table
• Reference View Table

The following table indicates the models and minimum revision numbers of PLCs supported by Logic Developer - PLC. In most cases, firmware on existing PLCs can be easily upgraded to meet these requirements. Note that not all Logic Developer - PLC features are supported or useable by all models; for details, see the online help for each feature.

Contact your local GE Fanuc Distributor for information on upgrading your Series 90-30 or VersaMax PLCs. If your PLC is a model that supports flash memory (90-30 models 350, 351,352, 360, 363, 364, 90-70 CPX CPUs, VersaMax CPUs), the latest version of firmware is available at the GE Fanuc web site www.gefanuc.com.

Logic Developer - PLC also supports configuration of the following remote I/O adapters:

• VersaMax Profibus
• VersaMax Genius
• VersaMax Ethernet

Logic Developer - State is a new product to the Machine Edition family. Logic Developer - State lets you create state logic applications for GE Fanuc PLCs. State Logic is an alternative way of programming controls, describing them as a series of states and transitions.

Features of Logic Developer - State include the following. For more details, look up "Logic Developer - State: an Overview" in the online help index:

• The State Logic Task Editor lets you create complex, yet easy-to-understand applications in a natural language environment.
• Customize the natural language environment even further with the State Logic Keywords Editor.
• Supports Ethernet downloads and Ethernet Global Data.
• Supports GE Fanuc Series 90-30 PLCs, models 351 and above with firmware release 9.1 or greater.
• Supports most standard GE Fanuc modules for Series 90-30 PLCs, as well as third party modules that can be configured as "Foreign".