Nathan

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Posts posted by Nathan

  4. Posted · Edited by Nathan

    Excel is good at generating static graphs (won't scroll, pan, or zoom like HMI graphs will), but getting data in via DDE is clunky at best, and patented, I believe. You would be better off with a historian type program. I would recommend FactorySQL to log the data into any SQL database (preferably a free one like MySQL) and FactoryPMI to pull up these graphs from any computer via a web browser (actually launches a Java application). I'd be happy to help you get started if you'd like.

  5. Posted · Edited by Nathan

    Paul, If you can simply move the existing programs to new XP machines, that would obviouly be the least labor intensive. You would also want to verify that you understand and can modify the programs if you have any need for changes in scope (you mentioned that an outside company created the project). I would encourage you to check out FactorySQL and FactoryPMI. They are very powerful and easy to use. You can download a fully functional, resettable 2 hour trial version and create your real application. If you choose to use it commercially, you simply activate the software. You'll find that the software is reasonably priced and you will recieve free support on the forum. I'm curious to hear what you go with and how it works out for you. Don't hesitate to contact me if you want help getting started with FactorySQL or FactoryPMI.

  8. Posted · Edited by Nathan

    Check out FactorySQL and FactoryPMI. They're reasonably priced, easy to use, and very powerful. You can download a free fully functional demo that's only limited to a resettable 2 hour client runtime. We will help you get the project up and running even before you buy anything. -- Nathan Boeger, MCSE Inductive Automation "Design simplicity cures engineered complexity"

  9. Posted

    I get a good laugh out of hearing the Rockwell Rant because I used to be an integrator for a company that was a "Rockwell Software Solution Provider" and our experiences were similar. Unfortunately their pricing model (annual extortion fees, per concurrent client, developer, tag count, screens, etc) is still the norm in this industry. They pretend to embrace standard technologies and massively distributed models (web based), but are still getting away with the price gouging that they've been accustomed to. If nothing else, we need to send a message that this sort of pricing/behavior is unacceptable. The other big guys are also guilty of it. -- Nathan Boeger, MCSE Inductive Automation "Design simplicity cures engineered complexity"

  10. Posted

    Matt, Paul had a lot of good advice. I would certainly recommend a touch PC over a panelview type device as they are cheaper and more powerful (for your graphs, etc). You might want to check out FactorySQL and FactoryPMI from Inductive Automation. They are affordable SQL database and Web based approaches that would work for your project. Nathan

  11. Posted

    Hi all, I wanted to mention that Inductive Automation recently released a Reporting plugin for FactoryPMI. It generates dynamic, pdf based reports within its own web based Java client. I'd like to hear about everyones experience with dynamic report generation for MES/ERP applications, particularly about how they work with existing HMI/SCADA systems. Have you guys been successful with this sort of application for industrial reporting? What do you use them for (production, downtime, efficiency, etc)? Have you been using off the shelf commercial packages (ie Crystal Reports), custom applications, or more traditional Industrial Software company packages? I'm interested in packages that satisfy some/all of the following: -Be web based in some form. Management needs to be able to pull up the info without a client side install -Be SQL database driven. Kind of a given. -Is a professional reporting package - ie. able to minimally create professional looking reports that are dynamic enough to: add page numbers, split data elegantly between pages, support tables, graphs, images, etc. Support nice printing, pdf generation, etc.

  12. Posted

    With the Rockwell Forums going down, I thought this would be a good time to introduce our online forum. Inductive Automation - a software vendor that promotes standard web and SQL database technologies offers an online forum. We promise at least a next day response by us. This is a good place to ask questions about how new technologies or standard computing technologies fit in with the "PLC world". ---- Nathan Boeger, MCSE Inductive Automation - Specializing in SQL and web based HMI packages "Design simplicity cures engineered complexity"

  14. Posted

    Bob, I understand your theoretical distinction between HMI and SCADA, however, I don't see how your SCADA system can be sufficiently powerful and run on dedicated hardware. That is, you eventually want to get the data to standard SQL databases, which are typically off site or in an air conditioned room. If you're worried about those servers going "belly up", you would probably want to implement a redundant configuration. If you really need to cache the data locally, you can use a dedicated machine to do that. My classification would be to put it in the PLC category, referring to hardware devices in the field on the rack with the PLC, especially since this is often done in PLC memory anyway. I think we may be in total agreement here, differing only on semantics. You're distinguishing between SCADA and PLC whereas I'm referring to both as "PLC". We both seem to agree that the PC falls in the HMI category. ---- Nathan Boeger Integrator, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer "Design Simplicity Cures Engineered Complexity"

  15. Posted · Edited by Nathan

    I second TW. This forum is better anyways. I'm looking forward to its continual growth. (4-6-06 edit) I forgot to mention. Inductive Automation has a forum where they will provide free tech support to all. Integrators and end users are welcome. ---- Nathan Boeger Integrator, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Inductive Automation "Design simplicity cures engineered complexity"

  16. Posted

    Hi all! I'm trying to do a feature comparison between my product, FactoryPMI, and RSViewSE. FactoryPMIs main advantages are: -Works natively with SQL databases of various flavors (Great performance for historical data/trends/etc) -Web deployment allows unlimited concurrent clients without any clientside installation or configuration I'd appreciate posts that address major features of RSView 32 SE to see how my product compares. Similar posts of Wonderware, Citect, and Intellusion are welcome, but this is an AB thread. Thanks for your time. ---- Nathan Boeger Integrator, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Inductive Automation "Design simplicity cures engineered complexity"

  17. Posted

    I was in a situation to recommend an OPC server to an end user for communications with an ethernet GE 90-30 PLC and FactorySQL, an OPC client. We ended up using Kepware Ex, and it worked fine. What other OPC servers have you used/would you recommend? Please post your experience and advantages/disadvantages of each. Thanks. ---- Nathan Boeger Integrator, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Inductive Automation "Specializing in SQL and web based HMI systems"

  18. Posted

    I'm curious about the viability of PC based PLCs in general. The major drawback that I'm aware of is that PLCs will let you edit the program while it's running. Are there PC based controllers that don't require the traditional "compiling" that will interrupt the process? I'd like to hear opinions on different brands. ---- Nathan Boeger Integrator, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Inductive Automation "Specializing in SQL and web based HMI systems"

  19. Posted

    Todd, I sent you a message. In most cases I would recommend logging the data to an SQL database instead of Excel. I would recommend checking out FactorySQL to do this cheaply and easily. You can sign up for a web demonstration to get all of your questions answered at: http://www.inductiveautomation.com/products/webdemo/ ---- Nathan Boeger naboeger@inductiveautomation.com Integrator, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Inductive Automation "Design simplicity cures engineered complexity"

  20. Posted

    Did you get your question resolved? Were you referring to VLANs or VPNs? Basically, VLANs are TCP layer 2 options that makes your switch "feel" like they're separate isolated switches. VPNs are secure communication sessions between a host or a network and a foreign network over a shared network (IE computer connected to corporate network over the Internet). ---- Nathan Boeger Integrator, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Inductive Automation "Specializing in SQL and web based HMI systems"

  22. Posted

    check out factorySQL and factoryPMI. They have 2 hour trials that can be manually reset as many times as you need. You would need to find an OPC server to talk to your PLC. I may be able to get you a registered version if you provide more info about the project. ---- Nathan Boeger Integrator, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Inductive Automation

  23. Posted

    I agree with Crossbow. Use OPC servers to talk directly to your existing PLCs. You had mentioned that you wanted to log data to SQL databases. Check out FactorySQL for that datalogging. It's cheap, easy to use, and reliable. You can log to most types of SQL database (MS SQL Server, MySQL, Postgres, Oracle, etc). The best way to get info is by signing up for a 40 minute web demo here. ---- Nathan Boeger Integrator, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Inductive Automation

  24. Posted

    My personal opinion is that anything critical should be handled in the PLC. However, the emerging trend seems to be toward enterprise data systems. PLCs do not have the memory for, and are not computationally powerful enough, to handle growing demands. If a PLC can't perform the necessary statistical analysis of what's going on with a process over an annual period, or cannot store enough batching information to be useful, then you need a computer to do this. I promote a product called FactorySQL that effectively connects PLCs with SQL databases. So my opinion is to keep critical control functionality in the PLC, but expand it's memory and computing power where necessary with RDBMS (database) systems. ---- Nathan Boeger Integrator, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Inductive Automation

  25. Posted

    First, this post is a biased because I support FactorySQL and FactoryPMI by Inductive Automation. I have specific features that I was wondering if the big vendors support with respect to software that works with AB PLCs. FactorySQL will bi-directionally synchronize PLC registers to standard SQL databases? RSSQL kind of does this through one way transactions. Are there other commercial products that do this? FactoryPMI allows unlimited concurrent web based HMI clients. A cool advantage of "web based" over "distributed" is that there is no client side install or configuration. Are there any other HMI/SCADA packages that offer this web based functionality? I've used both RSView and Wonderware, but am slightly out of date. I'd appreciate specific points rather than "Rockwell is best" or "Wonderware kicks butt" sort of answers. My last question is what databases vendors support. Oracle's the big question. I know most support MS SQL Server. Is there a way of getting these to work with MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc? ---- Nathan Boeger Integrator, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Inductive Automation