nikos

Hi, Got back to this old project and using HL to talk to the plc. AFAIU, read/writes are words This works for me to read the word in IR101, where my relays are attached @00RR0101000141*<CR> When I want to toggle a coil, I have to store the response (existing state of coils), change to binary, toggle the bit, change back to hex and send it back, since the manual says writes are also word based and in hex. I did not see anyway of having direct bit level writes. So I have to do this every time I want to write a coil? Is this correct, if tedious? regards, nikos PS I see that modbus supports bit level writes, but seems this plc needs macros and I'm getting in deeper...

Well, my insight was short lived So, what could be going on? I consistently see that if I'm in monitor mode, OPC writes do nothing. I am able to, via CX, to force on/off some random relay, (in IR area), in monitor mode, which gives credence to what you're saying. Only when I go to program mode (STOP) am I able to opc write... I don't know where to look anymore. Maybe I should have gone along with my original thinking of just sending raw HL commands... I would have been done by now. Last question, would it matter whether the OPC server access is via the PLC's peripheral port or the RS232 port?? I guess I can try this and see... regards, nikos EDIT: Well just tried and the Kepserver does not run via the peripheral port on COM1, only the RS-232 port connected on COM2. Also, no opc writes in MONITOR mode, but ok in PROGRAM

Hello again, Yes there is a ladder program in the plc... what it does I've no idea, as I thought the scada/hmi is controlling the system. Success kind of... I have managed to do writes with an opc client, but only after setting the plc to stop/program mode. I thought that you could change anything in monitor mode??? Quoting Jay Anthony from 2005, in another post... http://forums.mrplc.com/index.php?showtopic=3674 "RUN= Look Only;Change Nothing;PLC Program is executed Monitor=Change anything but the PLC program itself;PLC Program is executed Program=Change any data or the PLC program itself;No Execution of the PLC Program" So, if the above is correct, and the output I'm trying to change must be in the program, since the scada turns it off and on, so I would NOT be able to change it in monitor mode. So, I guess this means the main logic is in the PLC, and the scada is only there for changing operational parameters, e.g how many liters of solution A (pumpA time on) to mix with solution B (pumpB time on).... So, it leads me to ask the following: Is there anything wrong with using software to control the system and use the plc only as a glorified wiring/relay closet? Is this commonly done? IMHO, it would also, question the usefulness of OPC concept in general for control, unless simply used only for data collection regards and thanks for all the help thus far, nikos

Tx for the reply, Async did not work either... What's a good DM location to write to so I do kill anything.. regards, nikos

Bob, I looked at the Red Lion stuff and their communications capability. It looks pretty good but you said there might be better device. I'm making a couple of Assumptions here and what follows is how I would do it: 1. Ethernet connectivity e.g device with a static ip address 2. Or Modem capability 3. Commands to access the machines logs, clear logs as well Program as follows 1 Connect to machine, either by opening serial/usb port and dial out, or direct tcp/ip connection (ssh?) 2. Get logs 3. Parse logs and insert into a db. Sqlite is tiny and very quick and has interfaces to dozen languages. Also, cvs files are readily inserted into db's with SQL bulk copy commands 4 clear logs from device, close connection 5. Run a small webserver on your machine and use some html library to easily build tables, e.g HtmlFromList, HtmlFromArray from SQL selects on the db 6.server you pages You could cCollect logs nightly, insert into db and then clear logs from plc/system Using a db is much better than using excel, as the data is more secure, accessible and easily filtered and presented in whichever way is required. Also accessible via numerous clients whether ODBC or native language interfaces You could get fancy as well and create xml rpc or webservice/SOAP wrappers on your methods, exposing your data to more clients. All in all, about 2 Mb of code libraries and webserver.. all the above is MHO, and nothing new... http://www.tcl.tk/software/tclhttpd/server.html http://tcl.activestate.com/software/tclhttpd/tclhttpd-tcl2k.pdf regards, nikos

Ok, I've managed to "force set" some memory areas in CX programmer. This is a CQM1H CPU51 system. I am also able to see the change in Kep's opc client (yeah), and my pump turns on. Now, all I need to do is be able to turn it on via opc Seems you have to click the monitor button and switch to the data type (boolean in this case) before the memory values and the force set buttons are available.. Also I can only "force on" here, if I try to "set value" I get an error dialogue "the point name and/or key specified is invalid". I'm trying to change IR100.03 from 0 to 1 so I have 100.03 in the start address box first shot is of the memory area in cx, as said this works second pic is from kep's opc quick client trying to do a syncronous write This does not work.. It is not reflected back into the main opc window, nor does it show up in cx programmer (above) pic. The log window says "Syncronous write succeeded for 1 items on group blah... that's where I'm at... regards, nikos

Hi Bob, You probably dont want to hear this, but one of the demos in the kep opc is copying an opc tag and simply pasting into excel... regards, nikos

No, how do I stop the app from running from cx programmer? (sorry) I've also checked my dip switches and they seem ok 1-off 2-off 3-on 4-on 5-off 6-off 7-on 8-off As said, I'm able to put the plc into monitor mode via cx programmer, ok I am not able to "force on" anything from cx programmer, so I doubt opc would either... tia,, regards, nikos

Anybody?

Ok, What OPC client application are you using? I'm using kep own opc quick client to test as well as an SDK from http://www.hume.com/about_the_hume_DMH.htm which has a tcl/tk opc client methods. This is what I want to integrate into my application. I'm trying to use the kep quick client first to verify "writes" before I add another variable (Hume) into the mix. Tcl/tk let's make a really nice interface and I can connect alot of other functionality into my app. What is the update criteria? E.g. are the OPC tags being polled by a fixed interval, Using a fixed interval, 1000 ms or is the client application controlling this (also known as unsolicited updates). E.g. when your OPC client gives a command to set a bool tag, the OPC successfully sets the bit value in the PLC, Would this not mean that a valve should be turned on? It is not, and not in the client, nor in the server... but next the question is how this data value update is being directed back to the OPC client. Some clients support unsolicited updates from the server, e.g. only the changed data is being pushed to the client, when no change by the server is detected no update are done. Don't know how this is determined... Some clients have a "poll after set" setting that will force a read back of any "set" data actions. Have you enabled the diagnostics function on the Kepware channel? (general Channel setting tab) Next you can launch View > OPC diagnostics for a detailed view on all events. Have enabled diagnostics and getting a view on the events. Went to test mode and ran some tests, enabled test 2 the syncrous reads and writes, and I get syncronous read succeeded for group XX and syncronous write succeded for group XX... what else can I check... regards, nikos

Done, I've started a new post here... http://forums.mrplc....showtopic=22790 regards, nikos

Hi again, At the suggestion of the admin, I've opened a new topic to help me resolve how to write data with an opc client. My previous post is at http://forums.mrplc....=0 and initially here.. http://forums.mrplc....showtopic=22552 As stated above I seem to be communicating with the kepware trial server and currently using its quick client to test. I guess the admin will move relevant posts to this thread and we'll continue from here.. regards, nikos

Thanx for the reply Bob, While I am not particularly fond of MS WIN, and the shitty ole dde, and stuff, this is what I have to make do with now Bob. Was hoping for some guidance on what's going on. Let me ask it another way. If the plc is put into monitor mode and it's running whatever program was loaded, does the plc see any execute changes that are sent to it? I guess I am trying to narrow it down to whether I have a "plc" issue or an "opc" issue. Actually, when I started down this path a while ago, I wanted to just go with straight serial, HL commands from my app, but "everyone" said use OPC as its easier and avoid vendor lockin, yada, yada... And in reality, I could gain some experience that is not tied into Omron only..... Regardless, my question still stands, regards, nikos

Hi all, I was wondering if you "old" guys can shed some light on my problem, which I believe is similar to this this thread... my problem is the last post in this thread.... http://forums.mrplc....showtopic=22552 As said there, I can write an opc data item, but do not get a "physical" response, e.g. the pump does not come on.... I'll check my dip switches also and report back,, regards, nikos

Hi again, I've managed to figure out all my Omron memory areas I've setup a trial OPC server (Kepware) and have added all my tags, and I see the different data values via an OPC client and see how they change when the program is running so I know that this map is correct. My problem now is that i cannot change the data via the OPC client. While the value changes in the client, e.g setting a channel in one of the OC222 I/O modules from 0 to 1 does toggle the relay/pump attached to it. I have set the plc into monitor mode, and according to Omron's doc's one can change things in this mode The OPC tags were created as read write What do I need to to to be able to change things via an OPC client? FWIW, I changed the PLC into monitor mode via CX1, and AFAIU, monitor mode permits changes even though a progrma might be running or is loaded. Do I need to be in "program" mode? I have a feeling I'm obviously missing something Would appreciate some help. regards, nikos