communication with Labview over a Profibus using GSD files

[yvan vg]

I am a beginner in using a profibus, I only progammed around Daq. But now I need to program a control unit over the Profibus, and do not really know where to start. I have got GSD files from the control unit which I should use to set parameters etc.. But where in LV can I enter these files?. Which type of HW is the best for this approach, Applicon or an other brand? Which drivers do I use? And which VI's are used for Profibus?

Greets.

Yvan

[demux]

Hey Yvan,

There is not really a clearcut answer for your question. There are different approaches to get the data from profibus into your LabVIEW application. Using an OPC server for instance is an option. Place the data on the OPC and then connect to it through LabVIEW.

Some manufacturers build boards for which they have also developed LabVIEW drivers.

You can find more information about the Applicom you mentionned here:
http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/4501

I recently used a card from Comsoft and they even had their own Express VI's to setup communication.

Regards,
Wouter
NI Belgium

[yvan vg]

Hoi Wouter.

Thanks

Ok, I can use a card and the OPC Server for that card and use Datasocket to communicate. But is it not easier then to use a card which has LabView Vi's for it like the comsoft. And about those GSD files i've got, can I link those to Datasocket OPC, or to the dedicated Vi's? I've read the application note aroundthe Applicom, and there the device is an S7 PLC, But where do you get the device and protocol parameters for the device you use? are these in those GSD files? for me al this is still a little bit dark..

Greetings

Yvan

Bosal/Belgium

[RK123]

Hi,

You can use siemen's simatic net s/w. The gsd file for the device can be imported to this s/w and configuration of i/o's can be done. In Labview, you can access the registers of the device through data sockets.

Hope this helps