I am a newbie to labview but have delt with plc's for the last 10 years. I would like to send and recieve certain integer, floating poin

[GAustin]

t, or binary files through the plc or micrologix communication port. This would allow me to build a front panel and change certain states of bits or retrieve data from certain files to display on the front panel. Please steer me in the right direction...I am a newbie to labview but have delt with plc's for the last 10 years. I would like to send and recieve certain integer, floating point, or binary files through the plc or micrologix communication port. This would allow me to build a front panel and change certain states of bits or retrieve data from certain files to display on the front panel. Please steer me in the right dir
ection...

[markwysong]

t, or binary files through the plc or micrologix communication port. This would allow me to build a front panel and change certain states of bits or retrieve data from certain files to display on the front panel. Please steer me in the right direction...If you want to have communication with a PLC, you can use LabVIEW.

But if you are not experienced in using LabVIEW, I would *strongly* recommend getting the Datalogging and Supervisory Control module. This will make your life with PLCs much, much easier.

Basically, what the DSC module gets you is the use of OPC servers. You can then create tags which represent memory locations on your PLC, or even National Instruments hardware--basically anything that is OPC server compliant.

Then you put an indicator or control on your front panel, and just tell it what tag it is displaying/controlling. That's it. The module creates the code for you, making your life much easier.

There are certain packages of LabVIEW which contain this module instead of bu
ying LabVIEW and the DSC module separately. For about the same cost, you'll get some other modules included in the price.

The OPC server interface will allow you to control or monitor the integer, floating point, and binary file types that you require.

Mark

[mikeporter]

t, or binary files through the plc or micrologix communication port. This would allow me to build a front panel and change certain states of bits or retrieve data from certain files to display on the front panel. Please steer me in the right direction...Another option is to talk to the PLC using Modbus. Several versions of Modbus drivers are available online--or I could send you the ones I use.

The big thing to look at is exactly what you want to do in the end. If you are going to be able to use all the features of the DSC, by all means go for it. It will save you a lot of time.

If however, all you want is a remote front panel for the PLC, the DSC might be overkill. Only you can say.

Look at your entire application and where you can see your work going in the reasonable future.

Mike...

[GAustin]

t, or binary files through the plc or micrologix communication port. This would allow me to build a front panel and change certain states of bits or retrieve data from certain files to display on the front panel. Please steer me in the right direction...I really appreciate the feedback. I have a pro version of Labview 6.1, RSLinx, RSLogix, and RS500. Once I can get the Labview to communicate with the processor I believe I will be able to progress quickly with some hands on projects of my own. I looked in the help index and didn't see anything on DSC. Should my version of Labview have this module included?

Greg

[Rumcajs]

t, or binary files through the plc or micrologix communication port. This would allow me to build a front panel and change certain states of bits or retrieve data from certain files to display on the front panel. Please steer me in the right direction...Hi.
Mike is right. If your project isn't big SCADA you can use OPC server and DataSocked technique in Labview to implement simple visualisation.
You can find here ftp://ftp.introl.pl/sterowniki/programy/
evaluation version of OPC Server - KEPServerEX to communicate with Micrologic PLC's
Romek.

[markwysong]

t, or binary files through the plc or micrologix communication port. This would allow me to build a front panel and change certain states of bits or retrieve data from certain files to display on the front panel. Please steer me in the right direction...The DSC module does not come with the professional version of LabVIEW, but it can be added on buy purchasing the DSC module separately. The DCS *is* included when the NI Developer Suite is purchased. It includes LabVIEW Professional version and some of the add-on toolsets, including DSC.

Mark