Numeric Indicators are not being refreshed (regularly) in Lookout

[Kevin888]

Folks:

I am developing an HMI/SCADA app using Lookout 5.0 (this is the version the client already has); I have numeric indicators on both the server and client panels that read back from MODBUS RTUs. The indicators don't always update themselves on the panel; in other words, the panels may show an old reading however, when I place a "new" indicator and connect it via pasting the path to the data member, the updated value is shown. So, for some reason, the indicators to the data members are not being "refreshed." I believe the same may hold for the logical indicators too.

Any ideas?

(BTW, I do have all the patches (updates) for Lookout 5.0 applied)

Thanks in Advance!
Kevin

[Khalid]

Hi,

What's the Poll Rate for the RTU?  Normally, the indicators would update based on this poll rate.  You may want to -- for troubleshooting purposes -- display the poll member as a discrete indicator on the panel.  The rest of the indicators must refresh whenever this poll goes true. 

The RTU is polled wheneevr a new item is added, regardless of what the poll rate is.  That's the reason the new indicators get the values always. 

Hope this helps,

-Khalid

[Kevin888]

Thanks Khalid,

I will go ahead and try this ... and report back

Kevin

[Kevin888]

Khalid,

I tried to add a logical indicator to the client control panel by dragging the "Poll" member of the RTU from the Object Browser and when the poll starts I see no state change in the indicator. Is there another way I need to add the indicator? I made sure it was an absolute path.

Thanks,

Kevin

[Kevin888]

Khalid,

I just found in the MODBUS documentation that the Poll member of a MODBUS object is "write" only, which explains why I can't see the state change. Is there another data object I can use to see when Lookout makes it's polls?

thanks,
Kevin

[Kevin888]

ALL:

Still not working correctly; basically the numeric display indicators (client and server panels) are NOT being updated (I waited for over 10 minutes and they still don't change - although I can re-paste the path to the indicator and it shows the correct value(s). 

Also, when I completely close down Lookout and restart it (server then client), the numeric indicators update correctly after a poll of the RTUs, then they don't get updated - is this a bug in Lookout 5.0? I am running XP Pro (SP2) with all recommended 5.0 patches.

Are there any NI Lookout developers watching this thread?

*PLEASE HELP*

Thanks,
Kevin

[Khalid]

Hi Kevin,

Sorry about that:  Try the 'Update' datamember.  This should go true whenever the RTU is polled. 

What's your PollRate for the RTU?

-Khalid

[Kevin888]

Khalid,

Thanks for the response! I will be going to the customer site within the next 2 hours, and will try the "Update" you mentioned.

I have the RTU PollRates set at 2:30 because we are having problems with the RTU batteries staying charged; whenever they are polled it drains much out of them so, we need to incorporate a longer poll rate to allow them to charge before another transmission. This is a temporary thing until we can replace the batteries next month.

However, what is puzzling (and I hope that an NI Lookout developer is watching this thread), ... is that the data is definitely getting back to the data members of the MODBUS driver objects; I created a Neutral Zone object for a tank level and that seems to trigger fine off the polled data updates but, the numeric indicators reflecting these values (for the operator to see) DO NOT refresh. Therefore, I am inclined to believe the data is there but NOT being refreshed on the client panel - make sense?

Thanks a bunch for your help Khalid!   I'll report back when I incorporate your "Update" suggestion.

Kevin

Message Edited by global on 07-22-2005 06:51 AM

[Kevin888]

Khalid,

I added the Update indicators (LEDs) for each of the polled RTUs and they DO change state when each RTU is being polled however, the values of the numeric displays showing the tank levels are still NOT being refreshed (on the client panel and the server panel). Any tricks I can used to get around this? I still haven't heard back from NI support - I placed this issue into the queue yesterday.

I believe there is a disconnect between the data store of the data member and the numeric display during a panel refresh function - what do you think? Obviously, re-pasting a numeric display to the panel triggers the proper refresh needed to update the other numeric displays correctly - maybe it's a state issue too.  I just would like to know more about how Lookout operates (internally).

Where are the Lookout developers?

Kevin

[AllanS]

Hello Kevin!

I responded to  your emails as well.  Our best bet is for me to reproduce that issue here in 5.0 and then see if it has been fixed in future versions of if I can find a work around.  Have a great day!

Allan S.

National Instruments