DirectSOFT Frequently Asked Questions
DirectSOFT Frequently Asked Questions
Use "Ctrl-F" to search for specific words in this FAQ.
| Question: Will DirectSOFT programming software connect to the GE Series 1 CPUs? |
| Answer: DirectSOFT will recognize the GE Series 1+ CPUs but not the GE Series 1. To identify which CPU you have, remove the base and look for the part number on the label. If you have a part number of IC610CPU101 or104, then you have a GE Series 1 and DirectSOFT will not connect. If you have a part number of IC610CPU105 or 106, then you have a GE Series 1+ and DirectSOFT will connect. DirectSOFT will also connect to the TI305 CPU 325, 325S, 330, 330S, and 335. A DCU (Data Communications Unit) is required when connecting to any of these CPUs with DirectSOFT. |
| FAQ ID: 100 |
| Question: How do I stop my computer from accessing the floppy drive every time I start DirectSOFT32? |
| Answer: You have a project in the DirectSOFT32 Launch > Projects folder saved to the floppy. You can click on the project in the Projects folder and press the delete key to remove the entry. DirectSOFT32 will give you the option to remove the files along with the entry in the documents list. DirectSOFT32 will no longer try to access the floppy on startup. |
| FAQ ID: 231 |
| Question: When I load my program with PID loops into a new processor, my loops are not present. Why not? |
| Answer: Since the PID configuration information is stored in V-memory and System V-memory, reloading the program will not restore the V-memory contents. Use FILE>SAVE PROJECT>TO PLC to restore the complete project and the PID tables will be restored. You can also restore the PID configuration by PLC>COPY CONFIG DATA FROM DISK TO PLC and checking System Variable Memory and Variable Memory. |
| FAQ ID: 232 |
| Question: How do I cut and paste from one program to another. Every time I try, the clipboard is empty when I try to paste? |
| Answer: Both programs need to be open on the DirectSOFT desktop at the same time. Open program A, enter edit mode, and minimize on the desktop. Open program B, enter edit mode and minimize on the desktop. Restore program A, copy rungs, minimize A. Restore B, paste rungs. |
| FAQ ID: 233 |
| Question: My documentation files in DirectSOFT have been corrupted. How do I repair them? |
| Answer: You can copy a backup filename.esd file over the corrupted esd file and restore the nicknames, wiring information and descriptions. You can copy a backup filename.lcd file over the corrupted lcd file and restore the ladder rung comments. You can copy a backup filename.scd over the corrupted scd file and restore the stage comments. |
| FAQ ID: 234 |
| Question: DirectSOFT32 installation stops shortly after entering the password key code. |
| Answer: The Microsoft Foundation Class Library file mfc42.dll must be up to date before DirectSOFT32 can be installed. Run MFC42DLL.EXE directly from the DirectSOFT CD-ROM, using Windows Explorer. Restart Windows. Then run \DS32Pgm\DS32P30.exe directly from the DirectSOFT CD-ROM, using Windows Explorer. |
| FAQ ID: 235 |
| Question: I can't get PC-R30-U to install. |
| Answer: Any prior version of DirectSOFT must be installed on your system. You do not need to install the most recent version of DirectSOFT. With any prior version of DirectSOFT loaded, the upgrade will load successfully. |
| FAQ ID: 236 |
| Question: Can I use DirectSoft through my USB port? |
| Answer: DS 3.0 and later will work through a USB port. |
| FAQ ID: 237 |
| Question: I don't have a CD-ROM drive in my PC; how can I install DirectSOFT32? |
Answer: With no CD-ROM drive available on the destination PC, you can use a second PC with a CD-ROM drive to make a set of installation diskettes.
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| FAQ ID: 238 |
| Question: Which Automationdirect.com, Koyo, TI, and GE PLCs are supported by DirectSOFT? |
| Answer: Use this table to see if your PLC is supported by DirectSOFT. |
| FAQ ID: 239 |
| Question: Does your software access or program Allen-Bradley PLCs? |
| Answer: No, our software does not access nor program the Allen-Bradley PLCs. |
| FAQ ID: 240 |
| Question: I upgraded to the new DirectSoft, but I can't get a link to my PLC. |
| Answer: When communicating through F2/FA-UNICON and FA-ISONET in DirectSoft 3.0 it is sometimes necessary to go into the link editor and under Flow Control change NONE to RTS/CTS in order to get the software to create a link. This was not necessary in the 16 bit software. |
| FAQ ID: 241 |
| Question: Does Windows 2000 support DirectSOFT? |
| Answer: Yes, it does. To print correctly, you need to uncheck the "use default" and manually select your printer under the options section of the print dialog box. |
| FAQ ID: 242 |
| Question: With DirectSOFT, how many drums can you have active at one time? |
| Answer: You can use as many drums as you'd like as long as you do not use the same address in each drum. If you do have the same address used, you must use stage logic in order to separate the drums. |
| FAQ ID: 243 |
| Question: Can the DP software share tags with DirectSOFT? |
| Answer: No. |
| FAQ ID: 244 |
| Question: Is DirectSOFT tested to QS9000? |
| Answer: No. |
| FAQ ID: 245 |
| Question: Can you program DirectSOFT in Boolean? |
| Answer: No. |
| FAQ ID: 246 |
| Question: Will DirectSOFT work with a GE Series One Jr? |
| Answer: No. DirectSOFT will work with the GE Series One Plus (IC610CPU105 and IC610CPU106). |
| FAQ ID: 247 |
| Question: Can I use "PC-Anywhere" software to run DS32 from a remote location? |
| Answer: Yes. |
| FAQ ID: 249 |
| Question: I've forgotten my CPU password. What can I do? |
| Answer: Contact Tech Support. They will request that you to send the unit to them. The unit will be returned to you with password and program removed. We cannot remove the password without clearing CPU memory. |
| FAQ ID: 251 |
| Question: How do you get the status on the ladder view? |
| Answer: Click on debug and then all status on |
| FAQ ID: 252 |
| Question: Does your DirectSOFT software do simulation mode? |
| Answer: Not at this time. |
| FAQ ID: 253 |
| Question: Will the DSdata talk OPC? |
| Answer: Yes. |
| FAQ ID: 343 |
| Question: Can the password be ALL characters? |
| Answer: No, the first character can be a capital “A” or a number, but the rest must be numbers. |
| FAQ ID: 346 |
| Question: Can DirectSoft do rung executions one at a time? |
| Answer: No, but it can do 1 scan at a time. |
| FAQ ID: 414 |
| Question: Will DirectSoft run on Windows NT? |
| Answer: Yes. |
| FAQ ID: 473 |
| Question: Will DirectSoft run on Windows ME? |
| Answer: Yes. |
| FAQ ID: 474 |
| Question: I only have one license. Can I uninstall on one computer then reinstall on a different one? |
| Answer: Yes. |
| FAQ ID: 475 |
| Question: Can DDE Server use SNMP protocol over Ethernet? If not, can it be modified to use SNMP as a custom solution? |
| Answer: No, It doesn’t support SNMP protocol. Even if it was customized it could not support it. |
| FAQ ID: 476 |
| Question: Can you change a K value of a timer in Dataview? |
| Answer: No, when presets are entered as K values they can only be altered via a program change. If you need to be able to change presets via data view or an external device, you must use V locations for the presets. |
| FAQ ID: 560 |
| Question: Is there any way other than the compare function to align a DirectSoft project and the contents of my PLC? |
| Answer: No. |
| FAQ ID: 561 |
| Question: Can I run 16 bit and 32 bit on the same computer? |
| Answer: Yes, but both packages cannot be running at the same time . |
| FAQ ID: 562 |
| Question: With Directsoft 32, how you can assign a different path to the directory. |
| Answer: Find ds300.ini, find [PATH], then change to the path you wish. |
| FAQ ID: 614 |
| Question: What is the most common or best supported protocol using Directsoft? |
| Answer: K-Sequence. |
| FAQ ID: 615 |
| Question: Will the SR1 PLCs communicate with Directsoft? |
| Answer: No. |
| FAQ ID: 616 |
| Question: How do I set the clock in DirectSoft when using a D2-240? |
| Answer: Using DirectSoft, go to plc/setup/calendar. |
| FAQ ID: 630 |
| Question: The software installed but did not create a link. What do I do? |
| Answer: Locate the DS300.ini file in the Windows directory. Find [devasync.dll] and set all except the current comm port in use =0. i.e. If comm1 is being used to connect the PC to PLC it should look like this : [devasync.dll] COM1Enable=1 COM2Enable=0 COM3Enable=0 COM4Enable=0 COM4=4,3,2,0,0 } COM3=4,3,2,0,0 } these settings will vary COM2=4,3,2,0,0 } from PC to PC COM1=4,3,3,0,2 } ModemEnable=0 COM8Enable=0 COM7Enable=0 COM6Enable=0 COM5Enable=0 [devether.dll] EthernetEnable=0 Ethernet=3,25,5000,0,0,1,0 |
| FAQ ID: 631 |
| Question: Every time DirectSoft starts up, it takes forever to search for all of my links. How can this be avoided? |
| Answer: If you prefer to not have DirectSoft search for active links upon startup, you can disable this completely by going to C:/Windows/DS300.ini and find the [COMM SERVER] header. Under this header place Autosense=0 . This will disable DirectSoft from auto searching for active links. ** The .ini file will vary according to the version of DirectSoft the customer is running Version 1.0 = DS100.ini. Version 2.0 to 2.4a = DS200.ini. Any version over 3.0 currently use the DS300.ini. ** Also there are more than one set of .ini files on the hard drive. One is in the DirectSoft directory the other is in the Windows or WINNT directory. As stated above the one in the Windows or WINNT directory is the one to modify. |
| FAQ ID: 632 |
| Question: Can I connect to and view a ladder program from a Siemens 335/37 CPU with Directsoft? |
| Answer: Yes, as long as customer has support installed for the 305 series PLC. |
| FAQ ID: 673 |
| Question: Can 2 Directsoft licenses be installed on one computer? |
| Answer: Yes, they just need to be in separate directories. |
| FAQ ID: 674 |
| Question: How do you change the watchdog timer? |
| Answer: Go to PLC on the tool bar, Setup in drop down menu, then Watchdog timer. It will adjust as high as 9998 ms. |
| FAQ ID: 724 |
| Question: Do you have a version of Directsoft software that will not allow the user access to the entire program? |
| Answer: No, if you access the project, the user can view and make changes to the entire program. |
| FAQ ID: 754 |
| Question: Do your PLCs support Wonderware? |
| Answer: Yes, via DS Data. |
| FAQ ID: 755 |
| Question: Will Directsoft work without the CD in the drive? |
| Answer: Yes. |
| FAQ ID: 756 |
| Question: Does Directsoft support Omron PLCs? |
| Answer: No, it will not. |
| FAQ ID: 757 |
| Question: Will Directsoft support Ethernet? |
| Answer: Yes. |
| FAQ ID: 758 |
| Question: Q: Will Direct soft program a TI 435 PLC ? |
| Answer: A: YES PC-PGMSW |
| FAQ ID: 796 |
| Question: Q: In DirectSOFT how do you branch a rung? |
| Answer: A: By pressing CTRL and the up or down arrow keys. |
| FAQ ID: 797 |
| Question: Q: Can LOOKOUT and DirectSOFT be open at same time? |
| Answer: A: Sure, if they are both the same version. |
| FAQ ID: 798 |
| Question: Q: Will a Winplc work with DirectSOFT? |
| Answer: A:No |
| FAQ ID: 799 |
| Question: How the the DEMO version of the DirectSoft32 Programming software Different from the Puchased version? |
| Answer: The DEMO Version: 1) Can Save OnLine / Monitor Status on a 10 Ladder-word program (maximum) in the PLC. 2) Can Monitor Status on a maximum of 4 items in Data View. 3) Can have 4 Data Views max. 4) Can have only 1 Comm Link active at a time. 5) Can have only 1 Ladder (Stage, Mnemonic, XRef/Usage) View open at a time. 6) Cannot Save to Disk. 7) Displays a 'Nag Dialog' encouraging Customers to purchase the Full Version of DirectSOFT-Programming! 8) Cannot use the DRUM instruction that is available in some CPU's (because of the 10 word maximum) |
| FAQ ID: 941 |
| Question: Where can I find more FAQs (Items not covered in this series of FAQs? |
| Answer: DirectSOFT FAQs on HOST Engineering Website |
| FAQ ID: 1091 |
| Question: Where can I get a DirectSOFT5 manual? |
| Answer: A DirectSOFT5 manual is provided with each purchase of a full version of DirectSOFT5 software. There is also a copy of the manual in electronic pdf file format (DS-User-Manual.pdf) in the DirectSOFT5 directory where DirectSOFT5 is installed in the C:\DirectSOFT5\Help\ folder. |
| FAQ ID: 1223 |