LookoutDirect Support Resources
Determining the build of your software: Version information can be found in the "Help" menu by choosing the "About" option.
Manual Addendum: Chapter 3
This Technical document describes the missing procedures in Chapter 3 of the Getting Started Guide manual which does not include the necessary steps for dragging objects from the Object Explorer to Control panels to make them visible.
Upgrading version 3.8.x to 4.5.x
There are several important notes about upgrading from LookoutDirect 3.8 to 4.5. This page has instructions, cross-references, and conversion utilities.Deleting an Object
Procedure for deleting an object and successfully locating all connections and expressions using the object.Changing DirectLogic Link Settings
Procedure for using CSMAIN.EXE to change the DirectLogic driver object communication link settings.Communicating to Remote PLCs via Telephone Modems
Procedure for properly configuring your serial port and modem, and how to successfully dial, poll then hang-up to multiple remote PLCs from one LookoutDirect PC.
Timer Examples
Demonstration of all Timer objects and TimeOfxxxxx objects. Configured for 800x600 screen resolution.Animation Example
Demonstration of several Animator objects to some of the pre-installed metafiles whose graphics are configured for animation.
LookoutDirect Learning Guide corrections
Page 6-8 DirectLogic Driver Object data members: Missing datamembers for real floating point numbers.
V0:R - V41236:R Numeric Read/Write Double word V-memory registers signed real (IEEE 32-bit Floating Point)
Object Tag Names
It is a good practice to name all objects beginning with the default tagname given on creation, then appending a proper name for the function of the object within your particular application. Examples:
- PanelMainScreen
- PbGotoMainScreen
- PotSpeedControl
- SwitchManualMode
Since the objects are always listed alphabetically this will make it easier to select objects for connections and expression according to their type. We're hoping our friends from NI will have a nifty cross-reference for us in the next version.
The Key can be Cool!
If you are an OEM machine builder or Systems Integrator configuring multiple LookoutDirect PCs that are Runtime Only, we have a secret for you. There is no Runtime Only software! The CD Media is the same whether you install from the Runtime CD or the Development CD. The keys are the key to making a system operate as Runtime Only or Development/Runtime. So if you have to make an urgent change to a Runtime Only PC just bring your Development Key and make the change right on that PC. No carrying a floppy or going over the LAN to get the *.LKP file to make all your changes back at your Development PC. Simply shutdown LookoutDirect on the Runtime Only PC and replace the Runtime Key with your Development Key. Re-open the process file, make your change. Replace the Runtime Key, re-open the process file and your done - taking online editing to a new level of efficiency.
DirectLogic Driver Object Modem Support
The DirectLogic Driver object presently has no modem support capabilities. This will be available upon the completion of the 32-bit DirectSoft 3.0 programming software since they will share the same communication service. We will offer a free maintenance release for download from this site when it becomes available. In the interim we suggest you use the Modbus driver object for all modem communications to our D4-450, D3-350, and D2-250 processors since they contain at least one serial port that supports the Modbus RTU protocol.Running DirectSoft 2.x and LookoutDirect simultaneously over the same Serial or Ethernet cable
At some point you will get a CSMAIN.EXE General Protection Fault. So don't do it! The problem is when you attempt this you are effectively running two communication services of different configurations; 16-bit DirectSoft 2.x and LookoutDirect 32-bit running many *.EXE files with the same names but out of different directory structures. We suggest if you need to have DirectSoft 2.x and LookoutDirect running on the same PC that you configure their links on separate Comm ports or Ethernet cards. Even with this configuration, depending on the speed and RAM in your PC, you may see a loss of performance resulting from the two communication services running simultaneously. When our 32-bit DirectSoft 3.0 Programming Software is released this will all go away! They will both use the same single communications service and perform much better.
National Instruments Lookout Site
If you can't find it here, go to the source. These guys have done an amazing job for us and have a great site!