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DirectSOFT32 - DDE/OPC Data Server README AutomationDirect Logo



Version 3.0c (Build 52) (25 May 2000)

This document describes some of what's new in this release of the DirectSOFT32 - Data Server (DSData). It also includes updated information for the documentation provided with DSData. The information in this file and in the Help system is more up-to-date than that in the manual.

Please review this and any other documentation files installed in the program folder carefully. They contain important new information not found anywhere else.

Contents

Part Note

  1. A Personal Note from the DirectSOFT32 Software Design Team
  2. Getting Started
  3. What's New
  4. Technical Support Procedures
  5. Documentation Changes
  6. Help File Changes
  7. Sample Files
  8. Known Problems and Conditions
  9. Undocumented Features

 

Part 1: A Personal Note from the DirectSOFT32 Software Design Team

Dear Automationdirect.com Customer,

Look for YOUR very own feature!

If you requested a feature in DSData (or suggested that we fix a particularly annoying bug!), be sure to look for your DIRECT impact on our software products.

Thanks for all of your ideas!

P.S. If you don't find YOUR feature in DSData yet, please:

  • Visit us on the Internet at www.automationdirect.com or www.hosteng.com.
  • Send email to tech@automationdirect.com or developers@hosteng.com.
  • Fax your DSData suggestion directly to the Software Design Team at 1-423-913-3287. ( Note: This fax number is for DirectSOFT product suggestions ONLY! )
  • Or call us at 1-770-844-4200.

Our software engineers enjoy hand-crafting your software solutions!

Very directly yours,

The DirectSOFT32 Software Design Team

 

Part 2: Getting Started

See the DirectSOFT32 - Data Server user's manual for information on getting started with DSData and Windows.

 

Part 3: What's New in Version 3.0c (Build 52) (25 May 2000)

  1. Enhanced Communications Debug: Now logs Device-Level events to DBWin32 window, if present.
  2. TAPI Modems: Now properly displays message strings in modem status dialog.
  3. Now preserves [Comm Server] settings in DS300.INI file.

Part 3a: What Was New in Version 3.0c (Build 51) (May 2000)

  1. Added support for OPC's Get Server Status.
  2. Modified DSData startup code to ensure that only a single instance will run.
  3. Modified DSLaunch startup code to ensure that only a single instance will run.
  4. DSLaunch now displays consistent Description and Version information for the DSP, DSData, and Version applications.

Part 3b: What Was New in Version 3.0c (Build 50) (April 2000)

  1. DSData now correctly supports edit of an active Topic that has an associated Documentation Database.

Part 3c: What Was New in Version 3.0c (Build 48) (March 2000)

  1. Version 3.0c is the premiere release of our 32-bit DDE/OPC Data Server!
  2. Detailed Event Information
    Event information includes an Item’s current value, active/inactive status, read/changed/written event status, and time stamp information with hundredths of a second resolution. See Event Descriptions for a detailed description of all reported events.
  3. Event Logging
    The Logger utility allows you to log historical events for a specific data point Item, a set of Items, or an entire Topic or SubTopic.  Trying to debug your client code by trapping an event while watching your client or the DSData Server window can be difficult.  By enabling the Logger on a specific Item, you can see a list of all events that affect it.  Events include the Item’s current value, active/inactive status, changed/written event status, and time stamp information with hundredths of a second resolution.  This tool helps you debug your client’s interaction with the DSData Server by recording events in a window, letting you scroll through the events historically, perform searches, and save the log as a text file for use in your own tool(s).  See DSData Logger for help on this utility, and Event Descriptions for a detailed description of all logged events.
  4. "Always On Top” Setting
    DSData Server and the Logger utility can both be set to be Always On Top, making them float above all other windows applications.  This can be helpful when debugging your client interface.
  5. New NickName Support
    When a Topic is associated with a DirectSOFT Documentation database, the NickNames can be viewed in the DSData Server browser without having to launch DirectSOFT32 - Programming.
  6. New System Items
    You or your client application can monitor a new set of pre-defined System Items which expose different aspects of the DSData Server's system status.  These System Items include the communication link’s current state, number of successful transfers, number of retries, number of errors, the transfer rate (in transfers per second), number of outstanding write operations, and the Topic’s or SubTopic’s communication update interval. For a detailed description of these System Items, see System Items
  7. New 32-Bit Communication Server
    DSData Server utilizes the new 32-Bit DirectSOFT Communication Server, allowing you to use DirectSOFT32 - Programming 3.x and DSData Server concurrently. Event-based, the new 32-Bit Communication Server ensures optimal CPU utilization.
  8. Other features include:
    Browser-style multi-pane view that supports Topics, as well as SubTopics.
    Dockable, tear-off Toolbars with ToolTips.
    Context-sensitive Menus available by Right-Clicking on an object.
  9. TAPI 1.4 Modem support (recommend you install 2nd modem of same type just for use with DirectSOFT32 products)
  10. The new Service Name is "DSData".
        [DSData]
        ServiceName=DSData

    To change the default Service Name back to DSDDE, edit the DS300.INI file in your Windows directory:
        [DSData]
        ServiceName=DSDDE
  11. To disable auto-sensing of existing Comm Links during DirectSOFT32 Comm Server startup, edit the DS300.INI file in your Windows directory :
        [Comm Server]
        AutoSense=0
  12. Certain message boxes may be automatically acknowledged after a specified time. This feature is useful for handling Element Server errors when used with the DSData Server (e.g. when no one is there to OK it). Initially, only the Element Server error dialog "Database not closed properly..." has it implemented. To enable it, edit the DS300.INI file in your Windows directory. For example, the following will cause this messagebox to be "OK"ed after 10 seconds with no user present:
        [Common]
        MessageBoxTime=10
  13. To enable OPC dot-naming support, edit the DS300.INI file in your Windows directory:
        [DSData]
        DotNaming=1
    This entry is not required, default is 1 (enabled).
  14. Supports the same PLCs supported in 16-bit DSDDE-- including DL05 -- plus TJ-435-AS and PZ-3 for Koyo.

 

Part 4: Technical Support Procedures

If you need technical assistance, you may find the information you need on our web site at www.automationdirect.com or at www.hosteng.com. If you prefer, you can send email to tech@automationdirect.com. Or you may call Automationdirect at 1-770-844-4200 -- our technical support team is available to answer your questions weekdays from 9 AM - 6 PM EST. Or you can fax the information to us at 1-770-886-3199 any time of day.

Please provide the Version information when requesting technical support. You'll find it under the Help/About... menu.

 

Part 5: Documentation Changes

None at this time. We request that you contact us with any corrections, enhancements, changes that you would like to see in the documentation via fax (1-770-886-3199) or email to tech@automationdirect.com. Please always check the On-Line Help files and our web site at www.automationdirect.com for updated and new information.

 

Part 6: Help File Changes

None at this time. We request that you contact us with any corrections, enhancements, changes that you would like to see in the documentation via fax (1-770-886-3199) or email to tech@automationdirect.com. Please always check the On-Line Help files and our web site at www.automationdirect.com for updated and new information.

 

Part 7: Sample Files

The DirectSOFT32 - Data Server includes sample documents for popular Windows applications like Visual Basic, Excel, Quattro, and Lotus. They show examples of how you can use DSData to monitor and fine tune data in your PLC from within your favorite Windows application, using DDE or OPC as appropriate. Please take the time to review these samples to get a feel for the types of syntax each application uses to access your PLC. These sample documents are located in the Projects\Examples\DSData directory.

 

Part 8: Known Problems and Conditions

Find a Problem?
Please report any problems to Automationdirect via email to tech@automationdirect.com or by calling 1-770-844-4200.

Windows 95 Users only: "Windows Socket 2 Update" is required for Ethernet Communications
The DirectSOFT32 - Data Server uses Winsock Version 2 for Ethernet communications between your PC and PLCs.  Winsock2 was released with Windows NT 4 and Windows 98.  If you are currently running Windows95 and you use or will use Ethernet to communicate with your PLCs, you can upgrade Winsock 1.1 (which came with Windows 95) to Winsock 2 using a free installation program available on Microsoft's web site at this location.



If this URL no longer exists (because Microsoft does like to reorganize their website on a daily basis), go to http://www.microsoft.com and search for the exact phrase "Windows Socket 2 Update"

FIRST, finish installing the DirectSOFT32 - Data Server. THEN run the "Windows Socket 2 Update" install program.

Some Dialogs May Be Hidden Behind Other Windows
Sometimes communication or modem status dialogs are not displayed as the top window.  You can sometimes ALT-TAB to the correct application.  If this doesn't work, try minimizing non-DirectSOFT/LookoutDirect applications to bring it to the front.

Use Control Panel To Modify Modem Properties
On the Port tab for Modem devices in the Link Configuration dialog, the [Properties] feature does not work.  To modify a modem's configuration, shut down all DirectSOFT32 and LookoutDirect applications, and edit the modem configuration via the Start->Settings->Control Panel->Modems dialog.

 

Part 9: Undocumented Features

Uninstalling DirectSOFT32 - Data Server
Please note that if you choose to uninstall DirectSOFT32 - Data Server, it will NOT remove any document files you have created. It will also leave user configuration files and data files that have been modified while using DSData. Feel free to delete these files yourself, if you wish.

*All product names, trademarks, and registered trademarks are the property of their respective manufacturers. Automationdirect.com, PLCDirect by Koyo, Inc., Koyo Electronics Industries Co., Ltd., and Host Engineering, Inc. disclaim any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.

README File for DirectSOFT32 - Data Server Version 3.0c

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