INGEARDRIVERS

INGEAR.NET.LOGIX 3.0.2010.716 maintenance release is available for download.

• Updated INGEAR.NET.Interfaces 3.0 dll
• Updated soft license API dll to v4.1 for improved stability on Windows 7
• Corrects problem with reading UDT and STRING arrays
• Correct problem with thread locks

If you’re an existing NET.LOGIX 3.0 user or have a current Maintenance Subscription Plan you are qualified for a free update.

If you do not have a current Maintenance Subscription Plan, you can download the NET.LOGIX 3.0 for trial and evaluation.

NET.LOGIX 3.0 is a Visual Studio .NET communication class library for Allen-Bradley Control Logix, Compact Logix and Soft Logix programmable automation controllers.  Using Visual Basic.NET of Visual Studio C#, you can create and deploy Windows Programs, System Services, Console Applications, ASP .NET services and more runtime free.

>Download NET.LOGIX 3.0

INGEAR.NET.LOGIX v3.0 scheduled for release  in 2Q 2010.

Some of the new features packed into NET.LOGIX v3.0 include:

NEW – Logix.PeerMessage class for Unsolicited Messages

The Logix.PeerMessage class handles communications in the background and fires a MsgReceived event notification when the PLC sends data via a MSG instructions.  NET.LOGIX v3.0 supports 3 types of messages.

• CIP Data Table Write
  • Uses native tag addressing
  • Supports BOOL, SINT, INT, DINT, REAL, STRING, UDT, PDT and MDT data types

• SLC Typed Write
  • Supports MicroLogix and SLC (Ethernet IP) controllers
  • Supports I, O, B, N, S, F, A, L and ST data table files

• PLC-Type Write
  • Supports PLC-5 (Ethernet IP) controllers.
  • Supports I, O, B, N, S, F, A and ST data table files

The PeerMessage class automatically distinguishes between the 3 MSG types so there’s no special programming required on your end.   When the PLC sends you a message you’ll received a notification event, then just access message information through PeerMessage class members.

PeerMessage Class Members

NEW – Logix.DTEncoding Class for Defined Data Type Support

NET.LOGIX v3.0 also adds support for User-Defined Types (UDT’s), Pre-Defined Types (PDT’s) and Module Define Types (MDT’s).

The Logix.DTEncoding class facilitates reading and writing structured data types as blocks without having to read/write each ATOMIC member individually.

Defined Data Types is supported by the PeerMessage class as well.

For more information when on NET.LOGIX 3.0 please contact us at 610.935.8282 or email sales@ingeardrivers.com

> Download NET.LOGIX 2.0

INGEAR.NET.ABLINK v2.1.2010.402 maintenance release is available for download.

INGEAR.NET.ABLINK is a runtime free class library for Visual Studio .NET and Web developers that provides a direct communication pipeline to Allen-Bradley MicroLogix, SLC and PLC processors without the need for OPC Servers, RSLinx or third party drivers.

Improvements

• Improved CIP inactivity time out operation
• Stricter enforcement of Tag.Name property
• Restricts duplicate Tags in TagGroup collection

How to upgrade to NET.ABLINK v2.1.2010.402

• NET.ABLINK users that have a current NET.ABLINK Maintenance Subscription Plan are eligible for a free software update.

• NET.ABLINK users that have let their support expire must contact (sales@ingeardrivers.com) or call 1.866.935.797 (Toll Free US / Canada) Tel 1.610.935.8282 for pricing.

> Download INGEAR.NET.ABLINK

INGEAR.NET.LOGIX v.2.0.2010.324 maintenance release available for download.  This version corrects the following problems:

• Fixed “Invalid Tag.Name” exception from being thrown when a name contains a colon “:” character.  (e.g. Tag.Name = “Program:MyProgram.MyTag”)
• Fixed “Invalid Tag.Name” exception from being thrown if a numeric character followed the colon “:” character in the Tag.Name ( e.g. Tag.Name = “Local:2:I.Data.0″)
• Fixed problem with “Invalid Tag Name” exception not being thrown if there were mismatch in ‘[' and ']‘ characters in Tag.Name (e.g Tag.Name = “MyArray[0", or Tag.Name =" MyArray[0]]”)
• Fixed problem with IEC 1131 2.12 naming standard enforcement
• Fixed problem with cached tag write operation thrown “Tag.Value is null” exception”
• Fixed problem with Tag constructor Tag(Controller, Name, Data Type) throwing an exception when reading an element of a boolean array ( e.g new Tag(MyPLC, “MyBoolArray[0]“, Logix.Tag.Atomic.BOOL”)

How to upgrade to NET.LOGIX v2.0.2010.324

• NET.LOGIX users that have a current NET.LOGIX Maintenance Subscription Plan are eligible for a free software update.

• NET.LOGIX users that have let their support expire should contact (sales@ingeardrivers.com) or call 1.866.935.797 (Toll Free US / Canada) Tel 1.610.935.8282 for pricing.

> Download NET.LOGIX v2.0.2010.324

INGEAR.NET.LOGIX Visual Studio .NET class library for Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix programmable automation controllers has be updated to version 2.0.2010.311 to incorporate the following new features and improvements

• Improved CIP inactivity timeout behavior
• Added support for reading ControlLogix/CompactLogix CPU state
• Controller.GroupRead/GroupWrite reports partial failures
• TagGroup.ErrorString returns malformed/nonexistent tag names for GroupRead/Write operations
• Tag.Name property has stricter enforcement of IEC 1131 2.1.2 naming standard
• Improved STRING data type read/write operation

How to upgrade to NET.LOGIX v2.0.2010.311

• NET.LOGIX users that have a current NET.LOGIX Maintenance Subscription Plan are eligible for a free software update.

• NET.LOGIX users that have let their support expire should contact (sales@ingeardrivers.com) or call 1.866.935.797 (Toll Free US / Canada) Tel 1.610.935.8282 for pricing.

> Download NET.LOGIX v2.0.2010.311

CimQuest INGEAR is the developer and publisher of all INGEAR software titles including INGEAR.NET PLC communication class libraries.  As the authors of INGEAR  we provide our customers with direct sales and product support.  We also service the market and customers through strong relationships with our resellers and partners.  One such resell partner is Software Toolbox of Charlotte, NC.

A long term, and successful relationship began in 1996 when Software Toolbox was selected by CimQuest INGEAR to become a resell partner.  In 1996, the technology of the period was DDE and 16-bit VBX custom controls.  Over the years we’ve shared our knowledge, expertise and experience with Software Toolbox to benefit all of our users.  Today’s INGEAR products include PLC ActiveX controls, OPC and .NET technologies that run as ASP.NET web Services, Windows 32/64 bit programs and mobile applications for Windows CE devices.

With our long history and successful track record with Software Toolbox, we have a large customer base developing highly customizable HMI applications in Visual Studio .NET that is saving those companies untold thousands of dollars in software fee’s because of INGEAR’s run-time free redistribution and deployment license.

The number of third party tools offered by Software Toolbox such as Symbol Factory .NET and Industrial Gadgets combined with a single point of purchase makes INGEAR.NET a complete and cost-effective solution.

Software Toolbox provides their customers with outstanding high-level sales and support for INGEAR software.  And, their users can be rest assured that when they purchase an INGEAR software title, they can rely on CimQuest INGEAR working closely with the application experts at Software Toolbox to resolve all their support incidents.

John Weber, president of Software Toolbox, says “The CimQuest INGEAR was one of the first developer partners we connected with when we started Software Toolbox in late 1996.   The creative development expertise of the INGEAR team has delivered unique and powerful software products. CimQuest INGEAR continues to innovate and bring us new products that we look forward to introducing to our clients.”

Congratulations to Dennis Tindall of www.machineworker.com for being selected as our winner to receive an Acer Aspire One netbook computer for our October drawing.

If you have not entered the INGEAR Netbook give-away, please do you now, you still have 2 more chances to win.

About Dennis Tindall:

Dennis is an independent BSEE contractor that provides system integration, controls and software development services for global customers.

According to Dennis “one of the major opportunities with today’s machine data collection systems are polling or ‘Pull’ strategies.  Generally, software providers develop systems that utilize a plant server and/or local PC to continuously poll machines at a periodic frequency and ‘Pull’ data from a PLC.  This approach limits the amount of data that can be collected,  as well as  placing a premium on network bandwidth . When process cycle times approach one second intervals, this  architecture begins to fail.

One solution to this problem implements an embedded system that buffers data at the machine or PLC level.   The embedded system connects directly to the PLC, using INGEAR.NET class libraries where  PLC  data is analyzed then stored to a database.  This  architecture can  ‘Push’ groups of data to a plant sever at maintainable and consistent frequency, permitting collection, analysis, and storage of detailed machines data approaching 30 millisecond  update rates. Additionally, this system architecture can buffer data in the event that the plant server becomes unavailable”.

Dennis is currently developing a Silverlight database application front end, with a Visual Studio 2008 embedded back end.

Dennis Tindall can be reached at dennistindall@machineworker.com

INGEAR.NET.ABLINK Visual Studio .NET class library for Allen-Bradley MicroLogix, SLC and PLC-5 programmable logic controllers has been updated to version 2.1.929.

INGEAR.NET.ABLINK v2.1.929 corrects and improves the following:

• Added unlimited ASP.NET web service deployment to Developers Edition
• Corrected problem with GroupRead operation.  If group collection contained Tag(s) with .Length property > 1, an “Index out of Range: exception may occur under certain conditions.
• Changed internal string conversion from UTF7Encoding to ASCIIEncoding
• Added Web Service Example

INGEAR.NET.ABLINK is part of a family of class libraries for developing runtime free HMI application using Visual Studio .NET.  For more information see www.ingeardrivers.com/dot_net_software

About CimQuest INGEAR

CimQuest INGEAR is a world leading developer and publisher of software tools and components for industrial and manufacturing applications.  Since 1993, CimQuest INGEAR has provide high quality runtime free PLC communication tools and library components for Visual Studio programmers and developers.  INGEAR software is relied on world-wide by manufacturers, system integrators, OEM’s and end users for process and machine control, data acquisition and HMI/SCADA applications that serve all segments of industrial automation.

CimQuest INGEAR

518 Kimberton Rd – Ste 325

Phoenixville, PA 19460

Toll Free US/Canada: 1.866.935.7979

Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

www.ingeardrivers.com

Sept. 22, 2009.  Phoenixville, PA – CimQuest INGEAR, a leading global developer and publisher of PLC HMI and PLC communications software tools for Visual Studio.NET programmers has announced the release of INGEAR.NET v2 class libraries.  INGEAR.NET v2 HMI software includes numerous under-the-hood optimizations and improvements, along with runtime free web service licensing for ASP.NET deployments to the Developers Edition.

INGEAR.NET software libraries are callable Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs), which are added as references to any Visual Studio.NET project.  They are easy-to-use classes that eliminate need for OPC servers, and complex coding required for interfacing to OPC completely.  INGEAR.NET libraries gives any Visual Studio.NET project a direct communication pipeline to PLC’s and other controllers without need for middle layers of software.  The results are small, tight, fast and reliable HMI, or data acquisition and control applications built on the Microsoft .NET framework.

INGEAR.NET software provides a common framework for developing Windows programs, console applications, system services, custom classes, web services and pages using Visual Studio .NET as the platform.

INGEAR.NET supports Windows x86 and 64-bit operating systems as well as Windows Server and Windows 7.  CimQuest offers Windows Compact Framework editions of INGEAR.NET for CE panel, PDA and mobile device application development.

With virtually no limits, and roughly the price of just a single OPC Server, INGEAR.NET users are granted runtime free distribution of their applications which leads to enormous cost savings in software deployment fees.

INGEAR.NET software titles include;

• NET.LOGIX for Allen-Bradley ControlLogix / CompactLogix
• NET.ABLINK for Allen-Bradley MicroLogix / SLC / PLC
• NET.GELINK for GE-Fanuc SRTP Ethernet Controllers
• NET.MBLINK for MODBUS devices and controllers

CimQuest also provides digital dashboard instrumentation and controls for developing user interfaces for HMI/MMI projects.

For more information see (http://www.ingeardrivers.com/dot_net_software)

Free trials are available for download and evaluation.  As a bonus, from now until Dec 15^th. CimQuest INGEAR is giving away 3 Netbook computers. Just complete the form to be entered into the drawing.

About CimQuest INGEAR

CimQuest INGEAR is a world leading developer and publisher of software tools and components for industrial and manufacturing applications.  Since 1993, CimQuest INGEAR has provide high quality runtime free PLC communication tools and library components for Visual Studio programmers and developers.  INGEAR software is relied on world-wide by manufacturers, system integrators, OEM’s and end users for process and machine control, data acquisition and HMI/SCADA applications that serve all segments of industrial automation.

CimQuest INGEAR

518 Kimberton Rd – Ste 325

Phoenixville, PA 19460

Toll Free US/Canada: 1.866.935.7979

Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

www.ingeardrivers.com

INGEAR.NET.LOGIX 2.0 (build 2.0.908) update is available for immediately download.  This update corrects the following problems.

• STRING data type writes would fail when used in a TagGroup collection.  (i.e Controller.GroupWrite operation)
• Controller.GroupRead would report all Tag.QualityCode as QUAL_BAD if there were one of more invalid Tag classes in the TagGroup collection.

INGEAR.NET.LOGIX is a Visual Studio .NET class library for developing data acquisition and control applications for Allen-Bradley Control Logix, Compact Logix and Soft Logix programmable automation controllers for Desktop, Web and Windows CE deployment.

For more information on INGEAR.NET.LOGIX 2.0 and other INGEAR.NET software titles for Visual Studio .NET visit:

http://www.ingeardrivers.com/dot_net_software/dotnet_software.htm