INGEARDRIVERS

INGEAR.NET.LOGIX 3.0.2010.729 maintenance release is available for download.   This build corrects the follow problems:

• Fixes problem with writing UDT with new instance of  Tag class.
• Fixes problem with TagGroup reading arrayed tags

NET.LOGIX is an easy to use Visual Studio .NET class library for Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix programmable automation controllers.

> Download NET.LOGIX 3.0

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

INGEAR Allen-Bradley ActiveX Studio 6.0

Studio 6.0

INGEAR Allen-Bradley ActiveX Studio 6.0 has been released and is available for immediate download.  Among the numerous improvements for Studio 6.0 include:

• Support for 64-Bit Windows
• Support for Windows 7
• Optional USB License Key Dongle
• Improved CIP communications
• Improved error reporting
• Updated example files and projects

How to Upgrade to Studio 6.0

Studio 5.2 Developer Edition users that have a current ActiveX Studio Maintenance and Subscription plan are eligible for a free software update.

Studio 5.2 users that have let their support expire, should contact INGEAR Sales (1.866.935.7979 Toll Free US/Canada | 1.610.935.8282) for pro-rated upgrade pricing.

Studio 5.1, 5.0, 4.5 and 4.0 users should contact INGEAR Sales (1.866.935.7979 Toll Free US/Canada | 1.610.935.8282) for pro-rated upgrade pricing.

Contact us Monday-Friday (8:30a-5:30p) for additional information

CimQuest INGEAR
518 Kimberton Rd | Suite 325
Phoenixville, PA 19460
1.866.935.7979 (Toll Free US/Canada)
1.610.935.8282 (All other locations)
www.ingeardrivers.com

INGEAR.NET PLC class libraries for Visual Studio .NET are now available with an optional USB License Key (”Dongle”).  The USB license is offered on Developer Editions of:

• INGEAR.NET.LOGIX for Allen-Bradley ControlLogix/CompactLogix
• INGEAR.NET.ABLINK for Allen-Bradley MicroLogix, SLC and PLC-5
• INGEAR.NET.MBLINK for MODBUS Devices and Controllers
• INGEAR.NET.GELINK for GE Fanuc SRTP Ethernet Controllers

A USB License Key provides developers the utmost in flexibility when moving a INGEAR.NET license between computers.

For complete details about the USB Key, included purchasing and upgrades see this link

www.ingeardrivers.com/usbkey

or contact the INGEAR sales desk
1.866.935.7979 (Toll Free US/Canada)
1.610.935.8282 (All other locations)

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