Blue Open Studio Import Tool For Panelmate Users Guide
Blue Open Studio Import Tool For Panelmate Users Guide
BOS-PANELMATE_01
BLUE Open Studio Import Tool for PanelMate™
Contents
Contents.................................................................................................................... 2
Introduction .............................................................................................................. 3
Import Wizard Requirements .................................................................................. 5
Import Wizard Procedure......................................................................................... 6
Release Notes ........................................................................................................... 9
Graphical Interface ......................................................................................................................... 9
Graphical Objects ........................................................................................................................... 9
Special Tags for Graphic Interface Support ................................................................................. 11
Alarm Configuration ...................................................................................................................... 12
Security System ............................................................................................................................ 12
Communication Interface.............................................................................................................. 13
Additional Notes ..................................................................................................... 15
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BLUE Open Studio Import Tool for PanelMate™
Introduction
Pro-face introduces the BLUE Open Studio Import Tool for PanelMate — a powerful, flexible,
easy-to-use tool that expands the capabilities of your installed plant floor systems. The BLUE Open Studio
Import Tool is a fast and intuitive wizard for importing applications created with PanelMate Plus software
into BLUE Open Studio (BOS).
Note:
The BLUE Open Studio Import Tool for PanelMate™ is compatible with applications
based on the the PanelMate Plus Configuration Editor – Version 4.01b0. Applications
created with different versionf of this software may be incompatible with the import wizard.
Caution:
The BLUE Open Studio Import Tool for PanelMate™ is an Add-On feature of BOS.
Your license needs to support this specific feature; otherwise, you will be unable to use it.
Please consult your software vendor for further information.
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BLUE Open Studio Import Tool for PanelMate™
After importing an application into BLUE Open Studio, you can take advantage of these BOS features:
Flexibility: BOS can run the application on any Microsoft® Windows® platform (7/8.1/10 and Servers).
Expansibility: You can use the BLUE Open Studio development suite to add functionality to your
application in the form of historical data, XML reports, math scripts, etc.
Connectivity: Because the application is running under the BLUE Open Studio runtime, you can take
advantage of all connectivity tools embedded in the BOS package, such as:
– Communication drivers for several protocols from different manufacturers (Modbus, Profibus DP,
DeviceNET, ControlNET, Siemens S7 – MPI/PPI, Siemens S5 – RK512, GE-Fanuc SNP/SRTP
and many others)
– OPC client and server interfaces
– XML and ADO interfaces to exchange data with third-party systems, such as Enterprise Resource
Planning (ERP) systems
– API Toolkits to integrate the application with third-party programs written in any language that
supports DLLs (VB, C, C++, and so on)
– TCP/IP modules for redundant and networked applications
– Web solution that provides remote access to your application using just a Web browser, through
any TCP/IP link (intranet, internet, or dial-up connection)
– Remote management and debugging tools that allow you to manage (download, upload, run, stop
and debug) your application remotely from a development station
The Import Tool’s greatest advantage is how easy it is to use, which can dramatically reduce the cost and
hassle of modernizing the automation systems in your facility.
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BLUE Open Studio Import Tool for PanelMate™
Note:
You can run the BOS development system on Windows 7/8/10 and Server operating
systems. For detailed information about BOS hardware and software requirements, see
the BLUE Open Studio User’s Guide and Technical Reference Manual.
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BLUE Open Studio Import Tool for PanelMate™
Use the following procedure to import the PanelMate application report into BOS:
1. Start BLUE Open Studio, running it as Administrator, by selecting Start > All Programs > BLUE Open
Studio > right-clicking on “BLUE Open Studio” and selecting Run as Administrator
2. When BOS opens, click the Home > Tools > Import Wizard. This opens the BLUE Open Studio Import Tool
Wizard:
Note:
You can use the BOS Import Wizard to import application data from sources other than
PanelMate applications. For more information about importing other application types,
refer to the BLUE Open Studio Users Guide and Technical Reference Manual.
3. When the Import Wizard dialog displays, click BLUE Open Studio Import Tool for PanelMate™ from the
Source Type list, and then click Next.
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BLUE Open Studio Import Tool for PanelMate™
Note:
If the BLUE Open Studio license installed in your computer does not support the BLUE
Open Studio Import Tool for PanelMate™, you will be unable to proceed.
4. Use this dialog to specify the following import parameters, and then click Next.:
Do not import duplicate tags radio button: Click (enable) this option to prevent the Import Tool for
PanelMate™ Application Wizard from importing tags with the same name as tags in the current
BOS application database.
Replace duplicates with tags imported radio button: Click (enable) this option if you want the wizard to
replace duplicate tag properties in the current BOS application database.
Use prefix check-box and text box: Click (enable) this option if you want to add a prefix to all imported
tags. Because you can import multiple PanelMate applications into a single BOS application, this
feature is provided to help you identify where the imported application tags originated and to avoid
duplications. Enter a prefix into the text field.
Import Screens check-box and text field: Clear (disable) this option to prevent the wizard from
importing the PanelMate application screens.
Model Folder textbox: This field displays the path and name of the folder where the PanelMate
application database is saved. The customary location is C:\PMCONFIG\MODEL, in a computer
where the PanelMate programming software is installed. Click the Browse button to select a
different folder.
Application combo box: If you select a model folder containing a valid PanelMate application
database, a list of all applications stored in the database will appear in this combo box. Click on the
application you want to import.
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BLUE Open Studio Import Tool for PanelMate™
The Import Wizard will read the database and then display a new dialog listing all the tags in the report
file (similar to the following figure).
You can import gray tags (by clicking in the check-box to the left of the tag name), as long as you do
not exceed the number of tags allowed by your BOS license.
5. Click the Finish button to import the application according to the import parameters you specified in the
previous step.
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BLUE Open Studio Import Tool for PanelMate™
Release Notes
The BLUE Open Studio Import Tool can be enhanced for future versions; this release implements the
most important features.
Because both BLUE Open Studio is much more powerful than PanelMate, it is possible to work around the
items that are not imported by implementing some minor changes in the application. If, however, your
application uses one of the features that the import wizard does not import, and you think that you will spend
a lot of time implementing this feature in your application, please contact your BLUE Open Studio
representative or send an e-mail to your vendor. We will analyze the feasibility of implementing that specific
feature.
Graphical Interface
The graphical tools offered by BLUE Open Studio software surpass the capabilities of any other tool
available on the market. Also, the same features can be available in several software products but
implemented differently in each.
When you import a PanelMate application with the Import Tool, you will notice that the imported graphical
interface may look slightly different from the original one. The text fonts may change, and scrollbars may
appear inside some visual components. This occurs because the development philosophy at BLUE Open
Studio is to implement Windows standards; PanelMate applications are tied to other very specific hardware
and software vendors and standards.
Despite these differences, the Import Tool creates an BOS application that closely simulates the look and
feel of the PanelMate user interface. After you have imported a PanelMate application, you can enhance its
functionality by using the superior graphical components available in BOS.
Graphical Objects
The Import Tool converts every page of a PanelMate application into an BOS screen file named
ScreenXX.src, where XX is the number of the page. The wizard creates additional screens, with names
prefixed by Screen and Crtl. These screens provide support for the dynamics of many graphical
elements, and must not be removed from the application.
BOS graphic components are generally more sophisticated than PanelMate elements. In order to
reproduce the appearance and behavior of a PanelMate application in the BOS environment, the Import
Tool translates most PanelMate templates into groups of several BOS objects. These groups of objects
contain dynamics and VBScript code that enable them to behave like their counterparts in PanelMate.
crude
The next table lists all the objects supported by PanelMate, and briefly describes how these objects are
mapped to BOS components. Some features of these components are not supported in this release of the
Import Tool.
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BLUE Open Studio Import Tool for PanelMate™
Note:
Customizations implemented in the Normal font (PanelMate dialog Screen fonts) are
ignored by the Import Tool.
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BLUE Open Studio Import Tool for PanelMate™
Caution:
Do not remove the Classes and Tags mentioned in this chapter. If you do so, the
application will not function properly.
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BLUE Open Studio Import Tool for PanelMate™
Alarm Configuration
PanelMate offers two types of alarms: high-low (HiLo) alarm and conditional expression alarm. Both types
are supported by the Import Tool.
An auxiliary alarm tag named [Tag Prefix]ALR[XXXX] is created for each alarm condition, where [Tag
Prefix] is the prefix entered in the Wizard dialog, and [XXXX] is a sequential number with four digits.
For hi-lo alarms, the auxiliary alarm tag is created and its hilimit and lolimit properties are set. A math
sheet is created to fill this tag with the result of the alarm expression defined in PanelMate. Two alarm
condition entries are created in the alarm worksheet: Hi and Lo.
For conditional expression alarms, the auxiliary alarm tag is created, and its hilimit is set to 1. A math
sheet is created to fill this tag with the result of the alarm expression defined in PanelMate. One alarm
condition entry is created in the alarm worksheet: Hi.
After the application is imported, two new alarm worksheets are created: one for Aknowledgable alarms and
the other for Non-Aknowledgable alarms.
Note:
Deadband ranges for HiLo alarms are not imported. You must fill them manually, in the
respective alarm worksheet.
Security System
The current version of Import Wizard does not import the security system automatically. After importing the
application, you can reconfigure the security system manually, using the Security System editor from BOS.
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BLUE Open Studio Import Tool for PanelMate™
Communication Interface
This release implements the most important communication drivers. However, some communication
settings may be different from the original configuration, due to the way that BLUE Open Studio treats the
information. Most of the applications should not be affected by these differences, but in some cases small
changes will be required. The next table lists the drivers supported by the Import Wizard, along with their
limitations.
BOS
PanelMate Plus
Protocol Driver Limitations, Restrictions and Remarks
Driver Name
Name
Format fields (specified after the #
character in PLC Word References) are
ignored.
Addresses of only one PLC (the first in the
Allen-Bradley
DF1 Serial ABKE list) are imported.
Serial
Signed and Unsigned variables will be
imported as signed.
BCD 4 Data Type is not supported by BOS
(File Type D).
In order to communicate using
Allen-Bradley Remote I/O, you will have to
acquire a specific board for these
protocols. Please refer to the BLUE Open
Studio STRIO Driver documentation for
more information about the hardware
needed.
Format fields (specified after the #
character in PLC Word References) are
ignored.
Signed and Unsigned variables will be
Allen-Bradley imported as signed.
RIO (Remote I/O) STRIO
Remote I/O Double words are not supported.
You cannot have PLCs from different
families in the same network.
PanelMate offers four directions for Active
Block Transfer: Read, Write, Common and
Pass-Through. Only Read and Write are
supported by BOS. The others are
converted to Read in the import process.
PanelMate supports up to 32 racks in its
rack table. BOS supports four racks, one
for each channel. Only the four first racks in
the table are imported.
Format fields (specified after the #
character in PLC Word References) are
Modicon ASCII ignored.
Addresses of only one PLC (the first in the
Modbus Serial or MODBU list) are imported.
Signed and Unsigned variables will be
Modicon RTU imported as signed.
BCD Data Type is not supported.
Char Array data types are not supported.
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BLUE Open Studio Import Tool for PanelMate™
BOS
PanelMate Plus
Protocol Driver Limitations, Restrictions and Remarks
Driver Name
Name
Format fields (specified after the #
character in PLC Word References) are
ignored.
Addresses of only one PLC (the first in the
Modicon Modbus
Modbus Plus MODPL list) are imported.
Plus
Signed and Unsigned variables will be
imported as signed.
Global Data addresses (900xx and G00xx)
are not imported.
Note:
Driver configuration can be imported only once into an BOS application. If you change the
communication settings of a PanelMate application and try to import it again over a previously
imported application, the new settings will not be imported. You have to create a new blank BOS
application and import the modified PanelMate application into it.
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BLUE Open Studio Import Tool for PanelMate™
Additional Notes
The BLUE Open Studio Import Tool for PanelMate™ is compatible with applications based on the the
PanelMate Plus Configuration Editor – Version 4.01b0. Applications created with different versions of this
software may be incompatible with the Import Wizard. This may occur because the way of storing these
components in the database may change from one version to another, and the importer may not
recognize them as valid components. If possible, try to convert your application to this version of
PanelMate before importing it.
Security: BOS offers a security model that is very different from the one supported by PanelMate. Due to
this difference, the PanelMate passwords and protection configuration are not imported. After importing
the application, you can reconfigure the security system for the application using the BOS scheme.
Alarms: Alarms are also configured differently in BOS and PanelMate. In PanelMate, the alarm
configuration is made inside the graphical interface components, while BOS offers separate worksheets
for alarm definitions, in a more flexible architecture. For more information about alarms, look at the Alarm
Configuration section in this document.
Message Library: PanelMate has a message library, where the messages for all the display templates
are stored. After the importing process is finished, these messages are copied into the file
Messages.csv, in the Symbol directory. You can edit this file if you need to change the messages.
System Online Labels: This feature is ignored by the Import Tool. The application is imported using the
default system labels.
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