ETS5: one tool for ALL media

Embedded | Smart | Wireless

 ETS
Shanghai, Sydney, Buenos Its top improve-
Aires, Los Angeles, Lon- ments include:
don, Berlin – all over the • Integration of KNX ra-
world, building control en- dio frequency (KNX RF)
gineers use the product and components from
manufacturer-independent different manufacturers
Engineering Tool Software
to increase the energy ef- • USB dongle for easier
ficiency of buildings. This handling with 4 GB
standardised tool is cur- of storage for user data
rently available in 17 lan-
guages and can be used for • No database, hence
the installation of more than faster data imports and
7,000 KNX-certified devices exports
from 300 different manufac-
turers. In order to satisfy the • Improved user interface
latest technical, economic with more room for key
and global demands, the functions
KNX Association has now
completely redesigned its • For increased perfor-
Engineering Tool Software mance, usage as a 64-bit
(ETS) and added numerous application
functions. For example, for
the first time in version 5, • Parallel usage of ETS5
ETS allows quick and simple and the older versions
integration of wireless KNX ETS4 and ETS3 on the
components. Moreover, same computer
the database management
was considerably simplified,
and its new dongle allows oversee KNX systems need to Wireless components
greater flexibility in han- display more and more techni- now easier to integrate
dling projects. cal and money-saving expertise. With the new ETS5 it is now
The new version of the tool possible for the first time
The new ETS5 is the KNX offers numerous features for to work with ALL media
Association’s answer to the the convenient, cost-effective without exception: not just
demand for greater user- integration of KNX systems. wired media (TP, Powerline
friendliness, more powerful and Ethernet/IP) as before,
technology, and bigger cost but now also wireless radio
savings. The popularity of frequency (KNX RF). Wireless
applications based on bus te- solutions were always possible
chnology has increased many with KNX, but previously
times over. KNX installations they could only be integrated
are now more extensive, and into the KNX system using
functions in commercial as manufacturer-specific tools.
well as intelligent residential With ETS5, KNX RF devices
buildings have become more from different manufacturers
diverse. KNX solutions should can now communicate with
be able to handle major current the programming tool in a
challenges such as the need uniform way. Hence, it is
to make buildings as energy- therefore possible to use ETS
efficient as possible. Electri- to parameterise and set up
cians and system integrators KNX RF devices in exactly
who design, parameterise and ETS5 test workshop the same way as KNX TP,
PL and IP devices. This is licences are generally more
among other things thanks popular than computer-speci-
to the newly specified TP/RF fic (host ID-specific) licences,
Media Coupler. Thus, ETS5 ETS5 no longer supports the
allows KNX professionals to computer-specific variety.
automate existing buildings
with even more competence More room for images
than before. and documents
Users will appreciate the
Faster importing positive changes to the new
and exporting user interface. The frames are
Numerous improvements narrower and the work areas
have also been made to the larger, giving it a contemporary
IT system environment, sim- look similar to that of Windows
plifying installation and making 8. Its clarity will make work
ETS work faster. One key more intuitive for the user ETS5 start screen, improved overview with new designed and optimized view
change in this respect in ETS5 and facilitate the rapid para-
is the absence of a database. In meterisation of KNX projects.
the new version of the tool, the For example, the quick-access,
database that was previously database and projects tab have
needed for import and export been removed from the start
is no longer necessary. ETS5 menu, as this has been judged
accesses folders containing to be of lesser importance.
imported products and pro- The selection panels where
jects directly, streamlining the user can call up projects
workflows and so improving or read KNX news and other
project handling performance. information, on the other hand,
This speeds up the import and are now more prominent,
export of the data. taking up more space than
before. Also the building view
Storing the latest has been tidied up. Existing
project data in a dongle Group Addresses can now be
ETS5 uses a licence dongle linked directly within a single
that enables it to be used on window. Also more space has ETS5 product data file, additional manufacturer information within Online Catalog
make product selection easier
different computers. This been given to the Online Ca-
allows projects to be worked talog. The larger format allows
on in a very flexible way. A not just product information, application. This means it ETS installed as well. ETS5 can
new kind of USB dongle is but also complementary ima- offers full 64-bit power using be installed on a computer
being launched at the same ges, operating instructions and all available system resources, together with the previous
time as ETS5 that is smaller documents to be displayed plus increased speed and more versions, ETS4 and/or ETS3.
than the previous dongles, no more clearly in the new ETS. efficient project handling. This All three versions function
longer requires a driver and is particularly beneficial in case independently of one another,
contains an extra 4 GB of 64-bit technology of large projects, provided that which is particularly useful for
storage for user data. This will makes big projects the installed system compo- electricians who want to con-
simplify handling and speed up small nents are also 64-bit-enabled. tinue working on old projects
workflows. One particularly Like ETS4, ETS5 naturally with their old ETS.
convenient feature is that the supports the latest Microsoft Multiple installations
user can store his current operating systems such as no problem And all kinds
project directly on the don- Windows 7 and 8, and even Realistically, someone licensing of other benefits
gle. These project data are the latest Server 2012 versions. ETS5 is not immediately going Obviously, electricians and sys-
then directly available the What is completely new in to convert all of his projects tem integrators are interested
next time the dongle is used, ETS5 is that it no longer runs to the new version. So when in being able to work on ETS
even if that is on another only in 32-bit mode, but it working on projects it may projects in a quick, simple and
computer. Because dongle can also function as a 64-bit be convenient to have the old reliable way. ETS5 has been
ETS5 building view, buildings, devices and Group Addresses, all at a look for ETS5 workplace, embedded functions (here reports) improves the overview an
optimized workflows make work easier to do

improved in numerous ways to With this very commonly- • ETS5 Lite, the version for Highlights at a glance:
help them achieve this. used function, from ETS5 small and medium-sized
• Designed to meet the new,
Here are just a few examples: onwards it will be possible to projects tougher requirements placed
• Because ETS5 does not use filter on the basis of Group • ETS5 Professional, for pro- on building automation solu-
a database anymore, KNX Objects. jects of all sizes tions
• Integration of KNX radio
products that have been • The parameter change Existing ETS Apps can still be frequency (KNX RF) com-
imported into the software function and the overview used with ETS5. Naturally it ponents from a wide range
once immediately become of devices that have been is possible to import projects of different manufacturers
• USB dongle for easier handling
available for use in each selected several times – both created in ETS4, ETS3 and ETS2 with 4 GB of storage for user
new project. With the old already supported in ETS4 into ETS5. data
ETS2/3/4, products needed – have been improved once • No database, hence faster data
imports and exports
to be imported again and again: identical parameters Conclusion • Improved user interface with
again for each database. This now also display their true The new ETS5 considerably more room for key functions
is no longer necessary, which value. This gives users a lowers the entry barriers into • Even more performance when
used as a 64-bit application
saves considerable amounts quicker overview of changes the world of KNX. It is more • ETS5 and the older versions
of time. simultaneously performed than just a new version of the ETS4 and ETS3 can be in-
• ETS5 supports long frame on a large number of devices. world’s most successful bus stalled together on the same
computer
format, which substantially system for buildings; it is also
reduces the time to down- Complete a state-of-the-art tool available
load the corresponding interoperability in the system integrator’s own
components. ETS5 comes in three different language that he can use to
• Thanks to the use of dynamic versions: enhance his success in selling
folders, users can configure • ETS5 Demo, the free version home and building control
views according to their for mini-projects solutions.
individual requirements.

DEMO