Connecting DASYLab to the Fieldpoint OPC Server through a Datasocket Connection
PrintOverview
This document shows how to access Fieldpoint distributed I/O from DASYLab using Datasocket. Because Fieldpoint Explorer is an OPC server, Datasocket can be use to connect through OPC to all channels that have been configured.
NOTE: In order to proceed with the tutorial, DASYLab with Datasocket support must be installed, as well as Fieldpoint Explorer. All input/output modules should be properly configured in Fieldpoint Explorer and the configurations saved in a *.iak file.
Configuring the Fieldpoint OPC Connection
1. Launch DASYLab and select Modules>>Network>>Datasocket Import
Figure 1.
2. Paste the DataSocket Import object onto the panel.
3. Double-click the object to bring up the Datasocket Import Setup dialog
Figure 2.
4. Click the pull-down for the Connection Type and select OPC.
5. If Fieldpoint Explorer is installed on the same machine that you are setting up your DASYLab application, leave the Machine Name as localhost, otherwise, enter the computer name for the computer on your network where the Fieldpoint server resides.
NOTE: In order to connect to a remote OPC server, both machines must have Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) installed and correctly configured. See the link below.
6. Click the Select Item button and browse to the NationalInstruments.OPCFieldpoint server and select the COMM resource, Fieldpoint module and channel that you would like to monitor. Click OK.
Figure 3.
NOTE: You can configure the Datasocket Import object to monitor up to 16 different channels. In order to do this, click on the Add button to increase the channel count. Then click on each individual channel that you have create in order to configure the OPC connection.
Figure 4.
Another consideration that should be made is how often the OPC server is polled for new data. If you configure the Datasocket object to read often, there may be an overflow of data. The poll rate can be change by selecting the Options button on the Datasocket Import Setup dialog and adjusting the time in which data is returned.
Figure 5.
If changes were made, Click OK to exit the DataSocket Import Options.
7. Click OK to complete the Datasocket setup.
Viewing the Data from Fieldpoint Channels
After the Datasocket Import object has been completely configured, you can set up your DASYLab application to display or utilize the data in any way you wish. In the example below, two channels from a FP-TC-120 are being read with the DataSocket Import object and displayed on a Digital Multimeter.
Figure 6.
For more general information on DASYLab programming or support, please reference the DASYLab product page or DASYLab support page.
Related Links:
DASYLab Product Page
DASYLab Support
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