Version 2009 Features and Changes (DSC Module)
Edition Date: June 2009
Part Number: 371618E-01
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Refer to the LabVIEW Datalogging and Supervisory Control Module Release and Upgrade Notes for information about system requirements and installation instructions, a complete list of new features and changes, and compatibility and upgrade issues you might encounter when you use the LabVIEW 2009 Datalogging and Supervisory Control (DSC) Module.
Refer to the readme_DSC.html file in the labview\readme directory for a partial list of bugs fixed.
The following sections describe the new features in the DSC Module.
Enhancements to the NI Distributed System Manager
Use the NI Distributed System Manager to create and monitor shared variables, network variables, processes, and I/O servers. You also can use the System Manager to manage security and aliases. In LabVIEW, select Tools»Distributed System Manager to launch the System Manager.
The DSC Module includes the following enhancements to the System Manager:
- Monitoring historical data—Use the Historical Trend view, available by right-clicking a system tree pane object and selecting View Historical Data from the shortcut menu, to monitor historical trends for one or multiple shared variables.
- Registering computers—Use the Register Computer dialog box, available by selecting Actions»Register Computer, to register remote computers. The System Manager adds the registered computers under the Network Items folder in the system tree pane.
- Enabling logging for processes—Use the Add Process dialog box, available by right-clicking a system on the system tree pane and selecting Add Process from the shortcut menu, to enable logging for processes. You need to enable logging for shared variables and processes to log data from the Shared Variable Engine (SVE) to the Citadel database.
Enhancements to Custom I/O Servers
The DSC Module includes the following enhancements to custom I/O servers.
Distributing Custom I/O Servers Automatically
When you build an application that includes custom I/O servers, the LabVIEW Application Builder detects and copies all dependent custom I/O servers to the LVDSC folder inside the same directory as the build. When you deploy the built application to the target computer, LabVIEW distributes the custom I/O servers to the target computer automatically. You no longer have to copy the dependent custom I/O servers to the target computer.
Upgrading Custom I/O Servers Automatically
LabVIEW upgrades dependent custom I/O servers to the latest version automatically when you deploy an application in the DSC Module or the DSC Module Run-Time System.
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Note The automatic upgrade feature supports only custom I/O servers configured in LabVIEW 8.5 or later. |
Monitoring Custom I/O Servers
The System Manager displays status and error information about the custom I/O servers that you deploy to the SVE. Use the System Manager to monitor and debug custom I/O servers.
Using EPICS Server I/O Servers
EPICS, or the Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System, is a set of open-source software tools you can use to develop large, distributed control systems. EPICS systems use the Channel Access (CA) network protocol to pass data between EPICS client and EPICS servers, also known as input/output controllers (IOCs). The CA network protocol is an Ethernet-based protocol.
The DSC Module acts as an EPICS server and an EPICS client. You can create EPICS Server I/O servers in the DSC Module to publish local and remote shared variables and I/O data to an EPICS network. Use EPICS Client I/O servers or third-party EPICS clients to monitor and update these shared variables.
In the Project Explorer window, right-click a target, such as the My Computer target, and select New»I/O Server from the shortcut menu. In the Create New I/O Server dialog box, select EPICS Server and click the Continue button to create an EPICS Server I/O server.
New DSC Module VIs
The DSC Module includes the following new VIs.
Tags VIs
The DSC Module palette includes the new Tags palette with the following new VIs:
- Acknowledge Alarms by Tag Name
- Close Tag Reader
- Open Tag Reader
- Read Current Tag Trace as Trend
- Read Tag
- Read Tag Alarms
- Read Tag Trace
- Redirect Root URL
- Write Tag
Utility VIs
The Tags palette includes the new Utility palette with the following new VIs and functions:
- Configure Front Panel Binding
- Get Database Info
- Get Path Separator
- Get Published Tag Names
- Get Quality Summary
- Get Redirect User Event
- Get Root URL
- Get Variable URL
- Not a Valid Tag Reader
Other New VIs
- Configure Alarming
- Configure Description
- Configure Initial Value
- Configure Logging
- Configure Network
- Configure Process Log State
- Configure Scaling
- Configure Update Deadband
- Shared Variable Error from Quality
DSC Module Run-Time System Support for Touch Panel Devices
You can distribute a built application to a Touch Panel target by installing the DSC Module Run-Time System on the Touch Panel device.
Navigation Controls for Multi-Panel Applications
Use the navigation controls located on the System and Modern palettes to navigate through multiple front panels in an application. Navigation controls include the Previous Button, Next Button, and Jump Button controls.
New DSC Module Examples
The DSC Module includes the following new examples:
- Citadel Web Services—This example demonstrates how to export the DSC Module database functionality into Web services and request historical data from remote computers. Refer to the readme.html file in the labview\examples\lvdsc\Applications\Citadel Web Service\Citadel Web Services.lvproj for information about using this example.
- Navigation Controls—This example demonstrates how to use the navigation controls and integrate the navigation controls into DSC Module applications. Access this example by double-clicking the Main VI in the labview\examples\TouchPanel\Navigation Controls\Navigation Controls.lvproj.