11/29/2010 New feature...

Addition of the FTP client to PeakHMI is complete. Here is a screen shot of the port configuration screen.

The number of configured ports is unlimited. All settings are under script control.

Another change has to do with the database engine. The one we have used for several years was a very powerful database that used a combination of memory and hard drive to maintain the open database. On rare occasion, when PeakHMI runtime was executing and the PC power was shut off and the OS had not been shutdown, the "alarms log" database became corrupted. PeakHMI would then not restart properly until the database files were deleted or repaired. PeakHMI contained logic to attempt to repair the corrupted files but, it was not always successful. We have now shifted to a database engine that is memory only and the database tables are saved to disk at program command. This will prevent the database corruption on power failure. Existing projects and all database files are automatically converted to the new database format.

First posting

PeakHMI is always being improved by adding drivers, new graphic elements, speed enhancements, testing, additional documentation, videos, customer requested additions, etc..

When I post to sites about updates or talk with people about what is new or in process, I sometimes forget to mention an item that I later think should have been mentioned.

I have added this blog to improve communications about what is occurring with PeakHMI.

Let's start now.

Currently in development are two items. The first is an FTP client to PeakHMI. It will allow transferring a file to or from an FTP server at runtime. The settings can be fixed and are also are under script control, the file or files can be zipped before transmitting, the FTP object runs in a background thread and it is very fast. It would mainly be used to transfer alarm or event logs or really any file or complete directory, at anytime. The configuration programming is almost complete and the runtime additions will begin soon.

The other item is software and hardware. The additions to PeakHMI are complete and the hardware is on revision 2 of the board. It is a USB digital I/O board. It has 15 inputs and 15 outputs at 24 VDC. The inputs are optically isolated and the outputs are optically isolated with a common ground.  It uses the standard OS drivers  and can be used by any program that can access the drivers. In the configuration of PeakHMI the I/O is assigned a tag and responds as any other digital tag from a PLC, drive, gateway, etc.. Each device has a unique ID allowing for multiple devices on the same PC.

I will strive to keep this blog updated and as always if you have a feature request or need some help, let me know.