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Issue With the standard real-time data retrieval from controllers using Node Red or EcoStruxure Operator Terminal Expert, we must add Modbus addresses to Unity Pro/EcoStruxure Control Expert variables. This increases the deployment time and effort considering that there may be iterations leading to the final variable list. Since Modbus deals natively with bytes, and the Modbus nodes generally provide data in 16-bit numbers (int, word), they must be further converted to 32-bit types using additional nodes or JS functions. Bit extraction from words also need separate nodes. Often WiFi media is used to connect the EcoStruxure Augmented Operator Advisor App on a tablet to the EcoStruxure Augmented Operator Advisor runtime. The WiFi network and/or WiFi devices may not be secure. Hence, these must be placed in an untrusted zone separated from the trusted SCADA+Controller zone by a firewall. Incoming connections from untrusted zones to trusted zones should be avoided. Outgoing connections from the trusted zone to untrusted zones can be allowed and must be monitored. To protect the controller from accidental/malicious Modbus commands, a deep packet inspection firewall (E.g. Tofino) is required. Resolution As a proof-of-concept, this article proposes to write real-time data from CItect SCADA to the EcoStruxure Augmented Operator Advisor Runtime via HTTP/json commands. This approach can mitigate the issues described above. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.

Issue The development of complex and customized systems requires time and investment and most of them do not reach the expected return. The platforms open source combined with cloud based data analytics tools can add value quickly and with a low development and effort cost according to the MVP concept (Minimum Viable Product). Resolution This document shows how to integrate Node-RED (open source tool) with Schneider Electric cloud based Analytics tool Machine Advisor in an easy manner. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.

Issue For traceability reasons, it is sometimes necessary to time-stamp modifications made by the operator on the HMI and the controller's actions. The archiving function is one possibility. Another lighter option is to use the HMI log file. This function can be accessed directly from the HMI, using a few C# functions to record events. It can also be used to debug C# code to display messages or values, without having to use the debugging tool (Visual Studio) or the message boxes that require acknowledgement. Resolution The aim of this document is to provide the information required to use the HMI log file. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.

Issue The configuration of an MMM system with routes, starting and stopping assets in sequence, taking into account security and associated supervision, is not easy to achieve. Resolution EcoStruxure Process Expert and the MMM library allow to realize these functions and the associated supervision by simple parameterization. The document presents the functional description of an MMM process managing conveyor belts, valves and tanks and how to develop the system with a group control function used to start and stop the assets in sequence. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.

Issue Cannot access the EcoStruxure Control Expert Security Editor tool because of SystemAdmin's password being lost or forgotten. Resolution Using the attached article its possible to clear the Security Editor database properly to enable login again. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.

In 2019 EcoStruxure Process Expert was released with a new General Purpose Library for Situational Awareness – GPL SA - as its default library. This is a new library and while functionally like previous General Purpose Library – GPL Classic - there is no direct upgrade between the libraries. Instead the existing library is maintained and supported for existing customers. If projects or customers want to leverage the new general process library, they must migrate their project between the libraries and re-draw their graphics screens...

Issue Explicit messaging can be used more effectively instead of implicit messaging in a few use cases. E.g. polling multiple services devices connected through a Modbus TCP to serial gateway; or configuring event-based read/write communication instead of cyclic ones. EcoStruxure Control Expert provides many function blocks for explicit messaging. The Data_Exch block stands out as it allows to program any Modbus or Ethernet/IP query required by the users. However, from its user manual, it's not so clear on how to go about it. Resolution This article can be read as additional guidance to users apart from the block's user manual. Focus is on using this block for any Modbus query, and as an example, Function codes 22 and 23 are implemented. Usage of Data_Exch over Ethernet/IP is not included as it has been well described in an existing document. Download link for the sample section: https://schneider-electric.box.com/s/e0er959u70biofuwpjtmoqxh44zdzngs Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.

Issue Using Modbus serial communication with third-party equipment requires complex logic to manage priorities and diagnostics. Resolution The General Purpose library (GPL) has powerful functions and only needs a simple configuration for the implementation of this communication. This document shows the implementation of a serial Modbus client and scanner communication, in EcoStruxure Process Expert. The GPL library is also available for EcoStruxure Control expert as a standalone library and the two examples described can be easily reused on this software platform. Library link: https://shop.exchange.se.com/en-US/apps/66288/general-purpose-library-v2-for-ecostruxure-control-exp... Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.

Issue Kinematic calculations help to transform joint into cartesian values and vice versa. But how to define the robot arm configuration (e.g. elbow up or elbow down) while sending the robot to a defined position in cartesian space? Resolution Using inverse kinematics the mendatory entry of a reference positions solves this issue. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.

Issue Need to create an easy integration of Modbus devices in EcoStruxure Automation Expert Resolution The Hardware CAT allows to integrate a fieldbus device, managing the communication parameters, the hardware abstraction layer, and the animated graphic symbol. The document describes how to create an Hardware CAT based on the creation of an STB island managed by an STBNIP2311. The example project archive is available in the download area. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.

Background Many of us are experienced EcoStruxure Process Expert (formerly EcoStruxure Hybrid DCS) users. With our extensive experience, we normally just jump straight into any new versions of EcoStruxure Hybrid DCS and we are on our way. However, since EcoStruxure Hybrid DCS 2019, we have a choice to use either the Classic GPL, or the new and widely promoted Situation Awareness GPL. Using these SA GPL correctly requires the use of the correct SA styled page templates in Citect SCADA. This can be a discovery process to some, and it takes time. Objective Objective This video condenses some key knowledges into 3 basic topics to get you started right away. They are: Creating supervision pages in EPE to use SA styled page templates. Configuring the navigation area of SA styled page templates. Different types of SA styled master layouts. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.

All control projects require some level of time synchronization. The time synchronization serves a fundamental role in any network, but it's too often added as an afterthought. However, it can mean the difference between correctly troubleshooting in minutes and returning the production to the desired level or having no idea about what caused production lost. The Network Time Protocol is a client-server protocol and has been widely adopted in all kind of Industries since 1985. It is a low-cost solution that can be easily applied for all EcoStruxure Process Expert architectures.

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