PanelView Plus version 6 is now available!

Rockwell Automation is now shipping the new PanelView Plus version 6.0 platform. This new platform uses the Microsoft Windows CE 6.0 operating system. All prior releases of CE were constrained by a 32 megabyte processing limit, restraining applications’ size and performance. Hardware advancements were also critical and have advanced from 650MHz to 1GHz processor and from 64Mb flash/ram to 512 Mb flash/ram. These changes along with feature enhancements are all part of the PanelView Plus 6. These enhancements include:

· Complete Symbol Factory Library

· Built-in PDF viewer

· Remote recipe and data management with ability to save data in .csv format

· Last-Known-Good (LKG) and Factory Default Reset Function

· Built-in full-Unicode font to support multiple languages with a single run-time application

· Greater connectivity to peripherals

The new models that are available are as follows: PVP6 400, 600, 700, 1000, 1250, and 1500.  The PVP6 Compact models are also available now.  The PanelView Plus 6 works in conjunction with the 32 or 64 bit versions of FactoryTalk View ME Version 6.1 or 7.0.  Please contact your Kendall Salesperson for more info!

Index of Articles with Descriptions

10/7/2011 Cognex DataMan Software Handy Dandy Decoder Ring
8/12/2011 Configuring the DataMan 100/200 for Match String Validation
8/12/2011 Where did my HyperTerminal go?
6/13/2011 InSight Explorer v4.5 - Plot Tools & Links Tab
4/28/2011 Train Code or Set Match String for Dataman 100 & 200's
4/28/2011 Cognex VisionView for Panelview Plus 6
4/28/2011 RSLogix 5000 and Windows 7 Compatibility
4/28/2011 Windows 7 32bit vs 64bit and Software
4/14/2011 RSLinx Icon Missing in Windows 7
1/19/2011 Using FTView Studio v6 with Older Firmware Panelview Plus's
12/27/2010 Panelview Plus 6 Now Available
12/6/2010 FTView Studio v6 Available
10/15/2010 Windows 7 Issues with FTView v5.1 and Linx 2.57
10/13/2010 How to Upgrade to FTActivation
10/8/2010 New FTActivation Manager v3.3 Available
10/7/2010 RSLogix 5000 v19 Available
10/7/2010 Knowledgebase Article Link to Windows 7 Support
10/7/2010 Cognext InSight how to FTP Images
10/7/2010 How to Back Up and Restore Linx Configurations

Cognex DataMan Software Handy Dandy Decoder Ring

(updated 10/7/2011)


Cognex has multiple versions of software for the DataMan product line with one version including something that is not available in another.  Some versions do not work with a specific model at all.  KE has tried to compile a matrix of software versions, the models they work with, communication protocols supported and specific functionality.  This list should be fairly accurate, but will at least provide some information to you as to what version of software you may need.  Please contact your local KE vision specialist for any questions.

(Click image to enlarge)

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Configuring the DataMan 100/200 for Match String Validation

The DataMan 100 and 200 can be configured to make a specific code the string to be matched for all subsequent codes. This is useful in packaging situations when you want to make sure that all packages on the line have the same code on them. Additionally, a code can be set as the match string on the fly, so you don’t need the DataMan setup tool running on a computer to change the match string. This note will show how this can be accomplished.

Once you have connected to your DataMan reader (DataMan 200 is being used in this instance with version 3.5.1 of the DataMan Setup Tool) select the Data Validation screen from the task tree. For any codes that you want to read (Data Matrix, QR, 1D/Stacked/Postal) set Match String Validation.  This allows a match string to be entered or taught for purposes of verifying that the correct code is present.

To be able to set the match string on the fly, on the System Setting screen, on the tab for Inputs, under “Input line 1 action” check the box next to “Set Match String.” As more than one box can be checked for the action to take when input 1 is on, be careful of what you select.

The Set Match String option could alternatively be assigned to the button on the reader itself for manual selection. The match string would be taught when the button on the reader is pressed for 3 seconds.

For specifics on using input 1 for this function see the tech note titled “Train Code or Set Match
String for DataMan 100 & 200’s.”

An output can also be set to turn on when the code that is present does not match the set string. As is shown here (System Settings task, Outputs tab) Output 0 is set to pulse closed for 100ms when a code is read; even if the code does not match it may still be read. If the code were unreadable or there was not a code present this output would not close.

Output 1 is set so that it will close for 100ms when the code that is read does not match the set string. If a code was read but it did not match the set string both outputs would close for 100ms.

Once the match string has been set, if you were to look once again at the Data Validation task, the string would appear in the match string box, as shown in this image (0123456789). To reiterate, this string could be entered manually in the box with the setup tool open and connected to the DataMan, or it can be taught using one of the inputs or the button on the reader.

When a code is presented that matches the set string, you would see something like the image above in the Results Display task. In the Read Result History, you would see whatever data has been configured to appear when a code is read (in this instance the decode string, the time taken to decode and the average size of module). In the Detailed Results Pane (rightmost pane) the code would Pass the data validation test (the codes match).

In this image a code is presented that does not match the set string. In the Read Result History the string is shown (5555555555) along with the “no match” designation. In the Detailed Results Pane the data validation test fails as the codes do not match.

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Where Did My HyperTerminal Go?

So you've just upgraded to Windows 7 and went to use Hyper Terminal – your trusty serial debugging tool that you've used forever in Windows XP (2000, 98, 95...) only to find that it is no longer there. And after searching the entire hard drive on your PC, you realize it is not anywhere to be found.

What are you going to do?

Don’t sweat it. All you need is to get a hold of a computer that is running Windows XP and copy the following files:

C:\Program Files\Window NT\hypertrm.exe

C:\Program Files\Window NT\htrn_iis.dll

C:\WINDOWS\system32\hypertrm.dll

C:\WINDOWS\system32\hticons.dll

C:\WINDOWS\Help\hypertrm.exe

C:\WINDOWS\Help\hypertrm.hlp

Store them in a folder on your Windows 7 Computer and now anytime you need it, simply run the hypertrm.exe file and you are off and running.

So why did Microsoft decide to leave it out of Windows 7? Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe better!

If you don’t have a Windows XP computer available, simply visit the Kendall Electric ftp site at ftp:\\12.192.249.152 and snag a copy. Look for the Hyper Terminal Folder under the Info folder.

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InSight Explorer v4.5: two new EasyBuilder features

This Tech Tip will highlight two of many new features added to InSight Explorer v4.5. The Plot Tools and Links Tab.  This Tech Tip will demonstrate how you can display Text Graphics with X and Y position in the EasyBuilder runtime display. Change the text color to Green or Red based upon the inspection results.

  

The Plot Tools have been added to the Inspect Part step. These tools are used to create conditionally enabled graphics placed on the image based on mathematical expressions. The list of Plot Tool objects are Arc, Circle, Cross, Line, Point, Region and String. This Tech Tip will illustrate the Plot tool example showing a “Pass” or “Fail” string based upon the inspection results.

The Links tab was added to the Palette view, which allows you to quickly link specific tool input and output properties to other tools. Links between tool Output properties and Input properties can be made by either dragging the Output property node to the applicable Input property node, or by right-clicking the Input property and selecting the applicable Output property from the Link From context menu. This Link example will demonstrate the ability to change the Plot String color based upon the inspection results.

The first step in creating the Plot string to display the Inspection Pass/Fail is to group the results. In this example we will Group the 5 Blob Area tools. If any Blob Area tool fails the group will fail. This provides the result for the Plot String. See Display Results images

1)  Add the “Tablet_Verify” Group Tool from the Math & Logic Tools. Add the specific Inspection tools that will provide the Pass/Fail result. In this example I added the 5 Blob Area Tools that look for the Tablets to be present. Set the Tool Enabled set to On (default).

2) Add the Plot String tool from the Plot Tools. In the Plot String enter (225) in the X Tab and (200) Y Tab pixel coordinates. This positions the String text. In the String Tab enter the following: If((Tablet_Verify.Pass),"Pass","Fail")  expression. This will display the “Pass” or “Fail” string in the display.

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3)  Add the “Text_Color”  Math Tool from the Math & Logic Tools. In the Expression tab enter If((Tablet_Verify.Pass), 8,1). This will set the color of the Plot String text to Green(8) or Red(1) for a Pass or Fail condition.

4)  Now we need to Link the “Text_Color.Result”  tool’s Output property to the “Plot_Result String.Color” tool’s Input property.  Click on the Link Tab in the Palette View. Expand the “Text_Color” and “Plot_Result_String” tools.  Drag the “Text_Color.Result” on to the “Plot_Result_String. Color” property. You will now see a blue linking arrow pointing to the Color property. You have successfully linked these 2 properties.

In Summary we now can Display the string “Pass” or “Fail” and change the color based upon the result of the group tool “Tablet_Verify” Result.

*** A sample project file and images may be downloaded from the following FTP site - ftp://12.192.249.152 - it will be in the /Info folder under the name TECHNOTE_2011_06_13.ZIP ***

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How to Train Code or Match String with the Cognex Dataman 100 & 200

Train Code or Set Match String for

DataMan 100 and DataMan 200

With a Digital Input

The Train Code and Set Match String functions can be performed using Digital Input 1 on either the DataMan 100 or DataMan 200.  The Train Code function will train a specific symbology and for symbologies where size is relevant (i.e. ECC200) the size will be trained as well.  This helps to reduce the possible symbologies that the reader may look for at a given time which has the result of reducing the overall read time or assures that a specific code in the field of view is read if it is different from the others.

The Set Match String function allows the reader to make the decision of whether or not the appropriate code has been read and output either a pass or a fail.  This is useful if the code to be read should be the same for each code within a batch.

For the DataMan 100 it will be necessary to use an I/O board to access the digital I/O; either the DM100-IOBOX-000 or the DM100-1400-000 will work (see below).

In the DataMan Setup Tool it is necessary to select the function for Input 1.  This is done on the Inputs tab of the Systems Settings as seen below.  Any combination of functions can be set to be performed when input 1 has been enabled.  Training a code is only available when using the Single, Burst, Self or Continuous trigger modes and will not work in the Presentation or Manual trigger modes.

To train the code or any of the other actions available Input 1 must be set high prior to the trigger signal being set high.  When the trigger signal is set high and the code is read, Input 1 can be set low and any functions set to happen with Input 1, will happen.  See the diagram below.

For the DataMan 200 the concept and execution are the same as are settings in the DataMan Setup Tool for training a code, optimizing brightness or setting a match string.  The difference is that the DataMan 200 does not need an I/O board to access the I/O.  The I/O cable that connects to the back of the DataMan 200 provides wires for the trigger signal and the high speed outputs.  To access Input 1 however the RS232 cable is needed.  See the diagrams below.

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