Mircom has released upgraded configuration software for OpenBAS System Design Studio.
CONFIGURATOR SOFTWARE | COMPATIBLE CONTROLLERS | VERSION |
FIRMWARE | VERSION | |||||||
Note: Please read this entire document before upgrading systems to ensure all compatibility issues are addressed and to ensure correct upgrade procedures are followed.
New Features
- Stay up to date with automatic checks for new System Design Studio releases.
- Quickly test your logic and alarms with override support for both Analog and Binary inputs.
- Simplify your scripts with two instruction improvements:
- The Call instruction can now call subroutines from PLC1, PLC2 or PLC3.
- The Leader Calculator instruction can now also calculate the “lagger” or machine with the lowest runtime.
- Enjoy a significantly easier script workflow with new “code folding” support, allowing you to collapse and expand sections of script as needed.
- Integrate more third-party MODBUS devices with the OpenBAS-NWK-ETH3 now supporting 2 Stop Bit configurations.
Enhancements
- The refresh USB connections button will now leave existing connections open
- The OpenBAS-NWK-ETH3 Backup screen now shows which Remote points will be backed up
- A notification will appear if there are any unsaved instructions when uploading an offline PLC
- Schedules can now Set negative values and values with decimals
- Double clicking on present values to Set is now consistent across all screens and controllers
Automatic checks for new System Design Studio Releases
If there is an internet connection when first launching the System Design Studio and a new release is detected, the background or home page will display a download link. Note that you need to be logged into your Mircom.com account to initiate the download.
Analog and Binary Input Overrides
Analog and Binary inputs can now be overridden from the Values and Trends -> Names table and from the Values and Trends -> Points -> Universal inputs table.
- Since most controllers have Universal Inputs that can be used as either Analog or Binary inputs, overriding an Analog input will cause the Binary input of the same channel number to stop updating as well (and vice-versa).
- Ex. Overriding BI_1 will cause both BI_1 and AI_1 to stop updating until the override is released from either point.
- The Values and Trends -> Points -> Universal inputs table allows separate values to be overridden simultaneously to the Analog and Binary points for each channel number.
PLC Instruction Improvements
- The Call instruction can now call subroutines from PLC1, PLC2, or PLC3. The PLC can be specified from the ladder logic editor (Logic tab) or it will be determined automatically when configuring a controller from script.
- The Leader Calculator instruction has been updated with a drop down option that when selected will calculate the “Lagger” or machine with the lowest runtime instead of the highest runtime.
Code Folding
You can now quickly and easily fold or collapse sections of any script to make it cleaner and easier to read and minimize unnecessary scrolling. Some configurations are required:
- If you haven’t already, install Notepad++.
- Within the System Design Studio, connect to any NX-core based controller, right click the controller item in the left side panel, and click Configure from script.
- Select an existing or new project folder and click the Edit button. The System Design Studio will install the latest OpenBAS EZ-Script language file which enables syntax highlighting as well as the new code folding support inside of Notepad++.
- If Notepad++ was already open, you will need to restart it, and manually open your project from File->Open Folder as Workspace…
- Within Notepad++, open any script file from your project folder, and select Language->OpenBAS EZ-Script.
After following the above steps, you can indicate the start and end of collapsible sections of code, inside a comment, with 3 different keywords each. Indicate the start of collapsible sections of code with “{“, “fold_start”, or “fold start” and indicate the end with “}”, “fold_end”, or “fold end” (without quotes).
Compatibility Chart
Below table shows the System Design Studio compatibility with OpenBAS hardware.
SYSTEM | SUPPORTED CONTROLLERS | FIRMWARE | FIRMWARE | ||||
1.3.1 | All “NX” controllers (OpenBAS-xx- NXxxxx), OpenBAS-HV-LEARN, OpenBAS-NWK-ETH3 | 3.15.5+ | 3.15.5+ | ||||
1.3.0 | All “NX” controllers (OpenBAS-xx- NXxxxx), OpenBAS-HV-LEARN,OpenBAS-NWK-ETH3 | 3.15.1+ | 3.15.1+ | ||||
1.2.1 | All “NX” controllers (OpenBAS-xx- NXxxxx), OpenBAS-HV-LEARN | 3.04.0+ | 3.09.4+ | ||||
OpenBAS-NWK-ETH3 | 3.06.0+ | 3.09.4+ | |||||
1.2.0 | All “NX” controllers (OpenBAS-xx-NXxxxx), OpenBAS-HV-LEARN | 3.04.0+ | 3.09.0+ | ||||
OpenBAS-NWK-ETH3 | 3.06.0+ | 3.09.0+ | |||||
1.1.0 | All “NX” controllers (OpenBAS-xx-NXxxxx), OpenBAS-HV-LEARN | 3.04.0+ | 3.04.0+ | ||||
OpenBAS-NWK-ETH3 | 3.06.0+ | 3.06.0+ | |||||
1.0.2 | All “NX” controllers (OpenBAS-xx-NXxxxx), OpenBAS-HV-LEARN | 3.04.0+ | 3.04.0+ | ||||
1.0.1 | All “NX” controllers (OpenBAS-xx- NXxxxx), OpenBAS-HV-LEARN | 3.04.0+ | 3.04.0+ | ||||
1.0.0 | All “NX” controllers (OpenBAS-xx- NXxxxx), OpenBAS-HV-LEARN | 3.0.0+ | 3.0.0+ | ||||
Known Issues
Blocked Installation on PC/Laptop
If you get the below warning while launching the System Design Studio installer, right click the installer, select properties, check the unblock button at the bottom and click OK. Launch the installer again.
Other
While the new firmware is being released on the web site, shipped products may continue to have the existing firmware (See LT-6630 – Driver installation and Firmware Upgrade Procedures) , as the existing stock is depleted. Installers are encouraged to update new installations but are free to keep existing systems running at a previous version if they are simply replacing defective parts. Mircom strives to offer the highest quality products and services. On occasion, an issue may require field action and we regret when these issues arise. As part of our commitment to quality, we incorporate any findings into a continuous improvement process to better serve our customers in the future. As part of our support offering, please feel free to contact us with any inquiries or assistance you may require. If you have any questions or concerns, please visit the Mircom Technical Support Forum at https://mircom.com/technical-support/ or contact the Technical Support Department directly.
