|
Question:
What type of driver do I use to communicate with my Allen Bradley
Micrologix 1500 PLC?
|
|
Answer:
Use the ABDH Driver and configure the PLC type to be an SLC5 as
it adheres to the same addressing format.
Note: You must set the Error checking to BCC in the Micrologix
1500.
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to the Top
|
| Question:
I am trying to re-install Windows 9X or NT and I can't find the product
code that came with it. |
|
Answer:
The product code for re-installing your Windows 9X or NT is located
inside the unit. You must remove the black cover on the back and
the code is stuck on the cross bar inside the unit.
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|
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to the Top
|
| Question:
How do I get the application on my PowerStation to run on boot-up? |
| Answer:
There are settings in Interact development and on the PowerStation
that need to be adjusted. In Interact under the FILE
menu select Interact Settings and then select your Startup
Application on the General Tab. Then in the Application
Browser, Under Application Manager, Select Application
Settings. Then on the General Tab under Startup Mode
choose Run and make sure that you have chosen the appropriate
Startup module. |
| Back
to the Top |
| Question:
What internal variable can I use to read and write ASCII? |
| Answer:
The Link Variables are the only internal variables that will accept
ASCII data. You must use the suffix ":A" on the link variable to allow
the link variable to store ASCII data. For example: Link\State:A
= "On" |
| Back
to the Top |
| Question:
I need more fonts for my Interact applicaiton. Are any more available? |
| Answer:
Yes, we have a utility called Font Builder. You can have this utility
when you join our Product Support Program (PSP). Please contact your
local distributor for more information about the PSP program. |
| Back
to the Top |
| Question:
If I want to print graphics from Interact run mode, what do I need? |
| Answer:
You need the correct printer driver in Interact to match your printer.
A Printer Drivers Utility program is available. This utility is available
to Product Support Program (PSP) members. Please contact your local
distributor for more information about the PSP program. |
| Back
to the Top |
| Question:
How do I display alarms in a Remote Message Display tool within Panel
Toolkit Module (PTM)? |
| Answer:
On a Remote Message Display tool, use the Link variable: LINK\ALARMS:A
in the Message Text Output field. |
| Back
to the Top |
| Question:
I am getting the following error message: "Cannot initialize PTM.
ERROR - Invalid Panel list or Key Pad Address. |
| Answer:
The most likely cause of this error in PTM is an invalid address in
your Panel List setup (under the 'Controls' Tab) or in your Keypad
Setup (under the 'Entry References' Tab). You should remove one reference
at the time to identify and correct the error. |
| Back
to the Top |
| Question:
Can an ASCII register in the PLC be used as an alarm? |
| Answer:
No. The Alarm Management Module (AMM) does not support ASCII alarms. |
| Back
to the Top |
| Question:
When I try to run Interact runtime on a Windows NT PC, Interact does
not recognize the presence of the security key. What do I do? |
| Answer:
Please make sure that you have installed the Windows NT service
pack 4. Without service pack 4, Windows NT will not able to recognize
the key. Also, make sure that Interact is run in DOS, not in a DOS
window under Windows NT. To accomplish this, you must have a dual
boot system with DOS and Windows NT. Please contact your PC/Network
Administrator for more information on setting up a dual boot option
on your Windows NT PC. |
| Back
to the Top |
| Question:
I am using the new single layer SST 5136-PFB-104 card with Interact
to talk to an Siemens S7 315 DP-2 and I keep receiving the error message,
"Card not found" when I try to go into Run Mode. |
|
Answer: SST
has released a new .ss1 file for the PC-104 version of the 5136-PFB
card. This is a new file and has not been updated in Interact as
of yet. Go to our Support Page and use the drop-down dialog box
to select "Other Updates & Files" under Interact Updates
& Files, and hit the GO button. Here you will see a file labeled
PC014profi.zip. In this file is an .ss1 file and a .gse file
for the card. You will have to use the .gse file in your S7 Programming
for the slave and you will have to replace the PFBprofi.ss1 in the
[C]:\Machshop\Interact\Drivers\PFBS directory.
Download PC014profi.zip
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|
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to the Top
|
| Question:
I am trying to install the network card in Windows NT, but the
driver is not where it says it is in the User Guide. |
| Answer:
When asked for the directory of the driver for the network card
type in; for example: D:\Drivers\Pro100 Ethernet. D:\ would be the
driver letter of the CDROM. |
|
Back to the Top |
| Question:
How do I remove the splash screen from the P9? |
|
Answer:
Disabling the CTC splash screen on the P9 PowerStation. This can
be accomplished very easily with a few simple steps:
-
Reboot the
P9 or PS Series PowerStation
-
During
the early portion of the boot, type the F2 key to enter the
CMOS setup area
-
On a P9
using the right arrow key move to the BOOT screen.
Near the top of this screen, you should see the following setting
BOOT-TIME DIAGNOSTIC SCREEN - DISABLE. On a PS Series you should
arrow down on the Main Screen as this Bios scrolls until you
see BOOT-TIME DIAGNOSTICS -DISABLED.
-
Using the
arrow keys, move the cursor to DISABLE and type Enter.
-
Change from
DISABLE to ENABLE using the UP/DOWN arrow key.
-
Exit the
CMOS settings by Saving and Exiting.
When the system reboots, you will see that the splash screen
no longer appears during the boot process.
|
| Back
to the Top |
| Question:
How do I install Windows 95 or Windows NT on a PowerStation? |
| Answer:
CTC Parker Technical Support strongly recommends that you do not
attempt to install a Windows operating system on a PowerStation. We
recommend that you send it to CTC Parker for reprogramming and that,
in the future, you purchase the PowerStation with the desired operating
system factory installed. |
| Back
to the Top |
| Question:
When I installed Windows NT on my PC9 on the first reboot, it
rebooted to Invalid Page Fault in the NTOSKERNEL.EXE error "Blue Screen
of Death" memory error screen. |
| Answer:
Windows NT needs to be reinstalled. During the install, you will
be asked if the PC is connected to a network. Select "I am not connected
at this time" and select the NEXT button. This will solve the problem.
|
| Back
to the Top |
| Question:
Can I run Interact 6.X in Windows NT? |
| Answer:
Only the Development software can be run in Windows NT. Windows
NT has a limited DOS shell and it will not support Interact runtime
with any device drivers other than the DEMO driver. |
| Back
to the Top |
| Question:
Why do I have a Servers Services error on boot up in an NT (Service
Pack 4) PowerStation? |
| Answer:
Goto the I386 directory and run SP4*.exe. This will reinstalled
Service Pack 4. (Known issue with NT Service Pack 4) |
|
Back to the Top |
|
Question: How do I enable \ disable the screen saver in my Interact\PowerStation
Project |
|
Answer: In
the development software highlight the Application Manager folder
under the Application Browser window, and then goto File,
Interact Settings..., and then to the screen saver
tab.Then check enable to activate the screen saver or uncheck enable
to deactivate the screen saver.
In the runtime
system, Change to program mode, then select Interact Settings,
then select Next Page, and then set Screen
Saver to Yes to enable and No to disable.
|
| Back
to the Top |
|
Question:
How
do I configure Windows to have both a TCP/IP Ethernet connection
and a TCP/IP Dial-Up Adapter (Serial) Connection?
|
|
Answer: The
Ethernet Connection may be configured for direct connection, dedicated
IP address on a company network, or DHCP on a company network.The
important point is that the Ethernet network must be a different
network than the Dial-Up Adapter (Serial) network. This is accomplished
through the IP Address and the subnet mask.
The default
serial connection uses an IP Address of 10.0.0.1 and a Subnet Mask
of 255.255.255.0 in the “MachineShop Phonebook Entry?on the Windows
system. The “runtime?system default configuration uses an IP Address
of 10.0.0.2 and a Subnet Mask of 255.255.255.0 for a serial TCP/IP
connection. When configuring the Ethernet Connection on the Windows
system, the network definition must be different than 10.0.0.X using
a Subnet Mask of 255.255.255.0. For example, a network definition
of 11.0.0.X is a different network definition; however, 10.1.0.X
is on the same network as 10.0.0.X.
To configure
Windows to have both a TCP/IP Ethernet Connection and a TCP/IP Dial-Up
Adapter (Serial) Connection, please follow the instructions for
configuring a TCP/IP Dial-Up Adapter (Serial) Connection, and either
a TCP/IP direct Ethernet connection, a TCP/IP Ethernet connection
on a company network using a dedicated IP address, or a TCP/IP Ethernet
connection on a company network using DHCP from the MachineShop
list of questions.
|
| Back
to the Top |
|
Question:
I need to configure a TCP/IP Dial-Up Adapter (Serial) Connection.
|
|
Answer: Complete
the following steps on the MachineShop Toolbar and MachineShop Shell:
MachineShop
Toolbar
-
Right click
on the “Network Neighborhood?icon on the desktop and select
“Properties? The “Network?dialog will appear.
-
Select the
“Configuration?tab. The list will contain several items. Select
the TCP/IP item for the Dial-Up Adapter (TCP/IP -> Dial-Up Adaptor)
and click on the “Properties?button. A message box containing
a warning will appear. The text is as follows. “You have asked
to change TCP/IP properties for a dial-up adapter. In most cases,
these properties are unique to the specific network, which you
are calling. For this reason, it is better to set TCP/IP properties
in each connection icon, which calls a network. Otherwise, properties
set for the adapter will override the per-connection settings.
Connection icons can be found in the Dial-Up Networking folder
under Start Accessories. Right click an icon to see its properties
sheet; select Server Type, and then TCP/IP Setting.?Click “OK?
on this message box. The “TCP/IP Properties?dialog will appear.
-
The “Obtain
an IP address automatically?radio button should be selected
(default configuration). If the “Obtain an IP address automatically?
radio button is not selected, select this radio button. The
IP address, to be used, is configured in the Phonebook entry
in Dial-up Networking.
-
Open the
Dial-Up Networking folder by selecting “Start Program Accessories
Dial-Up Networking? The “MachineShop Phonebook Entry?dialog
will appear.
-
Select the
“Server Types?tab. Click on the “TCP/IP Settings ? button.
The “TCP/IP Settings?dialog will appear.
-
The “IP
Address?radio button should be selected and the IP Address
should be set to 10.0.0.1 (default configuration).
MachineShop
Shell:
Using the MachineShop
Shell, TCP/IP should be configured to exist on the same network
as the MachineShop Toolbar. For example, if the IP Address of the
MachineShop Toolbar is set to 10.0.0.1 and the Subnet Mask is set
to 255.255.255.0; the PowerStation can be configured as follows
(default configuration COM1):
- IP Address:
10.0.0.2
- IO Mask:
255.255.255.0
- Interface:
Serial
- IRQ: 4
- Port: 3F8h
- Baud: 115200
|
| Back
to the Top |
|
Question:
I need to configure a TCP/IP direct Ethernet connection.
|
|
Answer: Complete
the following on the MachineShop Toolbar and MachineShop Shell:
MachineShop
Toolbar:
-
Right click
on the “Network Neighborhood?icon on the desktop and select
“Properties? The “Network?dialog will appear.
-
Select the
“Configuration?tab. The list will contain several items.
-
Select the
TCP/IP item for your Ethernet Network Interface Card and click
on the “Properties?button. The “TCP/IP Properties?dialog will
appear. Select the “Specify an IP address?radio button and
specify an IP address and Subnet Mask; however. The IP Address
cannot specify the same network that will be configured for
the Dial-Up Adaptor connection (10.0.0.1). Provided the computer
will not also exist on a company network any network definition
other than 10.0.0.X can be used. For example, the IP Address
can be set to 11.0.0.1 and the Subnet Mask set to 255.255.255.0.
MachineShop
Shell:
Using the MachineShop
Shell, TCP/IP should be configured to exist on the same network
as the MachineShop Toolbar. For example, if the IP Address of the
MachineShop Toolbar is set to 11.0.0.1 and the Subnet Mask is set
to 255.255.255.0; the PowerStation can be configured as follows
(default configuration COM1):
- IP Address:
11.0.0.2
- IO Mask:
255.255.255.0
- Interface:
NE2000
- IRQ: 10
- Port: 280h
|
| Back
to the Top |
|
Question:
I need to configure a TCP/IP Ethernet connection on a company
network using a dedicated IP address.
|
|
Answer:
Complete the following steps on the MachineShop Toolbar and MachineShop
Shell.
MachineShop
Toolbar
-
Right click
on the “Network Neighborhood?icon on the desktop and select
“Properties? The “Network?dialog will appear.
-
Select the
“Configuration?tab. The list will contain several items.
-
Select the
TCP/IP item for your Ethernet Network Interface Card and click
on the “Properties?button. The “TCP/IP Properties?dialog will
appear. Select the “Specify an IP address?radio button and
specify an IP address and Subnet Mask; however. The IP Address
cannot specify the same network that will be configured for
the Dial-Up Adaptor connection (10.0.0.1). Specify a valid dedicated
(static) IP Address for the company network. For example, at
CTC Parker Automation our network is 172.25.8.X. A valid Static
IP Address is 172.25.8.201. No other computer on the company
network may use this IP Address.
MachineShop
Shell
Using the MachineShop
Shell, TCP/IP should be configured to exist on the same network
as the MachineShop Toolbar. The IP Address must be static. For example,
if the IP Address of the MachineShop Toolbar is set to 172.25.8.201
and the Subnet Mask is set to 255.255.255.0; the PowerStation can
be configured as follows:
- IP Address:
172.25.8.202
- IO Mask:
255.255.255.0
- Interface:
NE2000
Again, no other
computer on the company network may use the IP Address configured
for the PowerStation.
|
| Back
to the Top |
|
Question:
I need to configure a TCP/IP Ethernet connection on a company
network using DHCP.
|
|
Answer: Complete
the following on the MachineShop Toolbar and MachineShop Shell:
MachineShop
Toolbar:
- Right click
on the “Network Neighborhood?icon on the desktop and select “Properties?
The “Network?dialog will appear.
- Select the
“Configuration?tab. The list will contain several items.
- Select the
TCP/IP item for your Ethernet Network Interface Card and click
on the “Properties?button. The “TCP/IP Properties?dialog will
appear.
- Select the
“Obtain an IP address automatically?radio button.
MachineShop
Shell:
Using the MachineShop
Shell, TCP/IP should be configured for DHCP. This is accomplished
by specifying an IP Address of 0.0.0.0 in the MachineShop Shell
IP.
|
| Back
to the Top |
|
Question:
How do I clear Retentive Memory?
|
|
Answer: Retentive
memory will be cleared on a cold start. A cold start will occur
any time you change the program, recompile and send it down. The
cold start will only work if the program date does not change from
the time you stop the program to the time you want to restart it.
The work around could be a patch the POU. The larger sized RTXDOS
should give you the room you need in order to allow patches without
a problem.
|
| Back
to the Top |
|
Question:
Problems with large numbers
|
|
Answer:
Interact uses true 24 bit floating point numbers. A 24-bit number
has a limitation of size in which it will hold its accuracy. The
solution is either break the number down into two parts or keep
the number as a string.
|
| Back
to the Top |
|
Question:
No project on the PLC.
|
|
Answer: There
is a size issue on the MachineLogic side. The MachineLogic code
you write has to live in the 640K boundaries restricted by DOS.
Along with MachineLogic, DOS, Interact, Command.com, Himem.sys,
touch screen drivers, Networking drivers and BIOS TSRs have to live
there. With all of these programs restricted to the 640K the more
you take for programming the less you have for these other programs.
Your program just got to the limit of the original RTXDOS. We increased
it by 15K. This will allow more programming room and online debugging
room.
|
| Back
to the Top |
|
Question:
What do
the indicator LEDs on the back of the Profibus card represent?
|
|
Answer: The
following table explains what indicator LED displayed on the back
of the Profibus card represents.
|
| Bottom |
Top |
Problem |
| Off |
Red |
Node is
not connected.
Another
unused node has a terminator resistor that is being used.
|
| Red |
Red |
Wires
are crossed on the network |
| Red |
Blinking
GM/Red |
Terminating
Resistor not set on I/O side. |
| Green |
Red |
Terminating
resistor on PowerStation side needs to be turned on. |
| Green |
Green |
Working properly. |
|
| Back
to the Top |
|
Question:
I am getting a TCP/IP open port failure and I am using the
ABEN, CMOT, or MBEN driver, what does this mean?
|
|
Answer: You
are using the latest version of the Driver ABEN Ver. 6.02, CMOT
Ver. 6.04. MBEN Ver. 6.00 and they require the latest version of
the TCP/IP stack Ver. 110 which can be found on the latest Flashback
Utility at http://www.ctcusa.com/ctcnet/Support/Flash.asp
|
| Back
to the Top |
|
Question:
What is the latest version of software that is available?
|
|
Answer: MachineShop
CD 1.06, MachineShop Toolbar is version 1.04, Interact Application
Manager Version 6.10 in Development and Version 6.10 in Runtime,
Panel Toolkit Module (PTM) Version 6.02 in Development and Version
6.04 in Runtime, and MachineLogic is version 2.11. Consult the FTP
site for PTM upgrades/patches ftp://www.ctcusa.com/ctcsupport/
|
|
Question:
I just got a
new computer running Windows 2000 Professional. When I tried to
install Machine Shop, I get an error that I need a minimum of NT
4.0 SP3 to install Machine Shop, what does this mean?
|
|
Answer: You
need the MachineShop CD ver. 1.04 or Evaluation Package 2.3 (should
say WIN2000 on it), which contains Interact Application Manager
Version 6.04 in Development and Version 6.03 in Runtime, Panel Toolkit
Module (PTM) Version 6.01 in Development and Version 6.03 in Runtime.
Consult the FTP site for PTM upgrades/patches ftp://www.ctcusa.com/ctcsupport/
|
| Back
to the Top |
|
Question:
What is the weight
of my PS-Series PowerStation? 
|
|
Answer:
|
Model
Number
|
Weight
(lbs)
|
|
PS10-2
|
13.9
|
|
PS10-3
|
15.5
|
|
PS12-2
|
21
|
|
PS12-3
|
22.6
|
|
PS15-2
|
24.4
|
|
PS15-3
|
26
|
|
FLOPPY
DRIVE
|
2
|
|
|
Question:
I am installing
the UPDD driver in Windows, but can't get my touchscreen to work
without a mouse attached, Why is this?
|
|
Answer:
In the UPDD driver under the Hardware tab, you need to make sure
that the Detect Hardware check box is checked. Then you do no have
to have a mouse attached.
|
|
Question:
My New PS Series PowerStation will not boot up, Why not?
|
|
Answer:
Check to make sure that you are using a switching power supply and
not a linear power supply as the in-rush current may be to great
for a linear supply.
|
|
Question:
When I install MachineShop and Interact on my Windows XP/2000
System I get an error that says "Security Key Setup not Installed",
How do I fix this?
|
|
Answer:
Download the upgrade patch from http://www.ctcusa.com/ctcnet/Support/MSPXPPatch.asp
|
|
Question:
On Windows XP I can't select any options on the Toolbar or Startup
Splash Screen, How do I fix this?
|
|
Answer:
On the MachineShop Toolbar, go to Tools, Options, and then check
Always On Top, and AutoHide so that they are turned on. (Note:
You must also be using Version 1.02 or higher of the MS Toolbar)
|
|
Back
to the Top
Still have questions?
E-mail us at: emn_support_ctc@parker.com
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to the Support Site Map
|