TSL Automation Solutions Logo
Chapter 3: Creating Panel Applications: 54 topics
  1. 3.1Setting up the Panel Application
  2. 3.1.1General Setup - General Settings
  3. 3.1.2General Setup - Custom Settings
  4. 3.1.3Activating Multiple Overlapped Buttons by One Touch
  5. 3.1.4Specifying Default Folder for File I/O
  6. 3.1.5Avoiding Data Corruption Due To Random Power-off
  7. 3.2Working with Keys
  8. 3.2.1Default Key Settings for the Panel Application
  9. 3.2.2Key Settings for a Screen
  10. 3.2.3Key Usage Table Settings
  11. 3.2.4Usage Settings for a Key
  12. 3.3Internal Memory
  13. 3.3.1Types of Internal Memory
  14. 3.3.2Index Registers
  15. 3.3.3System Memory
  16. 3.3.4Setting up Internal Memory
  17. 3.4Communication Links
  18. 3.4.1Types of Communication Links
  19. 3.4.2General Settings for Commnunication Links
  20. 3.4.3Communication Parameter Settings (Serial Port)
  21. 3.4.4Communication Parameter Settings (Ethernet Port)
  22. 3.4.5Sub-link Settings
  23. 3.4.6Sharing Data among Panels Using Data Sharer
  24. 3.4.7Writing Communication Programs Using Macro Commands
  25. 3.4.8Using Gateway Server of the Target Panel
  26. 3.4.8.1Setting up Gateway Service
  27. 3.4.9Selecting Modbus Communication Drivers
  28. 3.4.10Accessing Internal Memory through Ethernet
  29. 3.4.11Accessing Siemens PLC through Ethernet
  30. 3.4.12Using the OPC UA Client Driver
  31. 3.5Sound Table
  32. 3.6Command Block and Status Words
  33. Types of Command Block and Status Words
  34. 3.6.1.1Command & Status - Type A
  35. 3.6.1.2Command & Status - Type H (Binary)
  36. 3.6.1.3Command & Status - Type H (BCD)
  37. 3.6.2Command & Status - General Settings
  38. 3.6.3Command Block Settings (Type A)
  39. 3.6.4Status Word Settings (Type A)
  40. 3.6.5Command Block Settings (Type H)
  41. 3.6.6Status Word Settings (Type H)
  42. 3.6.7Using General Commands
  43. 3.7Setting up Clock Operations
  44. 3.8Setting up Passwords
  45. Screens
  46. 3.9.1Types of Screens
  47. 3.9.2Creating and Opening Screens
  48. 3.9.3Setting up a Screen
  49. 3.9.3.1Screen - General Page
  50. 3.9.3.2Screen - Background Page
  51. 3.9.4Importing/Exporting a Screen
  52. 3.9.5Cutting/Copying/Pasting/Deleting a Screen
  53. 3.9.6Saving Screens as Pictures
  54. 3.9.7Protecting Screens
All 20 chapters →

Section 3.4.2 · Chapter 3: Creating Panel Applications

General Settings for Commnunication Links

This section describes how to define the general settings for the communication links using the General page of the Link Properties dialog box. The following is an example of the General page that defines a direct link.

The following is an example of the General page that defines a communication service link.

The following table describes each property in the General page of the Link Properties dialog box.

Property

 Description
Link Number The sequence number of the communication link. It is assigned when the link is created and reassigned when any other link of the same application is removed.
Link Name Specifies the name of the communication link.
Link Type Select one of the following link types for the link:
Link Type Description
Direct Link (COM) The link connects to the specified device directly through the specified serial (COM) port.
Direct Link (Ethernet) The link connects to the specified device directly through the specified Ethernet port.
Communication Service (COM) The link connects to one or more other target panels through the specified serial (COM) port and provides the communication service specified in the Device/Server field to the connected target panels. See the description of the Device/Server field to know the available communication services.
Communication Service (Ethernet) The link connects to one or more other target panels through the specified Ethernet port and provides the communication service specified in the Device/Server field to the connected target panels. See the description of the Device/Server field to know the available communication services.
Gateway Service (COM) The panel performs as a communication gateway to allow a computing device, which is connected to the panel through a serial link and the specified COM port, to access the panel's internal memory and the controllers connected to the panel.
Gateway Service (Ethernet) The panel performs as a communication gateway to allow one or more computing devices, which are connected to the panel through a Ethernet link, to access the panel's internal memory and the controllers connected to the panel.
Indirect Link via 2-to-1 Connection (COM) The link connects to a target panel that provides the communication service as a 2-to1 server through the specified serial (COM) port. The target panel can communicate with the associated device indirectly through that target panel.
Indirect Link via N-to-1 Connection (COM) The link connects to a target panel that provides the communication service as an N-to1 master through the specified serial (COM) port. The target panel can communicate with the associated device indirectly through that target panel.
Indirect Link via N-to-1 Connection (Ethernet) The link connects to a target panel that provides the communication service as an N-to1 master through the specified Ethernet port. The target panel can communicate with the associated device indirectly through that target panel.
OPC Link
Device/Server When the Link Type is Direct Link, specify the link’s connected device.
When the Link Type is Communication Service (COM), select one of the following servers.
Server Description
2-to-1 Server In the Data Link field, specify a direct link of the application as the data link for the server. The 2-to-1 server is a bridge between another panel and the device connected to the specified data link. Another panel/application of the project can now use an indirect link to access the device connected to the server through the specified data link.
2-to-1 Transparent Server In the Data Link field, specify a direct link of the application as the data link for the server. The service link connects to a computing device, and allows the device to indirectly communicate with another device through the data link. The computing device can be a target panel, a panel of another brand, or a PC. If the computing device is a target panel, it must use a direct link to accept the service.
N-to-1 Master In the Data Link field, specify a direct link of the application as the data link for the server. The link can connect up to 8 target panels, and allow these panels to indirectly communicate with the device connected to the specified data link. The panels served by the link must use an indirect link to accept the service.
When the Link Type is Communication Service (Ethernet), select one of the following servers.
Server Description
N-to-1 Master In the Data Link field, specify a direct link of the application as the data link for the server. The link can connect up to 8 target panels, and allow these panels to indirectly communicate with the device connected to the specified data link. The panels served by the link must use an indirect link to accept the service.
When the Link Type is Indirect Link and the Indirect Link Server Location is specified, the indirectly connected device is shown here.
Link Port Select a port for this link.
Sub-links When an RS485 communication line has many devices connected to it, the logical connection of a device on the link with the target panel is called a sub-link.
This field is available when the Link Type is Direct Link (COM). Select this option if this link will connect to many devices, and you want to identify, monitor, or control the communication with each connected device.
Data Link Select a direct link of the application as the data link for the communication service when the Link Type is Communication Service.
Indirect Link Server Location Panel Application Select the panel application that provides the communication service for this indirect link.
Link Select the communication service link that provides the communication service for this indirect link.
Record communication status in operation log Check this option if you want the communication status of the link or the link’s sub-links to be recorded in the operation log. The recordable types of status include: Enabled, Disabled, Failed, and Recovered. The operation log display can show the logged communication status.
Check Word The panel will read the specified word periodically to check the status of the link’s connection.
The duration of showing a communication error message The communication error message box will hide and show according to the specified duration. If the duration is 0, the error message box will not show.

Need PM Designer itself?

V4 for current PK, PT, ITV and PM panels, V2 for older models. Free, sent by email.

Download PM DesignerAsk about a panel

Source.Section 3.4.2 of the PM Designer Software User Manual, Edition 2.0, © Cermate Technologies Inc. (www.cermate.com, service@cermate.com). Reproduced online, with the manual's own figures, by TSL Automation Solutions, authorised Cermate distributor, for users of Cermate HMI panels. PM Designer and PanelMaster are trademarks of Cermate Technologies Inc.

Text and figures are the manufacturer's and may describe features your panel or software version does not have. For a plain-language introduction read the PM Designer guide; for help with a specific panel contact TSL Automation.