Article. FDT now talks.net. FDT Version 2.0 is on its way

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1 Manufacturers and end-users alike can now benefit from the latest software trends with FDT 2.0 and they can, at the same time, rely on the backward compatibility to the predecessor version. The official release of the specification in early 2011 marks a crucial milestone for the future of FDT. [1] The DTM-Components are executed in a so-called frame-application, which is equivalent to the primary control system or the parameterization tool. The concepts as defined in the IEC are fully retained in the FDT version 2.0. The device manufacturer continues to supply a driver for his device the so-called Device Type Manager (in short DTM) which incorporates the device-specific functions and user interfaces. A DTM consists of a component that represents the device logic and a component that represents the user interface. Both components are executed in a so-called Frame Application, which represents a control system or a parameterization tool. FDT 2.0 defines the.net-interfaces between the Frame Application and the DTMs. The DTM-device logic is implemented by a.net-class the DTM-user interface as.net WPF (Window Presentation Foundation) or Winform Control. In contrast to the predecessor version, FDT 2.0 does no longer use XML (extensible Language) for the data exchange. Instead,.NET-classes are now transmitted, which contain the data. This saves the time previously needed for the laborious generation and parsing of the XML-documents and it improves the performance. Another distinguishing feature of FDT 2.0 versus FDT 1.2.x is that the communication between the device logic and the user interface, as well as between the different DTMs, is always routed through the Frame Application. This simplifies the architecture of the applications and improves the scalability. Page 1 of 5

2 Advantages for Manufacturers The advantages of FDT 2.0 for manufacturers are primarily the efficient development and maintenance of the software with the use of the.net Framework and Visual Studio, the tool for software development. Earlier versions of Visual Studio focused mainly on the production of source codes, whereas today s versions are also focused on quality assurance aspects (for example the execution of programming rules, tests or analysis of quality metrics), the development in separate teams and the documentation of the software..net and Visual Studio are used in many other sectors of the industrial software development for a long time: The same concept can now also be applied to FDT 2.0. This saves time and costs for the training of additional developers and for programming tools. FDT 2.0 is destined to support Visual Studio. This is obvious in the fact that the FDT 2.0-interfaces and data classes were generated with Visual Studio. The.NET assemblies generated from there are provided, together with the specification, by the FDT Group. An online help-function is provided to aid the programmers, which can either be used separately via browser or integrated in Visual Studio. The phrasing of the functional description in the online help-function is the same as in the specification and the developer does not need to search for relevant definitions manually. On top of this, the FDT 2.0- programmer has a so-called IntelliSense Function at his disposal. Upon entering codefragments, a pull-down menu opens automatically, showing options on how to complete the code and providing a brief description. It is a main purpose of FDT 2.0 to provide as much support as possible for the development of FDT 2.0-software; this is also a reason why the provision of additional guidelines, sample-source codes and components for the development of FDT-Frame Applications and DTMs is planned. [2] An Online-Help function is provided in addition and to assist the programmer, which can either be used separately via browser or integrated in Visual Studio. Page 2 of 5

3 [3] Upon entering code-fragments, a pull-down menu opens automatically, showing options on how to complete the code and providing a brief description. Advantages for end-users The success of FDT is ultimately due to the vast scope of functions that can be integrated into an application with a DTM. Because of the vast variety of different applications, in which FDT is used, it became obvious that the end-user requires even more features and functions for the device integration, which have so far not, or only partly been considered. To address these deficiencies, FDT 2.0 has considered the following aspects: Performance: FDT 2.0 has seen numerous design changes with a view to enhancing the performance of FDT applications; this concerns specifically activities, which require the simultaneous access to many data and devices. Installation: With the version FDT 1.x, DTMs are installed manually. This approach creates two basic problems: Finding the right DTM for a device type/-version and installing the DTMs on each computer. Both problems have been solved in the version FDT 2.0 in a way that one DTM (setup) provides the necessary information and functions and executes them automatically and without the user s intervention. Life Cycle: In the past, aspects of a plant system s life cycle were generally neglected for the device integration into systems. FDT 2.0 now tackles these aspects proactively with various definitions and guidelines. It is defined, for example, what manufacturers must observe when changing the device, when updating the DTM-software and when installing new Windows versions. Distributed applications: Any form of communication is routed through the Frame Applications. For this reason it is now possible, among other things, to execute the DTM-device logic and the DTM-user interface on different computers. This is a completely transparent activity from the viewpoint of the DTM. The FDT Frame Application, which is divided into a client- and server-part, handles the actual distribution and the network accesses. Page 3 of 5

4 To guarantee the necessary protection of investment for manufacturers and end-users, the parallel support of FDT 1.x and FDT 2.0 is demanded from the Frame Applications. FDT-1.x- DTMs are linked to the Frame Application via the traditional COM- and ActiveX-interfaces. This is technically possible, because a.net-application can also execute COM- and ActiveX-components. Status and Forecast The first complete draft-version of the specification was distributed for review among the various work groups within the FDT Group. The review by the FDT Group members will be completed in October At present, it is planned to officially release the FDT 2.0- specification in early It is difficult to predict how fast FDT 2.0 will replace the predecessor version. It will likely be a soft transition, since the use of DTMs of both versions is possible in one application. It must be highlighted, however, that not all advantages of FDT 2.0 can be utilized during this transition period; this is because some functions are only supported by DTMs of the FDT 2.0 generation. It is therefore anticipated that some applications will change completely to FDT 2.0 earlier, while others will support both versions for a longer period of time. Author Frank Schmid Head of Consulting, This article was published in IEE, 08/2010 Page 4 of 5

5 Company Profile M&M M&M Software develops technologically advanced applications and products for industrial automation. Our portfolio includes consulting, development, services and tools for factory and process automation and our core strengths are in device integration, engineering systems, human machine interfaces and Web applications. Our success derives from almost 25 years experience in the target industries and exceptional technological know-how. An iterative development process and trendsetting management of intellectual capital guarantee our software solutions are of the highest quality. In St. Georgen () and Suzhou (China) we develop innovative and state-of-the-art solutions for the international market. The sustained success of our customers is always our main concern. Products developed by M&M Software are being successfully applied in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, marine control equipment, the energy sector and the automotive industry. For many years, international companies such as Bosch, Endress+Hauser, Omron, Foxboro and Sick have been placing their trust in M&M Software. Your contact person for this press release: Petra Schulz Tel.: Fax.: Page 5 of 5