Topic: DMD0193

Generate DMLoader Image

The Generate DMLoader Image utility is intended to be used by OEMs to help them handle updating the Do-more PLC in machines that they have built. To that end, this utility is used to build a single file that contains any mix of the System Configuration, the Ladder Logic, the Documentation, the PLC's memory contents, and the PLC firmware of a Do-more CPU. This file will then be used by DMLoader to update one or more Do-more PLCs without having to use the Do-more Designer PLC programming software.

 

After opening the Do-more Designer project and establishing the online communication session with the Do-more CPU, use the File-> Export-> Generate DMLoader Image menu selection to begin.

 

As you progress through the various selections, this utility will gather the required information from the currently open Do-more Designer project and from the Do-more CPU in the current online session. As you enable a selection you will be prompted for any additional information that is required by that selection.

 

DMLoader Image Passwords

 

The Generate DMLoader Image utility will maintain password protection to protect intellectual property in the image file and/or the CPU itself.

 

The DMLoader Image Password allows a password to be used on the image file that will be generated. DMLoader Image Passwords must be 4 to 8 characters in length with no embedded white-space characters. Passwords are also case sensitive. Leave this field blank to NOT include a password on the image file itself

 

The Comm Session Password allows DMLoader to correctly handle CPUs with password protection enabled by requiring the destination CPU's password be included in the image file so that it can establish a communication session with the destination CPU. The password is encrypted when saved as part of the image file. Comm Session Passwords must be 4 to 8 characters in length with no embedded white-space characters. Passwords are also case sensitive.

 

Vendor Codes

 

The Generate DMLoader Image utility provides a way to use Vendor-supplied values to make sure that the updates are being downloaded to the correct destination CPU.

 

The $ProductID field contains an 8 digit Hex value. It can be set to operate in one of the following three ways:

 

  • Off - download the image value regardless of the values in DST387 in the destination CPU.

     

  • Set - overwrite the value in DST387 with the specified value regardless of the current value in that register location.

     

  • Require - read the value is DST387 from the destination CPU and require that the value read from the CPU match the value specified before the image can be downloaded.

     

    Note: When you click Generate Image, a Warning message will be displayed if the value specified in this field does not match the value currently in DST387 of the source CPU. You should consider adding a rung of ladder logic to $tFirstScan that sets the $ProductID value so that this value is always in the expected location.

     

The $ProductVersion field also contains an 8 digit Hex value in the form of MMmmBBBB where MM is the major version, mm is minor version and BBBB is the build number. This field can be set to operate in one of the following three ways:

 

  • Off - disregard this field

     

  • Set - set the value in DST388 to the specified value regardless of the current value in that register location.

     

  • Check - read the value is DST388 from the destination PLC and compare that value to the value specified. These values are NOT required to match to allow the image to be downloaded. If the values do not match a message to that effect will be displayed.

     

    Note: When you click Generate Image, a Warning message will be displayed if the value specified in this field does not match the value currently in DST388 of the source CPU. You should consider adding a rung of ladder logic to $tFirstScan that sets the $ProductVersion value so that this value is always in the expected location.

 

PLC Operating System

 

The Generate DMLoader Image utility can include a copy of the firmware that is currently running in the connected Do-more CPU so that DMLoader can update the destination CPU's firmware as part of the image download process.

 

At the time the Update PLC OS selection is enabled, the utility will read the current firmware version from the connected Do-more CPU and it will then search the Do-more Designer's firmware folders for the operating system firmware file that best matches the firmware version read from the CPU. The full pathname of the file that best matches will be displayed.

 

If no matching firmware file is found, or if you want to use a different operating system firmware file, click the Select File... button to open a File Open dialog that will allow you to browse for a different operating system firmware file.

 

Program System Configuration, and Documentation

 

When the Program System Configuration, and Documentation selection is enabled the following parts of the currently open project will be included in the image:
 

  • All of the Project's code-blocks which include the System Programs and Tasks and all User Programs and Tasks.
     

  • The System Configuration which includes the following:
     

    • CPU Configuration (the TCP/IP configuration of the on-board port will NOT be included, the Destination's CPU's TCP/IP configuration can be done by DMLoader).

    • I/O Configuration

    • Module Configuration

    • Device Configuration

    • I/O Mapping

    • Memory Configuration

 

  • All of the Project's Documentation which includes the Element Documentation and the Rung Comments.

 

If this selection is NOT enabled, the Program, System Configuration and Documentation in the destination PLC will NOT be changed when DMLoader downloads this image file.

 

Retentive Memory Image

 

When the Download Retentive Memory Image selection is enabled a check is made to see if a retentive memory Image already exists for the project. If one exists it's contents will be included in the DMLoader image.

 

If none is found you will be prompted to run the Memory Image Manager to create one. Upon returning to this utility you will prompted to include contents of the just-created retentive memory image in the DMLoader image file.

 

Password Configuration

 

When the Download Passwords selection is enabled all of the User Account information will be included in the DMLoader image file.

 

If this selection is NOT enabled, the User Account information in the destination PLC will NOT be changed when DMLoader downloads this image file.

 

Vendor Banner and Update Instructions

 

These two fields allow the user to supply a vendor-specific banner graphic and/or vendor-specific system update instructions that will be displayed in DMLoader when it opens this image file.

 

The banner is a 690 x 65 pixel BMP image that is centered in the top section of DMLoader when it opens this image file. When the Use Banner selection is made the Select File... button is enabled which will open a dialog where the user can browse for the BMP file that will replace the default graphic. The selected file will be added to the image file at the time it is selected.

 

The area circled in red in the image below is the banner area of DMLoader. The user-supplied banner will be centered in that area. If the user-supplied banner is too large for the area it will be clipped, it will NOT be resized to fit.

 

The instruction file is a text file that will displayed in the bottom section of the initial screen of DMLoader when it process this image file. This instruction file can contain written instruction that the operator will use when using DMLoader to update a CPU

 

When the Use Instruction File selection is made the Select File... button is enabled which will open a dialog where the user can browse for a TXT or RTF file that will replace the default instruction file.

 

The area circled in red in the image below is the instruction text area of DMLoader.

 

 

Generate the Image File

Click the Generate Image button when all of the desired selections are made to specify the file name for the DMLoader image file. When the file generation is complete the following dialog is displayed which gives you the following options:

 

 

Open directory containing image file... - will open a Windows Explorer instance of the directory where the newly generated image is stored and the image file itself will be highlighted. This useful if you need to access this image file at this point to distribute it.
 

Open directory containing DMLoader.exe... - will open a Windows Explorer instance of the directory where the DMLoader.exe is installed with DMLoader.exe highlighted. This useful if you need to access this utility to distribute it.
 

Open DMLoader download web page... - will open a web browser instance pointing to the location on the Host Engineering web-site where an installable version of DMLoader is located. the URL is www.hosteng.com/sw-products/dmloader.htm.

 

Close - if you are done with this utility.

 

Click the Don't show this again option to prevent this dialog from appearing the next time you run the Generate DMLoader Image utility.

 

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