POWERPOINT SLIDES USED IN TECH TRAINING



Click on the picture for a table of available slides to download...

Do-more FAQ0001
06-Sep-2012
Q: Will it be possible to program the older DL-PLCs with Do-more Designer?
A: No, only the DM1 and DM1E are currently programmable with Do-more Designer.

Originally we intended to allow the programming of the older DL-PLCs, but as the design developed we realized by moving to strong data types and structures we were fundamentally changing the way we did some critical things which moved us further and further away from maintaining compatibility with DL-PLCs. So the decision was made to build the best controller and software we could instead of trying to maintain compatibility with DL-PLCs.

Do-more FAQ0002
06-Sep-2012
Q: Will there be a DirectSOFT6 for the older DL-PLCs?
A: Yes. After Do-more is rolled out, there are plans to do another major release of DirectSOFT for the older DL-PLCs.

Do-more FAQ0003 
06-Sep-2012
Q: Why are there no ISG (Initial Stage) instructions?
A: In the DL-PLCs there is no program modularity and users are therefore forced to modularize their programs with stages and therefore multiple ISGs were needed.  By contrast, Do-more PLCs are designed to be modular (Task & Program code blocks) with Program code blocks supporting stages. Since each Program code block can have its own block of 128 stages running independently and the very first stage is the initial one, then the ISG instruction is not needed. This simplifies stages and encourages a better programming practice of having a single well-defined entry point for a sequence.

If multiple parallel sequences are needed in a single Program code block, use the SGDIVRG (Jump to Mulitple Stages) instruction in the first stage or simply set the other stages from the first stage.

In a Do-more PLC, Program code blocks should be thought of as individual sequencing operations and each sequencing operation should have one starting point.

Do-more FAQ0004
06-Sep-2012
Q: Does the Do-more CPU have more memory than the DL260?
A: Yes.

Do-more FAQ0005
06-Sep-2012
Q: Are the more complex high-level instructions (e.g. DLRX/DLWX/MRX/MWX and MATH) more efficient than IBoxes in the DL260?
A: Except for MATH, yes. IBoxes are just macros whereas all the complex instructions in Do-more are native and all of the interlocking to the instruction and device driver are internal. But as for MATH it is still much faster in the Do-more (e.g. integer MATH in Do-more is nearly as fast as the simple contact/coil instructions!).

Do-more FAQ0006
06-Sep-2012
Q: What is the typical scantime of a Do-more PLC?
A: Like all things PLC, this is a wide open question. The minimum scan time is about 150 µs. Certain modules that tax the DL205 backplane a bit (e.g. CTRIO/CTRIO2) will raise that. With a single CTRIO2 in the base the minimum scan is about 258 µs. Boolean instructions, math and boolean stack operations, and most integer math operations are all very fast, generally running at about 50 ns per instruction, or 50 µs per K of logic.

More complex instructions, of course, will increase the scan accordingly. Given typical PLC programming the typical scantime will probably be submillisecond to a few milliseconds. So for most users, speed won't be an issue, especially if Stages and modularity mechanisms are utilized as intended.

Do-more FAQ0007
17-Jul-2024
Q: Will interrupts be supported?
A: They were not supported in the initial release, but were added 22-Feb-2017 in Do-more Designer v2.0.2.

Do-more FAQ0008
06-Sep-2012
Q: Is the serial communication half or full duplex?
A: Full duplex. It is possible to fill the Do-more base with SERIO-4 modules and run Do-more Server, Modbus RTU Server, Modbus RTU Client, K-Sequence Server, or even custom protocols on every port simultaneously.

Do-more FAQ0009
06-Sep-2012
Q: How many Modbus TCP clients (masters) can talk to the DM1E internal Ethernet port?
A: The DM1E can maintain 16 connections as a Modbus TCP Server (slave). If the 17th master attempts a TCP connection, the DM1E would simply reject the connection request.

Do-more FAQ0010
19-Sep-2012
Q: Is Do-more Designer software free?
A: Yes, and it will always be free!

Do-more FAQ0011
01-Oct-2018
Q: Is there any type of utility (like DNLoader) that the end customer can use to update the Do-more PLC without needing a copy of Do-more Designer and without knowing the PLC password?
A: Do-more Designer v1.3 has a utility called DMLoader (Do-more Loader). It can be run from within Do-more Designer, or you can download and install it from http://www.dmloader.com.

DMLoader can download the image of a Do-more PLC into another Do-more PLC. Hence, Do-more PLCs can be programmed without the need to know the details of Do-more Designer.

The first half of this utility is the Image Generator, which runs within Do-more Designer. Easily replicate an online PLC from within Desinger via the File --> Export --> Generate DMLoader Image menu. Various options include password protecting the image file itself, downloading the PLC firmware as part of the image download, and customize the look of the DMLoader.EXE utility with your logo and your detailed instructions.

Once the DMLoader image file (.DLI) is generated, anyone can install DMLoader.EXE utility from the Internet and upgrade their Do-more PLC if they have this DLI file, without the need of understanding Do-more Designer or without the original Do-more Designer project file.

Do-more FAQ0012
19-Sep-2012
Q: What kind of program security does Do-more have?
A: Each code block in a Do-more PLC can be individually configured as Full Access or Locked. When Locked, the block's logic is not viewable without a password. But even after entering a password, it remains viewable only for that one Do-more Designer session.

Do-more FAQ0013
14-Apr-2016
Q: Is there a utility that will translate DL230, DL240, DL250(-1) and DL260 projects into Do-more Designer projects?
A: Yes. As of Do-more Designer v1.3.1.1 (03-Apr-2014) a DirectLOGIC Migration Utility was added to help migrate existing DirectSOFT projects to Do-more Designer projects.

Do-more FAQ0014
<REMOVED>

Do-more FAQ0015
17-May-2021
Q: Will HMIs or PCs that support protocols that worked with the older DL-PLCs also work with the Do-more PLCs?
A: Yes, using either Modbus or K-sequence drivers. In both cases the memory that will be utilized is called "guest memory" in the Do-more.

If using a Modbus protocol with the Do-more PLC as the server (slave), then the memory that will be read from and written to is:
MC - Modbus Coils
MI - Modbus Inputs
MIR - Modbus Input Registers
MHR - Modbus Holding Registers

If using a K-sequence protocol with the Do-more PLC as the server (slave), then the memory that will be read from and written to is:
DLC - Direct Logic Coils (with octal addressing)
DLX - Direct Logic Inputs (with octal addressing)
DLY - Direct Logic Outputs (with octal addressing)
DLV - Direct Logic V-memory (with octal addressing)

NOTE: The default sizes of all these guest memories can be increased as needed by using PLC --> Memory Configuration.

Do-more FAQ0016
06-Sep-2012
Q: What are the highest values for timers and counters?
A: Timers are all millisecond resolution using 32-bit signed numbers (-2,147,483,648 to +2,147,438,647), thus millisecond resolution for more than 24 days. Counters are also 32-bit signed numbers, hence you can count up to 2,147,438,647 or down to -2,147,438,648.

Do-more FAQ0017
06-Sep-2012
Q: Are the familiar DL-PLC memory types supported in Do-more PLCs?
A: Most DL memory types also exist in a Do-more PLC. X, Y, and C are Discrete Input, Discrete Output, and Internal Bits. However, Do-more element blocks are numbered in decimal, not octal. So, yes, there is an X8 (and an X9).

V memory in Do-more is a 16-bit unsigned integer, with a range of 0-65,535. Instead of storing 32-bit IEEE real numbers in V memory, or 32-bit signed integers in V memory, or 16-bit signed integers in V memory, we created three additional memory blocks, R, D and N, respectively. Each element in the R block is a 32-bit real number. Each element in the D block is a 32-bit signed 2's complement integer number. Each element in the N block is a 16-bit signed 2's complement integer number. All of these blocks also have decimal IDs.

Use V memory when you need integer values 0-65535.
Use N memory when you need signed integer values -32,768 to +32,767
Use D memory when you need signed integer values -2,147,483,648 to +2,147,438,647
Use R memory when you need real (floating point) values.

The good news is that the MATH instruction can properly handle mixing and matching any of these data types in Do-more. For instance, this is a valid MATH expression:
(ROUND(SQRT(R0)) + V8) * D3.

Timer/Counter bits and accumulator values are now part of Timer and Counter structures. T0 represents the entire Timer structure for timer T0. Within these structures are various "dot fields," e.g. .Done .Acc .Reset. To know when Timer #0 is done, enter T0.Done. To look at Counter #9's accumulator, enter CT9.Acc. This means that V0 is User V memory, not T0's accumulator like in the DL-PLCs. Also, all of the .Acc accumulators are 32-bit signed integers with a range of -2,147,438,648 to +2,147,438,647.

Do-more FAQ0018
17-May-2021
Q: What is the instruction list for Do-more?
A: For a complete list of Do-more instructions, install Do-more Designer (free!), then go to the Help file and click on Instruction Set.

Do-more FAQ0019
06-Sep-2012
Q: What do the PUBLISH and SUBSCRIB instructions do?
A: These instructions could possibly be needed when an external system is providing data or the Do-more PLC is providing data to an external system and the data types do not exactly match. These instructions let you move/convert/align the data to Do-more memory locations. Both of these are table instructions, where for each row in the table instruction, you enter a source, destination and number of elements and the options for converting it.

Those options are:

• Byte Signed
• Byte Unsigned
• Byte BCD
• Word Signed
• Word Unsigned
• Word BCD
• DWord Signed
• DWord BCD
• DWord Real
• Option to Reverse Bytes as well.

The way it was envisioned was to stick one or more SUBSCRIB instructions in the system task $TopOfScan, and one or more PUBLISH instructions at the system task $BottomOfScan, whose sole purpose is to move/convert data to/from 'public' memory and from/to 'internal' memory. Clean and well-bounded.

Do-more FAQ0020
06-Sep-2012
Q: Is there an OROUT instruction (or equivalent) so that an output can be controlled from more than one ladder rung?
A: There is no OROUT instruction or an equivalent. However the functionality of an OROUT can be implemented by using the system block $TopOfScan and an RST of the output there. Then elsewhere in the program use SET of that same output.

Do-more FAQ0021
06-Sep-2012
Q: The XRef (cross reference) only shows addresses. Can it show rung numbers instead?
A: The address that is shown is a hotlink to the instruction that it is used in. Rung numbers map to multiple instructions. Clicking on the link will jump to the rung and the block cursor will be overtop of the exact instruction. Once there, the rung number is seen in the margin. However, in a future version of Do-more Designer we are considering keeping the link to be addressed-based but the display you actually see is the rung number.

Do-more FAQ0022
06-Sep-2012
Q: How can I clear a string (Short String (SS) or StringLong (SL))?
A: Use the STRCLEAR instruction.

 Do-more FAQ0023
06-Sep-2012
Q: What is the functional equivalent to a DirectLOGIC LD (Load) instruction?
A: Use the INIT or MOVE instruction.

Do-more FAQ0024
<REMOVED>

(1) Problems using the USB POM (BX-P-USB-B) on BRX PLC

This usually manifests itself by connecting only once, but when you try to reconnect any number of subsequent times, it fails. The error message is usually, "Error reading system config from PLC, perhaps due to old PLC firmware."

This issue, we believe, was due to a problem not accounted for in the booter of the BRX PLC.

This was fixed with v1.0.9 of the Booter released 19-Jan-2021.

(2) Problems using the built-in USB port on the H2-DM1/E PLC

The most common cause of this issue is a program that comes preloaded on Dell PCs called "Dell Stage." This program grabs the USB port of your PC and thus makes it unusable for Do-more Designer. You must close Dell Stage and particularly the weather widget before your USB port will be freed up to work.

To close Dell Stage & the weather widget:

1. To close Dell Stage itself, hover the mouse over the long bar (Music, Photos, Video, etc...) and then click on the (X) that appears.
2. To close the weather widget, hover the mouse over the widget itself and then click on the (X) that appears

1. Click the Start button.
2. Type in msconfig in the box and press <Enter> key.
3. Goto the Startup tab.
4. In the list of Startup Items, uncheck DELL Stage.
5. Click the <Apply> button, then <OK> button.
6. Reboot.

If this does not fix your issue then you may have a bad port on your Do-more CPU, or you may need to attempt to discover what is actually using the USB port. To do this requires you download a free utility. It is called Process Explorer and can be downloaded from http://www.sysinternals.com.

After you have downloaded Process Explorer and installed, follow these steps to assertain what program is using your USB port:

1.  Right-click on My Computer icon on your desktop and choose Manage. This pulls up the Computer Management dialog.



2.  Click on Device Manager. This will pull up the system devices list in the middle pane.
3.  Expand Human Interface Devices. This will list all the devices. It is under here where, when you plug your USB cable from your PC to the USB port on the Do-more CPU that two extra devices will show up. However, they are not readily identifiable.
4.  Do the following sub-steps for each entry:
     a)  Double-click on the device. This pulls up that device's properties.
     b)  Click on the Details tab. This will display each individual Property in the Value window as chosen from the pull-down list.
     c)  Select the Property called Physical Device Object name. The Value displayed in the window should look something like this:

          \Device\00000083

          ...it could also look something like this:

          \Device\USBPDO-4

          The ones that have the leading zeros are the ones you are most interested in.
     d)  Write each of these Physical Device Object names down, or copy/paste them somewhere to remember them exactly.



5.  Start Process Explorer program you downloaded and installed.
6.  In Process Explorer program click on the binocular icon (or do Find --> Find Handle or DLL), or just press <CTRL><F> for find.
7.  Paste (or type in) the Physical Device Object name of each of the devices you recorded in Step 4 above and press the <Search> button. At this point Process Explorer will show which process is using that device. for instance, in the case of Do-more Designer you will see:

     CSMainDm.exe     15372     File     \Device\00000084

     ...or something similar. If you click on this item, you will see it show up in Process Explorer's main window underneath DmDesigner.exe and even our name Host Engineering, Inc.



In this manner you can identify what process is using the USB port.

NOTE: If you plug up your USB cable from your PC to the Do-more CPU's USB port but you do not have Do-more Designer running, then the devices will appear, but Process Explorer will not find anything using them simply because nothing is (you don't have Do-more Designer running and using the link).

1. Edge triggered
2. Power-flow enabeld with a non-zero time base (e.g. when ENTASK - EnableTask has power, run this task once every 500 milliseconds)
3. Power-flow enabled with a zero time base (e.g. run it when ENTASK - Enable Task has power flow)

1. Will run MyTask once when X0 goes from OFF to ON. The TMR will get one ladder scan's worth of time, which if the scan time is less than a millisecond, it will be 0ms. This will not work.
2. Will run MyTask every 500 milliseconds whenever X1 is ON. So every 500 milliseconds, the TMR will get one ladder scan's worth of time, not the 500 milliseconds. This will not work.
3. Will run MyTask every scan whenever X2 is ON. This means that X2 acts as a big Master Line Controller for the logic inside MyTask. The TMR inside MyTask will properly accumulate time. This is because the ENTASK is not edge triggered (it is power-flow enabled) and its Interval is 0ms, meaning that whenver the ENTASK has power, MyTask will run.

• Rerun the installation by right-clicking on the installation .EXE and choosing "Run As Administrator", or...
• Download vcredist_x86.EXE file from the Internet and run it. this will update your Windows OS with Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package (see http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=26368)

• ON solid: 
• Fatal error; firmware locked up. Power cycle is the only thing that will reset this. If a power cycle doesn't clear the error, it could be a bad ERM100 module, or a very severe network issue (e.g. very noisy environment).
• Flashing or blinking: 
• Configuration error. This means the ERM100 doesn't have a configuration at all, or its configuration does not match what he sees on his network.
• Slave error. This means one or more of the ERM100's slaves is reporting an error.
  

NOTES:
(1) - Have not tested officially but probably will work.
(2) - Both 32-bit and 64-bit versions work.
(3) - Win8 RT version not supported.

Do-more FAQ0034
15-Sep-2015
Q: Cannot connect to Do-more PLC with USB, or sometimes it takes multiple connection attempts.
A: This can be caused by a "USB Virtual Device". If you are not using a virtual machine, please check the USB devices in Control Panel --> Device Manager for one called "USB Virtual Device". If this entry exists, please uninstall it.

Do-more FAQ0035 (similar to DirectSOFT FAQ0066; ECOM FAQ0016; DS Data FAQ0089)
05-Nov-2019
Q: How can I make a link with Do-more Designer to single or multiple Do-more CPUs (with on board Ethernet ports) over the Internet?
A: There are a number of ways to accomplish this due to the versatile ways in which Internet connectivity is established.

Method #1 (Direct Connect): Requires the remote Do-more CPU(s) to have a registered Internet IP address.
Method #2 (Indirect Connect): Requires access to the remote gateway/router which must be configured to translate TCP port #s.
Method #3 (ISP VPN): Requires the ISP (Internet Service Provider) set up a VPN (Virtual l l Private Network).
Method #4 (VPN Software): Requires the use of some form of VPN software (e.g. PC Anywhere, LogMeIn, etc.).

Method #1 (Direct Connect)

Multiple Do-more CPU Instructions: In this method it is assumed that each Do-more CPU has its own registered Internet IP address and therefore to connect to each of them only requires that you make separate links to each one.

Do-more Designer Link Configuration to connect to PLC1:
     1.  Build link in Do-more Designer.
          a.  On PLC tab select:
                    PLC Family - Do-more H2 Series
                    PLC Type - H2-DM1E

          b.  On the Port tab select:
                    Devices - Ethernet
                    Transport Protocol - UDP/IP
                    Node Address - IP Address xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (Registered Internet IP Address of your Do-more CPU)
                    Advanced Settings - Timeout (Increase?)
 
               NOTE: To determine how much the "Timeout" setting should be increased:
                               1.  Go to the DOS Command Prompt (Start --> Programs --> Accessories --> Command Prompt)
                               2.  Type in:    ping xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (Registered Internet IP Address of your Do-more CPU)
                               3.  Make note of the "Maximum" time as listed and increase this number by at least 50%.
                               4.  Enter this number as the "Timeout" setting.

                    UDP Port Number (if it is displayed) - 28,784 (this is the default; must always be this number*)

*NOTE: The exception to this is if in Do-more Designer System Configuration --> CPU Configuration in the Secondary Ethernet Connection box (available as of Do-more Designer v1.1) the "Enable Secondary Ethernet Connection" is checked and a second UDP Port Number is provided. In this case the Do-more CPU is listening on two UDP ports; the default one (28,784 decimal (7070 hex)) and this secondary UDP Port Number. Thus either one of them can be used in the Do-more Designer Link's UDP Port Number parameter.

          c.  On the Protocol tab select:
                    Protocols - Do-more

          d.  Click <Auto>. Should beep for success.

          e.  Enter a name for the link and click <Accept>.

Method #2 (Indirect Connect)

Multiple Do-more CPU Instructions: In this method if connecting to multiple Do-more CPUs, they are assumed to be located behind the gateway/router on an internal network with internal IP addresses assigned to them. Therefore, the Do-more Designer links to each of them must use the same IP address of the gateway/router (because from the Internet, that is all it can see). Thus, the only way to differentiate between the multiple Do-more CPUs on the other side of the gateway is by Do-more Designer using different TCP port #s for each. In order to accomplish this the remote gateway/router must be configured to translate the TCP port #s to different IP addresses behind its firewall.

Do-more Designer Link Configuration to connect to PLC4:

     1.  Build link in Do-more Desginer.
          a.  On PLC tab select:
                    PLC Family - Do-more H2 Series
                    PLC Type - H2-DM1E

          b.  On the Port tab select:
                    Devices - Ethernet
                    Transport Protocol - UDP/IP
                    Node Address - IP Address xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (Registered Internet IP Address of your Gateway/Router)
                    Advanced Settings - Timeout (Increase?)
 
               NOTE: To determine how much the "Timeout" setting should be increased:
                               1.  Go to the DOS Command Prompt (Start --> Programs --> Accessories --> Command Prompt
                               2.  Type in:    ping xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (Registered Internet IP Address of your Gateway/Router)
                               3.  Make note of the "Maximum" time as listed and increase this number by at least 50%.
                               4.  Enter this number as the "Timeout" setting.

                    UDP Port Number - 28,787 (can be any free configurable Port # on your particular Gateway/Router)

          c.  On the Protocol tab select:
                    Protocols - Do-more

          d.  Click <Auto>. Should beep for success.

          e.  Enter a name for the link and click <Accept>.

Gateway Configuration Table:

PLC	Do-more Designer Link Node Address (Gateway)	Do-more Designer Link Port #	Nontranslated Do-more CPU Node Address	Do-more CPU Port # (cannot be changed)*
PLC1	xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (your Gateway/Router IP)	28,784 (0x7070)	192.168.20.1	28,784 (0x7070)*
PLC2	xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (your Gateway/Router IP)	28,785 (0x7071)	192.168.20.2	28,784 (0x7070)*
PLC3	xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (your Gateway/Router IP)	28,786 (0x7072)	192.168.20.3	28,784 (0x7070)*
PLC4	xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (your Gateway/Router IP)	28,787 (0x7073)	192.168.20.4	28,784 (0x7070)*

*NOTE: The exception to this is if in Do-more Designer System Configuration --> CPU Configuration in the Secondary Ethernet Connection box (available as of Do-more Designer v1.1) the "Enable Secondary Ethernet Connection" is checked and a second UDP Port Number is provided. In this case the Do-more CPU is listening on two UDP ports; the default one (28,784 decimal (7070 hex)) and this secondary UDP Port Number. Thus either one of them can be used in the Do-more Designer Link's UDP Port Number parameter.

Method #3 (ISP VPN)

This method requires that you work with your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and have them set up a VPN (Virtual Private Network) for you so you can connect to the remote network where the Do-more CPUs are located. There are quite a variety of ways in which your ISP can do this for you. Some may require you use their own software to do it. But in most cases once the VPN is established, the connection to the Do-more CPUs on the remote network is exactly like Method #1 (Direct Connect) above.

Multiple Do-more CPU Instructions: Once VPN connection is established it is assumed that each Do-more CPU has its own IP address on the remote network and therefore to connect to each of them only requires that you make separate links to each one.

Method #4 (VPN Software)

This method requires the use of some form of VPN software (e.g. PC Anywhere, LogMeIn, etc.). The Do-more CPU cannot be accessed directly with this method but instead the VPN software allows you to control a PC (with Do-more Designer installed) at the remote site that is on the same  network as the Do-more CPUs. Thus, after the connection using the VPN software is established, the connection to the Do-more CPUs on the remote network is exactly like Method #1 (Direct Connect) above.

Multiple Do-more CPU Instructions: Once VPN connection is established it is assumed that each Do-more CPU has its own IP address on the remote network and therefore to connect to each of them only requires that you make separate links to each one.

Do-more FAQ0036
<REMOVED>

Do-more FAQ0037 (see also DirectSOFT FAQ0233)
10-Jul-2015
Q: When using Do-more Designer's Migration Tool, the ONDTMR and OFFDTMR IBoxes translated with the "Delay Time" 10x too big.
A: Oops. This is a bug in all versions of Do-more Designer up to v1.4. This will be corrected in the next version of Do-more Designer (v1.4.1?). For now, the "On Delay Time" or "Off Delay Time" parameters will have to be manually edited and corrected.

NOTES:
(1) All the firmware, except for the DM1/DM1E, can be downloaded using NetEdit3's File --> Live Update. The firmware files are stored in c:\Users\Public\Documents\HAPTools\Images folder. For the DM1/DM1E and CTRIOs used with DM1/DM1E, the firmware is under c:\Users\Public\Documents\Do-more\Designer2_8\Bin\Images and you can download the latest for those devices in Do-more Designer using PLC --> Update Firmware or PLC --> Monitor CTRIO Module.
(2) These are not field-upgradable but very rarely ever need upgrading.

Do-more FAQ0039
17-Jul-2024
Q: What instruction is best for moving/copying data?
A: Choose the type of operation you want in the leftmost column and then move along that row to see what Do-more instruction can do that operation best for you. See also Do-more Designer Help Topic DMD0431.