DSData Server

How would you like to get real-time PLC data directly into Visual Basic™ or the HMI packages that you use every day, faster than you ever imagined? Our software, called the DSData Server, utilizes both DDE and OPC to share PLC data with other Windows programs. This data can be used by any office software that supports DDE and any controls software that acts as an OPC client.

Here's a short list of some features:

Supports DirectNET (CCM), K-sequence, and ECOM (over Ethernet) protocols to all DirectLOGIC PLCs
Supports an RS-422 multi-drop network of up to 90 PLCs using the DirectNET protocol
Accesses all discrete (X, Y, C) and all word data (V-memory, data registers, etc.)
Various word data formats available (decimal, BCD, floating point, etc.)
Fully compliant OPC v1.1 Server that supports browsing for point and click use with OPC Clients.
User Interface features including tear-off toolbars, tool-tips, context sensitive menus via right-mouse click, and the new Browser Style Interface. You can browse your Topics and (new) SubTopics in the left browser pane, and see the detailed event information on the associated data point Items in the right browser pane.
Multiple SubTopics can now be created within each Topic, allowing for independent Update Rates per SubTopic. Now you can create higher and lower priority SubTopics that utilize the same communication link and DirectSOFT32 Nickname database associated with the parent Topic.
Event Logging utility allows you to log historical events for a specific data point Item, a set of Items, or an entire Topic or SubTopic.
Nickname Support is available when a Topic is associated with a DirectSOFT32 Documentation database, the Nicknames can be viewed in the DSData Server browser without having to launch DirectSOFT32 Programming.
New System Items, you or your client application can monitor a new set of System Items which are pre-defined Items exposing different aspects of the system status of the DSData Server. These System Items include the communication link's current state, number of successful transfers, number of retries, number of errors, the transfer rate (in transfers per second), number of outstanding write operations, and the Topic's or SubTopic's communication update interval.
New 32-Bit Communication Server, by utilizing the new 32-Bit DirectSoft32 Communication Server, the DSData Server can concurrently use the same communications links as DirectSOFT32 and LookoutDirect.

DSData OPC/DDE Server				Updated: 03/05/2012
Specification	Service Pack	Demo	Documentation	FAQs

Recommended System Configuration
Operating System	Windows 98 / Me / NT4 / 2000 / XP
CPU	Pentium III Class / 500mHz or greater
RAM	128Mb
Hard Disk	10Mb
PLC Connectivity	RS-232 Serial Port USB port with USB-to-Serial adapter 10Base-T or 10/100 Ethernet network card
Manufacturer	Host Engineering, Inc.
This is the recommended system configuration for what we consider to be a good performing PC with this application. As with any Windows application, a faster processor, more RAM, etc. will definitely improve the performance. While you can definitely run the software on PCs with less capability, you run the risk of resource bottlenecks that can cause serious performance problems, and in some cases even system crashes. Fast CPUs and RAM are cheap, engineering time and system downtime aren't, plan accordingly !