CimQuest INGEAR releases .NET class libraries for Allen-Bradley Logix Controller

CimQuest INGEAR (www.ingeardrivers.com), which publishes runtime-free software development solutions for several industrial applications, is proud to announce the release of Visual Studio.NET class libraries to be used with Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix programmable automation controllers (PACs) (www.ab.com).

INGEAR NET.LOGIX version 3.0 software can be used by those who write automation and control applications in Visual Studio C# or Visual Basic.NET to communicate with Allen-Bradley controllers, design data acquisition applications and custom communications, and deploy them on several machines, without the need to pay additional license fees.

“The better the information plant personnel have regarding operations, the greater their ability to manage costs, output, quality and ultimately — profitability. Some of the most valuable data lies within the programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that automate assembly lines. Manufacturers typically deploy PLCs machine-by-machine, so accessing that data can be a real challenge. This new set of class libraries provides anyone who knows Visual Basic.NET or Visual Studio C# everything they need to communicate with some of the world’s most popular Allen-Bradley controllers,” said Chuck Karwoski, head of CimQuest INGEAR.

NET.LOGIX 3.0 has several advanced features, including a new PeerMessage class for Unsolicited Messages, which waits idle in a passive state to allow the Allen-Bradley controller to send data through MSG instructions. Upon receiving communication, the PeerMessage class sends a notification event with information for the user application to process it immediately. The PeerMessage class is designed to receive MSG instructions from CompactLogix, ControlLogix, ControlLogix Gateway, MicroLogix, as well as PLC-5E and SLC 5/05 family of controllers.

NET.LOGIX 3.0 also features the DTEncoding class, which helps read and write Pre-Defined Types (PDT’s) and User Defined Types (UDT’s) as objects with or without the need to read or write every atomic member individually.

The new PLC HMI software simplifies development of 64-bit versions of Windows to Allen Bradley Controllers

CimQuest INGEAR is proud to announce its latest Allen-Bradley ActiveX Studio software which enables 32-bit programs to operate with 64-bit versions of Windows and supports creation of Windows 7 PLC HMI applications, the Allen-Bradley ActiveX Studio version 6.0. It allows creation of easy-to-use, powerful programmable logic controller (“PLC”) communications applications with significant usability and performance improvements over previous versions.

“Many of our customers migrating to the performance advantages of 64-bit Windows computing have had concerns about being able to continue to run their 32-bit programs. With this new version of our Allen-Bradley ActiveX Studio, we enable them to update existing or newly created 32-bit programs and run them on Windows 7 and on 64-bit Windows operating systems,” said Chuck Karwoski, president of CimQuest INGEAR.

The latest Allen-Bradley ActiveX Studio version 6.0 from CimQuest provides component Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 programmers a communication channel to Allen-Bradley PLCs without the complexity or overhead of OPC and it does not rely on third party drivers like RSLinx. Also, it enables two-way communications with Allen-Bradley SLC, PLC-5, MicroLogix, CompactLogix, and ControlLogix controllers, supporting ActiveX/OCX-based communications applications development written in .NET programming, C++ and Visual Basic languages.

Machine users who have built applications using the Allen-Bradley ActiveX Studio 5.2 can now upgrade their applications for them to run on Windows 64-Bit and Windows 7 operating systems with minor changes to their code. New machine users can deploy and develop application for Windows 64-Bit and Windows 7 operating systems.

Among the usability and performance enhancements in the latest version are updated example files and projects, improved error reporting, and improved CIP (“Common Industrial Protocol”) communications. Also, the Allen-Bradley ActiveX Studio version 6.0 supports an optional USB License Key which enables machine users to move developmental licenses from machine to machine without activation or registration.