Top Server Release Notes - 2006

TOP Server Release Notes - 2006

November 17, 2006

TOP Server Version 4.210.367 Released - (Download here) (More Information on Drivers)

ServerMain.exe Updates (V4.210.367)

Enhancements:

Added support for Boolean arrays using the iFix PDB interface

Fixes

Issue that could result in a server crash following a request timeout in iFix PDB interface

Driver Updates

All Drivers

Fixed issue where a rapid sequence of item add, sync read, and item remove requests could result in bad OPC quality for some items included in a block sync read and/or sync read timeouts.
Fixed issue with Unsolicited UDP Mode Ethernet Encapsulation mode, where driver would stop receiving unsolicited messages after sending a message.

Allen-Bradley ControlLogix

Fixed packet sequencing issue that can occur during Logix project uploads when using the Physical Non-Blocking or Physical Blocking Protocol Types.
Fixed the issue where writing '0' to the '_SET' tag of RTC was incorrectly changing the 'YR' tag of RTC.
Increased the address range for PLC-5 B,T,C,R,N,F,A,D, and BT files to 2000 elements.
Fixed event log formatting for Micrologix Function File errors.
Fixed memory overrun issue that can occur if referencing Logix array blocks of less than 4 bytes. This issue would be seen for Logix arrays of less than 4 SINTs (e.g. BYTEARRAY[3]) and Logix arrays less than 2 INTs (e.g. WORDARRAY[1]). Keep in mind that as items are being added in the QC, the block will grow until all items are added. This implies that the block can at any point in time contain less than 4 bytes total. So this issue is not only possible with tags like BYTEARRAY[3] and WORDARRAY[1], but also for bigger arrays as items are being added.
Fixed handling of CIP Error 0x08. This error can occur upon rebooting a SoftLogix PC, and previously resulted in unrecoverable communications.

Allen-Bradley DH+

Increased address ranges for B,T,C,R,N,F,A,D, and BT files to 2000 elements for PLC-5.

Allen-Bradley Ethernet

Increased address ranges for B,T,C,R,N,F,A,D, and BT files to 2000 elements for PLC-5.

Allen-Bradley DF1

Increased address ranges for B,T,C,R,N,F,A,D, and BT files to 2000 elements for PLC-5.
Added BK support for MicroLogix MG files.

Allen-Bradley Unsolicted Ethernet

Added support for EtherNet/IP PLC-2 Unprotected Reads/Writes.

AutomationDirect EBC

Added support for P3.31, P4.13 - P4.18, P7.28 to model GS3 Drive.

BACnet

Added ability to import tags from Cimetrics OPC server.
Fixed issue with auto-generated relinquish present value tag name. Relinquish tag was given the same name as present value tag, causing server to append a number to one of the tag names to make names unique. Present value tag now named "PresentValueRel".
Added feature to handle unexpected nesting of BACnet abstract data tags.
We now handle special "Any/Don't Care" values for BACnet date, time and datetime datatypes. The string "ANY" will be returned to client when when 0xFF 0xFF 0xFF 0xFF is read from BACnet device. Will continue to return "NULL" for unspecified value.
Enhanced tag import from device feature. Previously, import could fail for devices that did not support read-property-multiple service, segmentation, or recognize the "ALL" property identifier.
Removed segmentation and max APDU length settings for no discovery mode. These properties are now read directly from device.

DirectNet

Fixed issue when unexpected bytes are received on writes, resulting in successive writes to never occur, requiring a restart of the server.

GE CCM

Corrected blocking issue with expanded I/O addresses.
Fixed issue where writing a 0 to expanded I/O outputs would fail.

GE Ethernet

Added support for PACSystem RX3i and RX7i PLC. This includes read and write access to symbolic variables.
Modified variable import for Proficy ME variation of snf file format and symbolic variable support. Added support for UINT data type.
Fixed issue with interpretation import file extension. If "snf" extention was not entirely lower case, the tag import function would attempt to parse data as Logic Developer "txt" format.
Fixed address parser issue where bit in word address would be rejected for last valid register address.
Fixed issue where PLC Info internal tags (_OVERSWEEP, _CONSWEEP, etc) could not be read for VersaMax CPUE50.
Fixed issue where an exception could occur if writes were done on inactive tags.

Honeywell HC900 Ethernet

Added ability to import Modbus Partition Register Map.
Added warning in tag generation device property page that the driver will assume default "Universal Modbus Map" is in use in controler. Generated tags may not be valid if Custom Modbus Map has been created.

Horner OCS

Added logic to the driver where on a BUSY ERROR (-3) from the OCS unit the driver will not invalidate tag and move on, but rather keep re-trying that tag for a timeout period (device property: Request Timeout/Fail After). If the driver receives a good response in that time window that tag is validated successfully else is set to bad quality.

Mitsubishi Ethernet

Fix issue in TCP mode where we only tried Connect once instead of observing the retry count.
Fix issue with not observing on the fly changes to the connection timeout.
Fixed issue with returning a bit value, rather than the register value, when using bit within BCD and LBCD data types.

Mitsubishi Serial

Added BCD and LBCD support.
Memory ranges were expanded to match Mitsubishi Ethernet version.
Fixed issue where first word high device property was not being respected for certain TC/TS/CC/CS dword arrays.
Fixed issue where writing to certain addresses of bit based device types (L,F,etc) failed.
Fixed issue where SM/SB tags (non-array tags) were not read from/written to properly.
Fixed issue where writes to float arrays failed when the 'first word high' device property was set.
Fixed issue where writes to TS/TC/CS/CC/F array tags failed for address below 256 with array length extends beyond 256 elements.

Modbus Ethernet

Added ability to block strings for Modbus model.

Siemens Ethernet

Fixed Timer and Counter read issue for Netlink S7-300/400 models.

Simatic 505 Serial

Added device selection for 0 or 1 based bit addressing.
Added device selection for 0/1 bit to signify least or most significant bit.

UCON

Fixed issues with scratch buffer control in Write String command.
Added "Add Comment" command (with an option to insert blank line)
Added option to Initialize Scratch Buffer.
The driver now has the ability to test if a buffer contains a string (existing feature allows something similar, but the location had to be specified)
Log Event command is enhanced to include tag value as well as buffer data.
Added the following checksums:

Sum (7-bit)
b. MLEN (8 - Bit)
c. MLEN_INCL (8-Bit)
d. MLEN (16-Bit)
e. MLEN_INCL (16-Bit)
f. 2's Complimented Sum (8-Bit)
g. 2's Complimented Sum (16-Bit)
h. CRC-32 (32-Bit)
i. CRC-32 (32-Bit) (Reflected)
j. Sum of [Hi Lo] Word Data (16 Bit)
k. CRC-16-INIT1 (16-Bit) (Reflected)
l. CRC-ARC (16-Bit) (Reflected)
m. CRC-CCITT (16-Bit) (Reflected)
Added Date Time support with multiple formats.
Added "Number of bytes per character" option in "Write String", "Update Tag" and "Write Data" command so that users can choose whether they want to send strings or data in Unicode format over the wire.
Added support for global buffer.
Fixed issue where Transmit command would fail if used in an unsolicited transaction and Ethernet Encapsulation.

Yaskawa MP Serial

Replaced model MP920 from model selection with MP so that any MP series model is supported. Added additional model "GL".
Added support for constant registers for GL model.

Yokogawa Controller Serial

Fixed alarm status tag read issue.

Yokogawa DX

Added support for the DX Advanced models (DX1002, DX1004, DX1006, DX1012, DX2004, DX2008, DX2010, DX2020, DX2030 and DX2048)
Added support for Opmode_normal, Opmode_Freeze and Opmode_clear tags for the DXAdvanced models.
Added support for exponential functions.
Added support for setting regular and free messages.
Increased allowable length of username (20 chars max) and password (8 chars max) to support the DXAdvanced models.

Yokogawa MW

Added support for inter-request delay
Fixed issue where the driver would send an invalid FD command for devices that have math channels but no input channels.

July 19, 2006

TOP Server Version 4.201.359 Released - (Download here) (More Information on Drivers)

ServerMain.exe Updates (V4.201.359)

Enhancements:

Added ability to set the location and name of the server's event log. This can be configured under Tools|Options|EventLog.

Fixed:

Fixed issue in the OPC layer where data changes would not be seen after a float or double value is set to NAN
Fixed issue where the server would register the DX plugin on any installation update (servermain.exe –register), regardless of whether or not the DX plugin functionality was enabled or not
Fixed crash that would occur if deleting a device that previously created multiple aliases with the same name.
Fixed issue in the OPC layer where we did not set the quality of an item to bad, when we fail to convert the data to the requested data type

DX Plugin

Fixed crash that would occur when persisting configuration data to a location which no longer exists (e.g., network drive).

New Drivers

CutlerHammer ELC Serial V4.00.14
Yokogawa MW V4.10.26

Driver Updates

BACnet

Fixed issue where driver would send abort instead of ACK in response to confirmed COV notification message.

ControlLogix Ethernet

Fixed Micrologix Function File Block Write issue when multiple Micrologix devices under a channel have differing Function File Block Write settings. The device with Block Writes enabled may show erroneous behavior.

GE Focas1 Ethernet

Added support for Tool Offset tags.

Hilscher Universal

Added ability to read the Output image.
Fixed blocking issue where accessing Words or DWords at a byte offset of 244 or higher could return unexpected results.

Honeywell UDC Ethernet

Added support for inter-request delay feature, with default delay of 50 ms per recommendation of Honeywell.
Fixed potential issue where an invalid write request frame would be sent when retrying a write request following a device timeout or other error.

Mitsubishi FX Net

Added an open model with maximum allowable range by parser for each address types.

Mitsubishi Serial

Increased allowable array size from 32 to 64 WORDS for register types.
Fixed maximum block read length for bit addresses TS/TC/CS/CC, as we were exceeding the size allowed by the protocol.

Modbus Ethernet

Updated address parser to reject the 'Date' data type, as this is not supported by the driver.

Modbus Plus

Fixed byte-ordering issue for Coil and Discrete Reads when utilizing the Hilscher Modbus Plus card.

Modbus Serial

Updated address parser to reject the 'Date' data type, as this is not supported by the driver.
Fixed issue with Omni model where carriage returns were doubled up when saving text reports to file. This resulted in unnecessary double spacing when report file was printed.

Modbus Unsolicited Serial

Added support data type support for doubles.
Updated address parser to reject the 'Date' data type, as this is not supported by the driver.

NWL PCAMs

Added write support.
Added support for Rapper data.

ODBC Client

Fixed issue where we would not properly initialize the stored procedure name at runtime prior to performing an execute on the store procedure. This could occur if a write to the execute command was received prior to fully initializing the stored procedure.
Fixed issue where we would post an "unable to read stored procedure parameter" error message prior to fully initializing the stored procedure.

Omron FINS Ethernet

Added ability for users to configure the 'Destination Unit Number' of a device.
Added string support for CIO memory type.

Omron FINS Serial

Added string support for CIO memory type.

Sattbus Ethernet

Fixed write issue with 32 bit (RD) registers.
Fixed read issue on multiple devices when overlapping is turned off on both.
Fixed read issue on 32 bit tags that are mapped to same address but use different data types.
Fixed issue where communications would not recover after disconnecting the cable to a physical device if it was referenced by multiple devices in the project.

Siemens S7-MPI

Fixed crash that could occur when writing to inactive tags.

Siemens TCP/IP Unsolicited

Fixed the bug where using multiple FB15 [PUT] blocks with data type INT crashed the driver.
Fixed read/write issue to S7-200 Analog Inputs (AI)

Simatic 505 Ethernet

Added write support for LVF, AVF and LSRF variables.

TIWay

Fixed crash that occurred when closing a project that references macros

Toyopuc Ethernet PC3

Added support for Extended Input register (GX), Extended Output register (GY) and Extended Internal Relay (GM).

UCON

Fixed issue where communications would stop if using unsolicited Ethernet encapsulation with UDP and unsolicited transactions with data transmit.
Added support for handling escape characters (DLE, STX etc) in data.
Added "Write Event Counter" command.

Yaskawa MP Ethernet

Fixed issue where array data would return all zeros with good quality, regardless of what was returned from the device.

March 24, 2006

TOP Server Version 4.200.353 Released - (Download here) (More Information on Drivers)

ServerMain.exe Updates (V4.200.353)

Enhancements:

Users can now highlight and copy the license number and computer ID from the license dialogs to be pasted into our online registration system for unlocking your license. This should save time and prevent errors.
Automatic backup of project file prior to overwriting the existing project file when saving changes. This feature can be turned off in the Tools-->Options-->General menu item.
Added capability to process OPC Qualities other than "Good non-specific" and "Bad non-specific" for the Intellution NIO interface. This enhancement specifically benefits users of our Triconex driver.

Fixed:

OPC DA 3.0 browse issue
Alias names that contain commas will now be double quoted on export to CSV to insure they can be successfully re-imported.

Driver Updates

All Drivers Updated by these items:

Improved handling of outstanding write requests on disabled devices.
Fixed issue with _Error tag not being set for devices when the selected COM port was not available or found to be invalid on startup.
Fixed issue with _Error tag not being set for devices if the modem was not available or found to be invalid on startup.

Allen-Bradley Ethernet

Added ability to specify a Destination Node Address for use in DF1 Gateway applications.

Allen-Bradley ControlLogix

Added support for Boolean Arrays
Added Tag Hierarchy Setting to Auto Tag Generation Options. The two selections are Condensed and Expanded (Default and previous group/tag hierarchy)
Enhanced STRING reads so that the String value is terminated according to the length specified in the .LEN member. This is an important feature enhancement for any user using String tag types in ControlLogix PLCs.

GE Focas

Added channel diagnostics for unsolicited data.

Honeywell HC900 Ethernet

Fixed tag import issue where the last record was not being imported. This would be accompanied by an event log message stating that the buffer length had been exceeded.
Added auto tag generation option to create tags using a less strict naming convention.
Added support for new export file formatted introduced in Hybrid Control Designer 3.0. This format is used in "Export Report | FBD | All Modbus Registers"
We no longer include the block name prefix on imported tags.

InTouch Client Driver

Added tag naming option ("Legacy" and "Enhanced"). Legacy option enforces the stricter naming constraints of previous versions of driver. Enhanced option enforces the freer naming constraints allowed by current version of OPC server. Moved all tag import options to separate dialog.

Mitsubishi Ethernet

Default Ports are changed to 5000 for UDP and 5001 for TCP/IP in order to be consistent with recent Mitsubishi GX Developer Version 8.25B.

Mitsubishi FX

Fixed blocking issue where tags with 32-bit data types could cause driver to request more data than allowed by protocol.

Modbus ASCII Serial

Fixed an issue where we displayed the wrong hints for coil and register ranges.
Added option to access multiple coils as analog value.

Modbus Ethernet

Added option to access multiple coils as analog value. This option is not available for unsolicited modes.
Added "Deactivate tags on illegal address exception (2) from device" option. Not used for reads of Omni text data.

Modbus Plus

Added option to access multiple coils as analog value. Feature is available for Modbus model, Master mode only.

Modbus Serial

Added "Use Modbus TCP Headers" device property to allow communication with native Modbus Ethernet devices through Ethernet Encapsulation. This will allow us to communicate with Omni devices over Ethernet
Added "Deactivate tags on illegal address exception (2) from device" option. Not used for reads of Omni text data.
Added option to access multiple coils as analog value.

Modbus Unsolicited Serial

Added option where the OPC quality of a tag will be bad until the memory location(s) referenced by the tag have been written to by a Modbus command or client application.

ODBC

Added support for MySQL.
Fixed crash that could occur if a remote SQL server PC is powered off and/or we lose communications.
Fixed issues with reporting incorrect data for fixed table elements that are out of range. This can occur if records are deleted from a table, and fixed table indices that are greater than the record count are accessed. We now properly set the quality to bad for records that are out of range.
Fixed runtime issues where changes to DSN (Channel Properties), selected table, and/or selected query would not take effect until the project was shutdown and re-opened.
Fixed runtime issues where changes to selected stored procedure would not take effect until the project was shutdown and re-opened.
Fixed runtime issues where changes to DSN selected query would not take effect until the project was shutdown and re-opened.
Added ability to manually update (generate) the tags associated with a stored procedure.
Added ability to manually update (generate) the tags associated with a query.

Omron Fins Ethernet

No longer fail write transactions if main response code is zero (no error) and sub response code is non-zero. New behavior is consistent with current read behavior and read/write behavior of FINS serial driver.
Fixed issue with data validation on FINS Network Configuration device property page. Different error messages would be posted if entered value was < or > 255.

Omron Hostlink

Updated default device ID to 0, the default shipped by Omron.

Siemens S7 Suite

Fixed issue handling Peripheral IO

Simatic 505 Serial

Fixed an issue where Long tags may read back incorrect data. Fixed word swapping logic for Longs. When right shifting a signed value where the MSB is a 1, results in 1's to be shifted in from the left, resulting in a negative number after the shift.

TIWAY Host Adapter

Fixed blocking issue whereby accessing word memory as a dword could cause unknown data to fill the low-order word of the dword.
Added bit reversal support (bit 1 = MSB, bit 1 = LSB option) to V, K, WX, WY and SS memory types.

Toshiba Ethernet

Added support for two new models: S2 and S3
Added two new address formats. Register DW[XX], which is mapped to RWXX and bit support of the D registers (D[XX].B0 - D[YY].BF)
Modified maximum address limit for the X, Y, XW, YW, D, DW, R and RW register.
Modified maximum address limits for I, IW, O and OW.

Toyopuc Ethernet PC3

Added bit within word support to following memory types: S, N, R, D, B, U, EN, H and ES

UCON

Fixed issue between server and UCON driver which would reinitialize scaling parameters whenever the UCON transaction editor sent updates to the server. We no longer wipe out the scaling settings.
Added option to Set Event Counter command to set the reador unsolicited transaction of the tag's block.
Added data destination options for Write Character and Write String commands.
Added Custom Checksum #8, #9 and #10.
Added support for 24 bit signed and unsigned integer device data format.
Fixed issue where updates would stop following successful completion of a block read transaction where one or more string tags in the block were not given initial values with an Update Tag command. This issue was seen with DDE clients only.

Yaskawa MP Serial

Expanded upper address limit from 32767 to 65534.

Yaskawa MP Ethernet

Added string support
Expanded upper address limit from 32767 to 65534.
Fixed issue where driver would not deactivate tag upon invalid address exception from device, causing unnecessary timeouts and repeating error messages in event log.

Yokogawa Controller Serial

Fixed issue with auto generating tags for devices that result from a copy paste operation. The result was that tags were duplicated for pasted devices.
All tags (except the tags under Group_ErrorBits, Group_Error, Group_L1Mode, Group_L2Mode, Group_Input (Model UT/UP750 Only), Group_Outputs (Model UT/UP 750 only), Group_L2ModeBits and Group_Status) for Models UT750, UP750, UT550 and UP550 are now read-writeable.
Fixed issue where boolean tags would always read 0 for PCLink no matter what the value contained.
The default data type selection page for PCLink supporting devices is now removed as it makes it difficult for user to switch to a different datatype. The defaults are now set based on the underlying address.

Yokogawa Darwin

Added Tag Origin selection to Device Properties. Autotag generation can be done using Device Tagnames or Physical Channel Number.
Added "SetTime" tag so that users can update the clock more often.

Yokogawa MX

Added support for the driver to disconnect from the underlying device if data collection to the device is disabled.

Yokogawa YS Serial

Fixed issue with block offset calculation. Some data is "traditionally" blocked (e.g. X1, X2, X3, X4) and some data is "cross" blocked (e.g. PV1,SV1,MV1). The traditionally blocked data was being correctly requested, but the offset on processing the data was always starting at 0. (So for ex., if you requested X2, X3, and X4, the data would go to X1, X2, and X3.) For this reason, the problem was never seen in a tag autogenerated project.
Fixed issue where initialization information messages were only being displayed for first device acquisition for channel.