Editor eases device description file creation

A B and R Industrial Automation Corp product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 25, 2008

The XDD editor is a special configuration tool for Windows and Linux operating systems that greatly facilitates the generation of XML description files for CANopen and Powerlink.

Electronic devices in automation networks require standardised device description files to make their status, their configuration and their characteristics transparent to the network.

CANopen and Powerlink (which complies with the CANopen standard and uses the same device descriptions) have until now used the INI format for EDS files.

But now, the new XML standard, which provides users, system integrators and device manufacturers with improved device description features and a wide range of new possibilities, is gaining ground.

The new features include multiple-language support, textual description options and the characterisation of parameters and measured values through physical units and scaling factors.

Offsets can be indicated as well.

Templates can be created for similar parameters, and the parameters can be combined in groups that can be hierarchically arranged.

To allow for several views of the parameters and complex menu structures, all parameters can be present in several groups.

The groups, on the other hand, can be assigned names and descriptions in several languages.

A nonproprietary, XML-based description language for CANopen and Powerlink gives manufacturers the considerable advantage of being able to use a unified, standardised description for different field buses or real-time Ethernet systems for their devices.

If there is a description of the device applications, the device parameters can be linked to the communication mechanisms of the communication interface.

Thus, manufacturers of CANopen and Powerlink devices experience a synergy effect.

A few months ago, B and R introduced a control system that can fully import XML device description files, thus allowing for the simple and efficient integration of third party components into a B and R environment.

As standard XML editors are only suitable for the manual generation of these files, port, an expert for CAN- and Ethernet-based fieldbus systems, now provides the XDD (XML Device Description) editor, a special configuration tool for Windows and Linux operating systems that greatly facilitates the generation of XML description files for CANopen and Powerlink.

In addition to the device description file, the XDD editor from port generates a consistent HTML documentation.

Import options for communication and device profiles render repetitive, error-prone activities obsolete.

The required objects can be added and parameterised through a few clicks.

Easy-to-use masks facilitate the configuration of further settings, such as device description entries or diagnostic entries.

A consistency check prior to generation ensures the validity of the entered data.

Existing CANopen EDS or XML files can be easily imported.