Visualisation update improves ease of use

A GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms UK product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Sep 17, 2007

A backup ensures that users have an updated copy of their PLC programs in the event of a disaster.

GE Fanuc has released Proficy HMI/Scada - iFIX 4.5.

This new version of the visualisation product improves ease of use while adding more power and flexibility.

The company has also released Proficy Change Management Version 5.7, which, in combination with iFIX, allows users to gain control over changes to their iFIX systems.

It enhances security, helps manage the application development life cycle and provides the ability to recover quickly from disasters.

Enhancements in this release provide more detailed reporting capabilities to ensure the system integrity is maintained.

"Proficy HMI/Scada - iFIX 4.5 delivers a wide range of features and benefits to address virtually every market and class of user, from end user customers to the largest OEMs", said Bernard Cubizolles, European Product Manager for the GE Fanuc Proficy Suite.

"We focused on making both infrastructure improvements and customer-requested usability updates and added some exciting new capabilities".

iFIX 4.5 supports operation on the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system.

The software automatically adopts the latest operating system look and feel throughout all of its applications and dialogues.

With iFIX 4.5, Dynamos are given names, version numbers and descriptions.

iFIX 4.5 delivers tools to update Dynamos in pictures or across applications.

As a Dynamo is updated in the library, it is updated for use across applications automatically.

Users can have multiple instances of a display open, each displaying data through the use of tag groups.

These displays can be opened in different screen locations, facilitating the use with multi-monitors.

The iFIX Process Database can now deliver 15 digits of data precision for all internal calculations and data use.

Backward compatibility will be achieved with existing systems while enabling newer iFIX nodes to leverage the new data precision.

The software supports up to 200 clients connected to one Scada node, double the previous capacity Integrating OPC with the process database is now easier and users can browse OPC client driver tags from an iFIX block.

Proficy Change Management 5.7 provides improvements to Machine Edition integration, HMI/Scada support, and improved third-party PLC support.

Version 5.7 provides a schedule upload and compare capability for the GE Fanuc PAC controllers, allowing automated backup of the logic and data in the PLC, as well as the ability to compare the PLC to the master version on the Change Management Server.

The scheduled compare capability is key to detecting unauthorised changes and the backup ensures that users have an updated copy of their PLC programs in the event of a disaster.

According to Craig Resnick, Research Director, ARC Advisory group, "Automation solution suppliers that offer change management as part of their HMI software suite are providing manufacturers with a tool to enable seamless management and tracking of HMI software changes at both the component and application levels, as well as specific change histories within the development environment".

"Change management software is a key component in enabling synchronisation between all levels of the plant, and plays a key role in standardisation and collaborative operations management, which aids in transparency across business levels".

"Interoperability also puts change management software in a critical role, managing a multitude of software in need of upgrade due to security, monitoring, and optimisation".

Proficy Change Management 5.7 helps users meet key uptime metrics and turns manufacturing processes into a competitive advantage.