SCADA software package that sets itself apart by its advanced ergonomics and its powerful object-oriented tools

Phil Black - PII Editor 31/03/2010

250 3 minutes read

SCADA software package that sets itself apart by its advanced ergonomics and its powerful object-oriented tools — new version of the PcVue software

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The new version of the PcVue software edited by ARC Informatique puts the accent on opening up links to new protocols, such as integration of OPC KEPWARE servers and Smart Generator Step7®. Version 9.0 features major innovations that help to cut deployment and operating costs even further for process monitoring projects and utilities.

PcVue was created in 1985, and it is now a new-generation SCADA software package that sets itself apart by its advanced ergonomics and its powerful object-oriented tools. It considerably shortens development and deployment lead times for supervision applications covering industrial processes and utilities, whether they are in assembly factories, or on chemicals, pharmaceuticals or food processing sites, or even used for motorway, transport or power transmission infrastructures, etc. To develop and upgrade PcVue, the ARC Informatique teams were able to draw on their cumulative experience covering over 38,000 licensed installations.

Right from the start of the development work on PcVue 9.0, the accent was placed on opening up the systems and integrating new protocols. To begin with, servers from OPC KEPWARE, world leader for communication protocols, were integrated. Bundles were added to enable integration of over a hundred new automatic controller protocols. To add to those already included (Siemens, Schneider, etc.), the systems now support brands such as ALLEN BRADLEY, BECKHOFF, HONEYWELL, MITSUBISHI, YOKOGAWA, and so on. Then Smart Generator Step 7® was added, to cut development time by federating the monitoring database with that of Siemens automatic controllers. Lastly, configuration file exchange via FTP servers has been natively integrated in the product. This enables information to be stored or read on an FTP server. In
particular, reports can be transferred and made available on the network automatically.

PcVue 9.0 is one of the first SCADA tools on the market to be fully validated on Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, and SQL Server 2008, but of course it is also compatible with Windows XP, Windows VISTA, and Windows 2003 server to enable full returns on the investments made by the many customers already using earlier versions of PcVue. PcVue V.9 is also set apart by the significant improvements made to its ergonomics and its ease of use: -FactoryLinkTM Smart Generator has been further upgraded to make migration to PcVue even simpler. As well as conversion of all the graphics (mimics, symbols, and templates) and the base concerned, the latest version of the FactoryLink Smart Generator enables automatic conversion and presentation of TCP communication objects and mapping, and takes the tag scaling requirements into account. -CAD Smart Generator, for native import of CAD files. With its native interface for integrating CAD files (dwg, dxf) CAD Smart Generator can be used to link AutoCAD® block references with PcVue objects. The PcVue 9.0 mimics thus created have a bitmap background image, together with animated symbols and all the corresponding variables, to replace each source file block occurrence.

-The PcVue 9.0 graphic interface also includes many enhanced features. To facilitate generation of 3D mimics and meet the recurrent needs of automatic generation, the models and 3D symbols can now be saved in text format. This means that these objects can be generated by outside tools, to cut development lead times and reduce risks of errors. Filtering, sorting, and analysing alarm or settings windows is made even easier with the V9 version. The settings windows now support advanced sorting functions and pop-up windows. To monitor an event over a specific timeframe, the settings windows now support time filtering by start and end date or start date and direction. This makes information easier to access.

ARC INFORMATIQUE
ARC Informatique is a European leader in SCADA/HMI software. Our innovative solutions allow supervision and control of industrial processes, services and facilities. Over 38,000 licensed copies of ARC Informatique products are installed worldwide.

For more information visit www.arcinfo.com

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