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<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Main features of FA-Panel |
Main features of FA-Panel
Key Features |
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FA-Panel has built-in communication drivers for downstream devices such as PLC and remote I/O. It comes standard with built-in communication functions for 100 types of PLC, and can also support system configurations with a mixture of different types of PLC.
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Supports PLC duplex configuration
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In an environment where two PLCs, a main and a sub (standby) (or duplicated PLC), are connected, if a failure occurs in the main PLC, the connection can automatically switch to the sub PLC.
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High-speed communication performance
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The communication drivers for our products have been optimized in various ways to ensure the fastest possible communication. You can see the communication performance of major models at the link on the left.
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Key Features |
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You can create tags linked to PLC devices. The PLC device values periodically acquired by the communication driver are always automatically reflected in the tags. In addition, values written to tags are automatically written to the corresponding PLC device addresses.
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In addition to units that connect to PLC, you can register virtual units that are deployed only in the memory space of Panel Server. These units can be used to hold tag values on Panel Server or as shared memory for sharing information between multiple Panel Server.
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FA-Panel provides units for connecting to the outside world via a network. For example, by registering the "OPC" unit, you can connect to tags on other OPC servers. Or, by using the "IPLink" unit, you can create tags linked to tags on other Panel Server servers and share data between applications. In addition, there are also tags that can be connected to databases via ODBC drivers, or tags that can be linked to cell data in Excel.
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Tag filters are functions that allow conversion processes such as engineering value conversion and bit inversion to be performed on a tag-by-tag basis. The raw value read by the communications driver from the PLC device is converted as specified by the tag filter, and the resulting value is stored in the tag. Also, when a value is written to a tag, the value that has been converted inversely to the conversion process specified by the tag filter is written to PLC.
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Key Features |
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Automatic generation of standard projects
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FA-Panel provides a monitoring screen system template called the "standard framework." By simply configuring the wizard in an interactive format, you can easily generate a versatile and highly complete monitoring screen project. The standard framework has a built-in menu function, so you can easily call up screens that you have added yourself, and call up various standard functions such as alarms and trends.
Furthermore, the standard project has a system setting screen, which allows you to edit the layout of the monitoring screen display area, edit menu items, etc. during operation. You can easily set the display method and screen size of the client screen, change the display position and display method of the menu, select the items to display in the menu, etc.
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You can freely create graphic screens using Panel Editor. On the graphic screen, you can display lamps, numbers, and various animations, and you can write values to PLC by inputting operations from the screen.
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In addition to shape parts such as lines and rectangles, there are a wide variety of controls available, such as edit boxes and buttons. You can create a monitoring screen by pasting these parts onto the screen.
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We provide a "parts library" of highly complete parts created by combining standard controls. You can use these parts immediately by simply pasting them on the screen and making simple settings.
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You can display image files on the graphic screen (BMP, JPEG, GIF, PNG). You can use images for symbols, or display photos of drawings or equipment in the background of the screen.
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Key Features |
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The standard framework comes with a variety of built-in functions. In addition to the highly versatile menu function and split screen display function, the display area known as the information bar in particular has a combination of guidance, related information, sticky note, and login functions. The related information function automatically lists candidates for screens related to a tag selected on a screen, etc., allowing you to instantly display the related screen. The sticky note function allows you to freely attach sticky notes to all screens. These basic functions can be used immediately without any special configuration.
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User management (login function) allows you to display the login screen when the system starts up, and perform authentication using a user name and password. This mechanism makes it possible to prevent the system from being used unless the login is successful. It is also possible to set the system to automatically log in at startup, or to display the login screen again when the user logs out, preventing the system from being used until the user logs in again.
•Introduction to user management functions
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You can monitor tag values and monitor alarms. An alarm summary screen, an alarm history screen, and other screens are provided as standard. Alarm data can be saved to a CSV file or to a database via ODBC. There is also a function to send emails when an alarm occurs or is cleared.
•Event real-time screen library
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Tag values can be logged and tallied. A trend graph screen and a comparison trend graph screen are provided as standard, and logging data and tallied data are displayed as trend graphs. Logging data can be saved to a CSV file or to a database via ODBC.
•Comparative Trend Graph Screen Library
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Based on the logging data, daily, monthly and yearly reports can be compiled. Daily report compilation data can be displayed on the standard daily report screen or printed out as a report. Daily report summary data can be saved in a CSV file or in a database via ODBC. There is also a function to manually edit the summary data on the screen.
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An operation monitoring function is provided to monitor the operation status of production equipment. It can display the operation status of equipment, abnormal conditions, etc., as well as the operation rate, production progress, and operation status in a Gantt chart.
•Operation monitoring screen library
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There is a function to easily display the tags registered in Panel Server in real time in a list format. In addition to monitoring the current value of the tag, there is also a function to start and stop the tag.
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You can monitor the power demand by monitoring the ring counter (accumulation counter) of the power measurement data. The demand monitoring screen, which comes as standard, can display demand forecasts and issue demand warnings.
•Demand monitoring screen library •Demand History Screen Library
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Energy management graphs can be displayed on the standard energy management screen based on daily, monthly, and yearly report aggregation data. Grouping can be freely done by floor, department, energy type, etc., and graphs can be displayed by group, and CO2 conversion, crude oil conversion, energy conversion, and unit consumption can be displayed. The energy management function is also called "EMS", which is an acronym for Energy Management System.
•Energy Management (EMS) Screen Library
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A scatter plot graph screen is provided as standard, allowing you to display scatter plot graphs based on logging and aggregated data.
•Scatter Plot Graph Screen Library
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A split display function is provided as standard. The layout of the display frame in the main area can be freely defined, and multiple graphic screens and standard function screens such as trends and alarms can be displayed side by side at the same time. In addition, network cameras can be assigned to the display frames of the split display. Images from multiple cameras can be lined up at the same time and used as a camera monitor. Graphic screens and camera images can also be displayed side by side.
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A guidance function is provided as standard. In addition to text information, various files such as image files, video files, and PDF files can be registered as guidance information and can be called up by linking them to information such as tags and data sources. Registered guidance information can be called up from related information in the information bar or from a button placed on the graphic screen.
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A video player function is provided as standard. It can display streaming video from network cameras and play video files.
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The video recorder function is provided as standard. Streaming video from network cameras and other sources can be recorded and played back as MP4 format video files. In addition to manually starting and stopping recording, you can set the start and stop times for recording on each day of the week as a weekly schedule, or record automatically by detecting the ON/OFF status of event conditions based on tag values.
•Video Recorder Screen Library
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It can be linked with "Nekaroku." Nekaroku is a recording and distribution server device of Mitsubishi Electric Information Network, and in addition to viewing live video from various general-purpose network cameras connected to Nekaroku, you can also play back recorded data on Nekaroku on a video player, and play multiple recorded data side by side simultaneously in a split display (camera monitor). |
Key Features |
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Tag calculations can be performed on the server side. Calculations between tags and arithmetic operations can be performed.
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By using the Script Ver2 action, you can make script logic resident on the server side and execute it. This script is a fully-fledged language specification, and you can create complex logic such as reading and writing tags, reading and writing files, and timer processing. |
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Tag bridge is a function that transfers values between tags. By transferring values between units connected to different PLCs, you can build a gateway function between PLCs from different manufacturers or of different models.
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The Tag report function allows you to embed tag values into the markup characters of a prepared text file and output them. For example, you can perform simple Web monitoring by periodically embedding tag values into a HTML file. |
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This function writes tag values to a text file.
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This function writes tag values to a table in an ODBC database.
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This function writes values read from a text file to tags.
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This function writes values read from a table in a ODBC database to tags.
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This is a function for sending emails. For example, you can send an email triggered by the tag value received from PLC, or include the tag value in the email content (a separate email server is required). |
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This function allows you to perform file operations on the server side, such as copying and moving files.
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This function writes the contents of a specified folder to a backup folder. It can also synchronize files.
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You can connect to a FTP server and send and receive files via FTP (a separate FTP server is required).
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You can execute SQL statements on the server side.
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For example, in an environment where you are not always connected to the Internet, you can easily set up a process to connect when necessary and then disconnect after a few seconds. |
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You can run external applications on the server side.
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You can take screenshots on the server side.
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You can synchronize your PC's clock based on the time information received from PLC, or write time information to PLC.
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You can automatically terminate server applications or shut down the OS itself at any time. For example, you can easily create a process that receives a power outage signal from a UPS, and automatically shuts down applications and PCs when a power outage is detected. |
Key Features |
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Panel Server has the functionality of a OPC server, and can connect to communications from other OPC client applications. It also has the functionality to connect to other OPC servers as OPC clients from Panel Server by defining a unit that connects to other OPC server applications in the tag unit definition. |
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Panel Server has the functionality of a DDE server, and can establish a communication connection from other DDE client applications. It also has the functionality to connect to other DDE servers as a DDE client from Panel Server by defining a unit that connects to other DDE server applications in the tag unit definition. |
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IPLink is our proprietary communication protocol. By using IPLink, you can easily link tags between our server applications. |
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By using the IPLink client library (ActiveX), you can easily connect to tags on Panel Server from external applications such as VisualBasic. Also, by using DDE, you can easily link to tags from cells in Excel. |
Key Features |
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The simplest configuration is standalone operation with only one PC.
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It can also be used in a client-server configuration using multiple PCs.
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You can duplicate your servers by using two PCs, a main PC and a standby PC. By running Panel Server as the main and sub, you can make various server processes, such as communication with PLC and logging, redundant. |
Key Features |
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In runtime execution, also known as direct login, you simply place the application file on the server side, and each client PC can automatically obtain and launch the latest application. This is the most common client execution method. |
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This is an execution method that opens the setting file from Panel Browser and displays the client screen. With this method, you can place the application file on each client and open the file to execute it, or you can place the application file on the Web server and open it with URL to execute it. |
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You can run Panel Browser as an embedded Exe.
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You can embed Panel Browser into Internet Explorer and run it.
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Panel Browser can be embedded into the screen of VisualBasic and other programs and executed.
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You can display and run the client screen on an iPad or Android tablet.
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Key Features |
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Automatic restart of server applications
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Panel Server has a mechanism to automatically restart an application or the OS if an application terminates abnormally. |
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Automatic restart of client applications
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Panel Browser has a mechanism to automatically restart the application if it terminates abnormally. |
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Server application stop operation lock
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To prevent an operating Panel Server from being stopped due to an operator error, you can configure the system to require a password to be entered when stopping Panel Server. |