FAQ 1: I'm getting the "Pending" message. What's wrong?
For DataWorx PLC Standard and Professional First confirm that the ECOM module is visible on the network. Use NetEdit to browse for the ECOM. Note that when using NetEdit use the UDP/IP protocol. If you are unable to view the ECOM with NetEdit confirm that the ECOM is plugged into the network cable. Also, the IP address of the ECOM may be out of range for your network. Consult with the network administrator on the appropriate IP address ranges. By default most plant networks use a 192.168.0.X range.
Second, confirm that the WX command has the appropriate configuration. To do so start DataWorx and go to the PLC's configuration. Click the Configure PLC Memory button and enter the desired V Memory locations. Then, click Autoconfigure, and the PLC memory should be configured for the WX command. Note that if the DataWorx server has multiple NICs you will have to disable all cards except for the one used for DataWorx. For more details see FAQ 2: I have multiple NICs; which one do I use for DataWorx?
Third, confirm the slot number of the ECOM is correct on the PLC. You can do this by going to the DirectSoft menu: PLC -> Configure IO. The slot number (#) of the ECOM will be displayed.
Fourth, if you have Windows XP Service Pack 2 you may have to disable the firewall. By default, the firewall blocks the PLC data. To disable the firewall, go to the NIC properties. Click the Advanced tab and you should see a Windows Firewall section. Click Settings and you should see a window displaying options for On and Off. Click Off and click OK on the previous screens.
For DataWorx WinPLC Standard and Professional First, confirm that the WinPLC is visible on the plant network. To do so run ESP or CEView. Click the Select CE Station button. If you do not see the WinPLC, it may have to be reset to a different IP address. To do so, connect the WinPLC to the PC using a crossover cable. Next, use the Reset WinPLC in the Browse WinPLCs window.
Second, confirm that the flowchart is writing to the correct address. To do so, go to IOView and view the target CE device properties. The target CE device IP address should be the same as the DataWorx computer. Note that you can quickly retrieve the DataWorx computer IP address by opening the Server application.
Third, if you have Windows XP Service Pack 2 you may have to disable the firewall because by default it blocks the PLC data. To disable the firewall, go to the NIC properties. Click the Advanced tab, and you should see a Windows Firewall section. Click Settings, and you should see a window displaying options for On and Off. Click Off and click OK on the previous screens.
FAQ 2: I have multiple NICs; which one do I use for DataWorx? In order to determine the appropriate NIC for DataWorx, you will have to use ipconfig. To use ipconfig, click the Start button and choose Run. In the box that appears enter "cmd" (no quotes). You will then see a black window. Enter "ipconfig /all" (no quotes). You will then see a list of all NICs and their corresponding IP addresses. The one to be used for DataWorx will have a similar IP address to the PLCs. For example, if the PLCs IP address is 10.1.1.2, then the appropriate NIC on the computer will have an IP address of 10.1.1.5.
If you are still unsure of the appropriate NIC to use for DataWorx, consult with the plant network administrator.
FAQ 3: I'm having a hard time registering the product, can you help me? Go to Help -> Registration in the DataWorx Monitor menu. You will see a Registration window with a field labeled "Key." This Key is a special registration code created just for you. Copy the key, either by using Ctrl + C or by right-clicking the mouse and selecting Copy. Next, go to: www.bizwaredirect.com/dataworxregistration.aspx. Paste the key into the field labeled "Key (From DataWorx Install)." Next, enter the serial number that is on the back of the software case provided with the DataWorx product.
Click Register. If all fields have been entered correctly, a new key which has been created for you will appear onscreen. Copy this new key and go back to the DataWorx Monitor Registration screen. Paste the new key into the Key field. Also enter the serial number that is on the back of the software case provided with the DataWorx product into the correct field. Click Register. If all information has been entered correctly into the appropriate fields, a box should appear onscreen, indicating that your software has been registered successfully.
FAQ 4: Doesn't this product work like DSData or KEPDirect? DSData and KEPDirect are polling products, which gather data from the PLCs on a constant interval. Through this continuous polling method, the computer requests data from the PLC and the PLC responds with the data. DataWorx, on the other hand, uses report-by-exception technology. Report by exception allows the PLC to send data to the computer. This architecture assures that the computer will log data only when needed.
As an example to illustrate this concept, let's say that you wanted to log the number of bottles processed per hour in a bottle plant. With a polling product, such as DSData and KEPDirect, the computer will ask for the number of bottles processed every second instead of every hour. This is wasteful of bandwidth and can create scaling problems with a plant containing multiple devices. With DataWorx, however, the PLC would be programmed in the ladder logic to send data every hour using a timer. With DataWorx's report-by-exception technology, the data is transmitted only once per hour, instead of the once every second that you would see with polling. This provides a more efficient use of bandwidth and allows scaling to more devices compared to polling.
So, overall DataWorx allows the PLC to have complete control over the data sending and it allows data to be sent ONLY when needed.
FAQ 5: How do I log data to an Access 2007 database? If you need to log data to an Access 2007 or 2010 database, you must either install Access 2007/2010 or the Microsoft Access Database Engine on to the DataWorx server.
The Microsoft Access Database Engine may be downloaded
from Microsoft at the following link (called 2007 Office System Driver: Data Connectivity Components):
The Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010 may be downloaded
from Microsoft at the following link:
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