ESP "Readme"

This README.HTML file documents the changes made to ESP (Easy Setup without Programming). ESP is a product of Industrial Control Links, Inc. of Auburn California, USA.


v4.00

Summary

    New feature release.
    Minor maintenance.

New Features/Changes

  • Data & Alarm Logging
    • Added data and alarm logging. Automatically logs data records based on triggers and alarm records based on change of alarm state. Features include single or multiple files, configurable file format and maximum size, and time/date stamp.

  • TUI (Textual User Interface)
    • Added the ability to display data and alarm logs on a TUI.
    • The Page Up and Page Down keys now work in the TUI.
    • Added alarm properties that can be applied to TUI alarms or alarm logs.
    • Signed, unsigned and hex modes are now supported for TUI fields.

  • Communications
    • PPP modem dial-up is now supported when using TCP/IP.
    • Additional modes and flexibility are now available to send & receive "non-standard" data types over Modbus protocol. You can now set up the ICL-4300 to deal with almost any representation.
    • Any integer register type is now allowed for diagnostic mapping of Arcnet node IDs (int8 was required before).
    • A list of phone numbers can now be used for alarm dialing, with configurable control over how the system escalates from one number to the next.

  • Error Messaging
    • Improved error checking and reporting while parsing the config file.
    • The system event log mechanism has been changed so that a fresh log file (icl4300.log) is created each time the application starts. The previous log file, if any, is backed up to icl4300.bak. This makes it easier to find applicable error messages, and reduces the likelihood that the log will fill up and stop recording.

  • Miscellaneous
    • The Status LED and the reboot signal can now be mapped to Boolean registers.
    • Added "-l" command line option to turn the status LED off.
    • Parser has gotten more strict about accepting floating point numbers where an integer is expected. The sample files have been changed accordingly.
    • Added I/O breakouts in comment headers of sample files.
    • The [FORMAT] record now left justifies buffer register types that are inserted into format string.

Fixed Problems

  • [Defines] entries can now be nested together.
  • BrickNet now has the ability to receive messages while waiting to access the media when sending a command.
  • The maximum register count for Arcnet messaging was being calculated incorrectly, allowing too many registers to be specified in a [NetEvent].
  • Error messages are now displayed cleanly to the TUI.
  • The communication failure status now properly reflects success/failure over a dialup connection.
  • The presence of Arcnet hardware is now detected before the system tries to install the Arcnet device driver.
  • DTR is now cleared when the application exits in order to hang up any attached modem(s).
  • TUI autoedit feature was not working properly.
  • Fixed Arcnet device address to eliminate unreliable Arcnet device communications.

v3.20

Summary

    New feature release.
    Minor maintenance.

New Features/Changes

  • Added support for Arcnet LAN controller.

Fixed Problems

  • Modbus master can now rewind and re-evaluate received characters as invalid message are rejected. This is in support of systems that use store and forward.

v3.10

Summary

    Many new features, including Ethernet, Modbus/TCP and HotLink support.

New Features/Changes

  • HotLink
    • Added HotLink operator interface panel support, via TUI. Some changes were made to the various TUI records to accommodate the HotLink.
    • Added local alarm annunciation on the HotLink beeper, via TUI.

  • Textual User Interface (TUI)
    • Added TUI value lists and TUI buttons.
    • Added auto edit feature to TUI.
    • Ctrl+N and Ctrl+P are now used for next and previous menus in the TUI.
    • Ctrl+S (or '*' on HotLink) is used for auto selection of TUI value list.
    • Ctrl+A is used to set a TUI register block to the value of the currently selected register.
    • Made attributes and colors configurable on the TUI.
    • Changed TUI key scan time to 50ms from 100ms.
    • TUI now supports both hierarchical and flat menu structures.

  • Communications
    • TCP/IP is now supported (requires TCP/IP Support Kit):
      • Modbus/TCP protocol is supported.
      • ESP can act as an FTP server.
      • ESP can act as a Telnet server.
    • Network statistics and comm fail information can now be mapped to registers.
    • Moved response delay parameter from network sessions to network ports.
    • BrickNet always routes using routing table from session that monitors.

  • Other
    • Increased configuration file parsing performance.

Fixed Problems

  • BrickNet can now respond to messages while waiting to send a command or during an event or cycle gap.
  • Removed "check" error on pager ID when using a numeric pager.

v3.01

Summary

    ESP has now been split off from the ICL-4300 Utilities as a separate product. There are no functional changes.

New Features/Changes

  • None.

Fixed Problems

  • None.