Convert tags to remote references

You can create distributed InTouch applications based upon a client-server architecture. Client applications can run on one network node that use tags defined on other remote nodes. The following figure shows an InTouch application running on Node 1 making a remote reference to the PumpRPM tag on Node 2.

In this example, you can retrieve the value of the PumpRPM tag from Node 2 in two ways:

• Create an I/O type tag in Node1's Tagname Dictionary that uses Node2 as the node name in the Access Name associated with the I/O tag.

• Use a direct remote reference to the PumpRPM tag. For example, PLC1:"PumpRPM".

  In a window or QuickScript, you can reference a remote tag by appending the Access Name as the prefix to the remote tag name in the form:

  access_name:"tag_name"

When importing a window or QuickScript, you can convert the placeholder tags to remote tag references. For example, you can convert the placeholder tags to point to the application from which you imported the window. The tags do not need to be defined in your local Tagname Dictionary.

You can use several methods to convert local tags to remote tag references:

• Append the remote tag reference

• Convert the placeholder tags associated with an imported window

• Launch the Tag Browser and open the tag source's Tagname Dictionary to select the remote tag reference.

Manually convert tags to remote tag references

1. Open an application window in WindowMaker.

2. Select the object associated with the local tag that you want to change to a remote tag reference.

3. On the Animation tab, in the Substitute group, select Tags.

   The Substitute Tagnames dialog box appears with a list of tags associated with the object.

   

4. Select Index to add an index to each tag name.

5. Select Convert. The Convert dialog box appears with options to convert the tags to local or remote reference tags.

6. Select Remote. The Access Names dialog box appears. All Access Names defined in your local InTouch application are shown.

7. Select an Access Name from the list.

8. Select Close. All tags listed in the Substitute Tags dialog box are automatically converted to remote tag references with the Access Name appended to the tag name.

9. Select OK.

Convert an imported window's tags to remote references

10. Open the imported window and select all objects.

11. On the Animation tab, in the Substitute group, select Tags.

    The Substitute Tagnames dialog box appears.

12. Select Convert. The Convert dialog box appears.

    

13. Select Remote. The Access Names dialog box appears. All Access Names defined in your local InTouch application are shown.

    

14. Select an Access Name from the list.

    To verify the Access Name is correctly configured, select Modify.

    If you do not have an Access Name currently defined that points to the tag source, select Add and define it. The Access Name must include the name of the remote node where the application resides.

15. Select Close. All tags listed in the Substitute Tags dialog box are automatically converted to remote tag references with the Access Name appended to the tag name.

    

16. Select OK.

Select a remote tag reference in the Tag Browser

17. Select the objects associated with the local tag that you want to convert to a remote tag reference.

18. On the Animation tab, in the Substitute group, select Tags.

    The Substitute Tagnames dialog box appears showing the selected tags.

19. Delete the tag name in the New Name box that you want to replace with a remote tag reference.

20. Double-click the New Name box. The Select Tag dialog box appears with a list of tags associated with the application.

21. Select a remote tag using the Tree view.

    1. Select the Tree icon to show a hierarchical list of all local and remote Access Names in the left pane.

       

    2. Select a remote Access Name folder to show its assigned tags in the right pane.

    3. Select a remote tag that you want to use as a remote reference.

    4. Select OK. The Substitute Tagnames dialog box appears with the selected remote tag name in the New Name box.

       

22. Select OK to close the dialog box and associate the remote tag with the selected objects.

23. Repeat these steps for each tag that you want to associate with a remote reference.