Devices

In a Plant SCADA system, a device is used to transfer high-level data such as reports, command logs or alarm logs. For example, you could use a device to send the output from a report to a printer, or you could use a device to save your alarm logs to a database.

Note: A device is very different to an I/O device. An I/O device allows Plant SCADA to exchange plant floor data with a physical piece of equipment via a communications cable. If you are looking for information on I/O devices, see I/O Devices.

A device can write data to the following:

• RTF files

• ASCII files

• dBASE databases

• SQL databases (through ODBC-compliant drivers)

• Printers (connected to your Plant SCADA computer or network).

You can also read data from the following sources using a device and Cicode functions:

• ASCII files

• dBASE databases

• SQL databases

  

  Note: You can also use ActiveX data objects (ADO.NET) to create an interface between Plant SCADA and an SQL database. For more information, see Use Structured Query Language.

You can configure any number of devices in a Plant SCADA system. However, a device can be used as a common resource. This means you could configure a single device that sends the output of your all your reports to a printer (when they are requested).

You can also configure device groups. A group of devices allows you to export the same data to two (or more) locations.

You can read from a devices group, however, data is only read from the first device in the group.

Note: The Plant SCADA Include project contains a set of predefined devices. For a description of the devices that are available, see Predefined Devices.

See Also

Add a Device

Format Data in the Device

Use Device History Files

Print Management