Realtime VISION

Realtime VISION, LABTECH's new client/server operator interface, graphically displays data and controls processes in real time. VISION takes advantage of  Windows' Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) to connect its graphics to a data source. DDE is the communication link which allows data transfer between control devices and the graphical operator interface. Applications include process control and data acquisition.

Control Objects such as knobs, dials, slide bars and buttons allow you to create graphical front ends. Trend charts depict changes as they occur. Custom control and display objects are  easily designed.

Object Graphics combine VISION's powerful drawing tools and animation capabilities to depict your process in real time.

No Programming! Quickly design and implement your own displays without the complexity of a programming language using our Windows icon toolbar.

Client/Server Networking for remote monitoring and control is easy with VISION. As a client, VISION allows remote monitoring and control  from multiple operator stations distributed across a network.

Windows DDE I/O Servers are supported, including those available from Wonderware. LABTECH NOTEBOOK and CONTROL function as DDE servers with Realtime VISION. When used in client/server configurations, VISION and DDE servers provide advanced capabilities for viewing and controlling processes from remote locations.

How to Create Real-Time Graphics with VISION:

 

• Design a Display Screen: Launch both your DDE server & Realtime VISION under Windows. Create a display screen in VISION. In this example, we are using LABTECH CONTROL as the server. Enhance your display screens using  VISION's draw & animation tools. Once your screen is complete, select the display object that you wish to activate.
• Select a Data Source: Select a data source from a display window in your CONTROL server. Choose Edit/Copy from the menu. The data source is now ready to be linked to Realtime VISION.
• Connect Your Data Source: Choose Edit/Paste Link in Realtime VISION and your DDE connection is complete. Select File/Save to store your display and link information on disk. You can easily create a Program Manager icon that will automatically start the DDE server and your VISION operator interface.

Features

General:

 

• Display dynamic data in real-time
• Link to data sources with Windows built-in Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) feature
• Modify graphs and charts while data is displaying
• Optional display lock for security
• Data update rate: up to 10 DDE messages/sec.
• Trend chart scrolling: up to 100 data points
• Print screen at any time
• On-line help
• Toolbar can be removed during operation

Display Objects:

 

• Trend charts (filled/unfilled)
• Vertical & horizontal bars
• Analog & digital meters, gauges
• Vertical & horizontal line indicators
• Customizable by user

Control Objects:

 

• Buttons & switches for On/Off control
• Horizontal & vertical sliders, and Knobs for input of variable data
• Customizable by user

Drawing features:

 

• Line segments, arcs, freehand lines, rectangles & squares, filled/unfilled
• Ovals & circles, filled/unfilled
• Polygons & freehand shapes, filled/unfilled
• Object layering, alignment, shading, grouping/ungrouping

Animation:

 

• Move, rotate, change color, and shrink/grow objects in response to input data

Compatibility

Connect VISION to any Windows software that provides data via DDE. Here's a partial list of compatible applications:

• LABTECH NOTEBOOK family
• LABTECH CONTROL family
• Windows DDE I/O servers
• Visual BASIC
• Microsoft Excel
• Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows
• Borland Quatro Pro
• Paradox for Windows (ODAPI)
• Attachmate EXTRA! for Windows
• IRMA
• Workstations for Windows
• Approach for Windows 2.0
• Gupta SQL Windows

System Requirements

Microsoft Windows 3.1/95/NT
IBM compatible 486 or better (Pentium preferred)
16MB Memory
VGA graphics or better

VISION is compatible with any graphics display, pointing device, and printer supported by Microsoft Windows.

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