rsview software packages

I have a slc500 that I am learning on and I would eventually like to add HMI capabilities. I am confused on the different rsview platforms, (studio, ME, rsview32 etc.) I have only a four slot chassis with some sensors and switches for learning programming on, I would like to know what software exactly I would need to make an HMI that will run on a regular PC as the cost of software will be bad enough let alone a panelview. Do I need a devlopment and runtime version of whatever rsview flavor I get etc.? Thank you all for your help.

Greetings igel,



and welcome to the forum ... it’s been three or four years since I’ve seen one, but I distinctly remember that Allen-Bradley distributors used to have “demo” version CDs of RSView32 ... maybe (probably?) they still do ... these would run as fully functional systems for two hours - and then shut down ... but you could restart them over and over again ... I’m pretty sure that you could use the built-in “direct drivers” to communicate with something like your SLC ... specifically, I’m ALMOST positive that you would not have to buy a “non-lite” copy of RSLinx to make the system work ... I’ve got a hunch that this is exactly the type of software that you’re looking for ...



suggestion: try asking for this at your friendly local AB distributor ... if the first person who answers doesn’t know what you’re talking about, ask to speak with either the “software specialist” or the “PLC specialist” ... if that gets you nowhere, then send me a PM (Private Message) with your phone number and address ... I’ve probably got an old (but workable) CD in a drawer somewhere at home ... since it was always an UN-licensed free give-away, I’d have no issues with passing it on to you ...



good luck with your studies ...

that is exactly what I need, 2 hours is plenty of time if the configuration of the screen and comm setup is savable and restartable. I will call an AB dist. after the holiday and see if i can come up with a copy. I also would like to thank you for the reply and offer to look for a copy if they cannot help me. Thank you again and have a safe and happy 4th of july.

If I remember correctly, Ron is correct, and if you can't dig up a copy of RSView32 Demo, I am almost positive I have one lying arround somewhere. The new versions are RSView ME (machine edition) which runs on a PVPlus or a PC and the SE(supervisory edition) which runs on windows and is more capable (ie more expensive) which are developed using RSView studio. I think that RSView studio comes with a demo version of RSView ME that has a limited runtime version for less than 5 screens but I can't be positive. You can also look into Panelbuilder 32 for standard panelview terminals. They will be extinct in a few years but the legacy applications will be out there for decades (pb 3.82.12 I think)

Happy 4th to all....

Time for beer

i managed to get a unlimited tag 30 day trial activation out of the Rockwell distributer a few years ago for rsview32 when i was looking for the "right" package to do a job...

But i was tossing up between RSv32 or SE and was going to spend money with them which may have influenced the 30 day trial avaliability..............

timed demo OPC server - free

oops! ... I’m glad that I left myself some “slack” when I said this in an earlier post:

I’m pretty sure that you could use the built-in “direct drivers” to communicate with something like your SLC ... specifically, I’m ALMOST positive that you would not have to buy a “non-lite” copy of RSLinx to make the system work ...

Click to expand...

after a few experiments, I’m now pretty sure that the “direct drivers” will NOT communicate with the SLC - unless you have a licensed (non-lite = non-free) copy of RSLinx ...



sorry for the confusion - but it’s been several years since I’ve tried to work with the Lite (free) version of RSLinx ...



but ...



there’s something that might be helpful at www.kepware.com ... I’ve got a “download” of their “OPC Software” on a CD that’s a couple of years old ... they PROBABLY still have something like this - but I don’t have time to check right now ... anyway ... using the “old-legal-download” Kepware CD that I already had on a shelf, I was able to run an OPC server in a timed (one or two hour?) demo/evaluation mode ... I successfully set it up to communicate with an SLC-5/04 through the processor’s serial port on DF1 ... it worked fine ...



basic idea: I was able to run the old timed demo of RSView32 - for free ... and communicate with an SLC-5/04 with a timed demo of Kepware’s OPC server - for free ...



this might be an interesting approach for someone who just wants to play with this type of stuff for “home learning” exercises ... for free ...

You might also want to take a look at CiTect, which is a good respectable HMI. Last I checked you could download a fully functional demo version of it. IIRC, there is no time limit for running it in development mode and in runtime mode it runs for an hour before you have to reboot it. You can use its drivers to connect to the PLC.

re hmi and thank you

thanks ron and alaric for the info, ron i have already downloaded kepware opc trial software (2 hour demo mode) in anticipation of my future hmi endeavors, haven't used it at all as i am still in programming ladder logic mode and have no hmi software as yet, however now that I know you have done what I plan to do with rsview32 and kepware opc I most certainly will be picking your brain when the time comes. As to alaric I will look into citect software as the more different plc programming and hmi software I learn the better prepared I think i'll be. If I remember correctly i did rsearch citect awhile back and saw the development trial software but no mention of the 1 hour runtime. I'll recheck and hopefully add this software to my to learn list. BTW any idea of how popular citect is in the real world? (RE: job market), most of the direction I take is by cost, and apparent popularity by way of researching job posts on monster and careerbuilder. wonderware looks to be king and ab plcs. If you know better please enlighten me to direct my efforts towards a better life in automation. Thank you both for your time and trouble in helping me, I really do appreciate it.

igel said:

wonderware looks to be king and ab plcs. If you know better please enlighten me to direct my efforts towards a better life in automation. Thank you both for your time and trouble in helping me, I really do appreciate it.

Click to expand...

Blasphemer! ...just kidding, learn it all, RSView is up there with WW and Siemens is up there with AB...IMO that's the big 4

Greetings igel,

the CD is in the mail ... when you get it, load the RSView32 samples and play with them for an hour or so ... I think there's a tutorial on the disk too ... work through that if there is ... then we'll get together on the phone and I'll walk you through some quick exercises ... I can give you some quick tips that will make your learning curve a lot easier to climb ...

I'd suggest that you just "play" with the software for at least three or four days before you get too hung up on the communications part ... but we can cover that when the time comes ...

RSView studio for Machine Edition (also known as ME)is the correct software if you need a stand alone HMI that runs on win2000 or xp. You would also need to purchase a seperate runtime to run in those enviroments. It does come with a demo version of ME Station which is your runtime for 2000 and xp.

Im pretty sure ME is XP/CE only.
but could be wrong as my book with the minimum spec is on site at the moment......

AndrewB said:

Im pretty sure ME is XP/CE only.
but could be wrong as my book with the minimum spec is on site at the moment......

Click to expand...

No, sorry your wrong, you can also run it on Windows 2000 sp4 and XP Professional sp2 (not supported in XP Media Edition) also make sure your all your Rockwell Software have the same CPR revision level, currently at CPR 7. I know this for a fact. Check the install notes that comes with the software. CE/PVP automatically comes with the runtime no seperate purchase needed.

Here you go: Install Requirements

yes i was wrong (and i did mention i prob was)
Had it mixed up with SE runtime client

and before anyone points it out. No the above wont run on CE