Baker in Virginia said:
Thanks for the information. I am using RS Logix 5000 20.04 and Studio 5000 v28. The tutorial's I have seen , is that you can build your rack just like you would in a real ControlLogix rack. What is Logix Designer ? I went to the store last night and seen all these different Pop Tarts , it looked like Rockwell Software LOL.
I'll start with your last question on Logix Designer. I had hoped that my brief explanation above would broadly suggest what it is, what it replaced and how it is packaged within other software. It seems that it did not do so clearly enough for you?
Let's try it another way...
If you open or create a v20 *.ACD project file you will notice that once open the software description at the top of the window will display as "RSLogix 5000..."
This is the name of the programming software that is used for v20 or older projects. You probably think you are using this for every project file you open or create?
Not quite so...
If you open or create a v28 *.ACD project file you will notice that once open the software description at the top of the window will display as "Logix Designer...".
But you're probably thinking...
..."Wait a minute? Didn't I just open Studio 5000, which basically just opens a shiny new version of RSLogix 5000?"...
You did open Studio 5000, but it opened a shiny new version called Logix Designer and not RSLogix 5000.
Ok then?...
So what's the difference and what's all this Studio 5000 stuff about?...
Up to v20 you just have the RSLogix 5000 programming software and this is what opens directly for these project versions.
At v21 two things happened...
They changed the name of RSLogix 5000 programming software to Logix Designer. Not only that, they also packaged Logix Designer inside a software suite known as Studio 5000. The idea being that Studio 5000 will contain all future key development software products for the Logix 5000 platform. This Studio 5000 suite, when first released, initially only contained Logix Designer v21.
A later release of Studio 5000, namely v27, would add the now present View Designer software product. This is used to develop applications for the latest range of PanelView 5500 HMI terminals. So as of v27, the Studio 5000 suite contains both Logix Designer and View Designer. When you open Studio 5000 v27 or above, you should see options to create either a new Logix Designer controller project or a View Designer HMI application.
RSLogix 5000 v20 was the final major release of the RSLogix 5000 programming software product. From here forward new releases would now be known as Logix Designer and would be released in line with new releases of Studio 5000 i.e. Logix Designer major releases are not released as standalone software products, as was the case for RSLogix 5000. They are included in Studio 5000 releases and this is how they are made commercially available in the main. Minor releases may be made available in between each release of Studio 5000.
View Designer is likewise commercially sold in the main as part of the Studio 5000 software suite, but newer minor releases may also be made available in between Studio 5000 releases.
Note: The version of Studio 5000 that you install denotes the version of Logix Designer that will be installed. It does not denote the version of View Designer that is installed. For instance, at its initial launch with Studio 5000 v27, View Designer was released at v2.01. A couple of minor v2.xx releases were subsequently made available after that. With the latest release of Studio 5000 v30, View Designer was released at v3.01.
On the surface, Logix Designer may appear the same as RSLogix 5000, and although they are effectively the same product, there are many differences between them, especially as newer versions of Logix Designer are released. But this is no different to older versions of RSLogix 5000 not looking quite the same as newer versions of the same software product. It is basically the same product being continuously updated, but just that its name changed at v21.
I hope that is somewhat clearer in explaining what Logix Designer is and all that goes with it?
I also want to address your versions of software that you have stated you will be using and looking to emulate, but it's 22:30 here and I've an early start in the morning. If I get a chance tomorrow some time I'll drop by and pick things up again.
I also want to explain something another Forum member has hit upon that might surprise "some" people? I don't know? We'll see...
Regards and goodnight,
George