Communication Problem RSLINX and DDE

[arekk]

Hi.

I have a question concerning communication between RSLinx and Excel through ethernet using DDE.

Did anyone try to communicate with RSLinx through ethernet using DDE. I did it using Modbus but have problems with RSLinx.

with regards

Arek

 

[Oakley]

What exactly is your question. Please provide the configuration you are using.


Typically, RSLinx and Excel exist on the same computer. That would lead me to believe that your RSLinx setup is at fault.

 

[John Soltesz]

Need to know what version of RSLinx; OEM, Pro, Gateway (don't just say Classic)?

How is PLC connected to PC with RSLinx; direct serial, DH485, DH+, ethernet?

Is PC with Excel on PC with RSLinx or on different PC? If different PC what type of connection to RSLinx, ethernet?

Is Topic and Link ID set?

 

[surferb]

My gut feeling is that Oakley's guess is correct - that Excel and RSLinx should be on the same computer. It rarely makes sense to have those 2 programs communicating directly otherwise.

He could do remote DDE calls over DCOM across the network to an RSLinx Gateway. It strikes me as clunky, insecure, and difficult to setup, but should be possible. That's where you'd want to use something like OPC Datahub.

 

[arekk]

I'm near to solve this problem!!!

My config: RSLinx Gateway it communicates with PLC through ethernet
I want to read PLC registers on other computer in Excel.

Problem is I configured DDEShare, I made a topic, stardted right services in Windows, but when I try to connect I got a window
________________________________________________________________
Enter Network Access Password
you must supply a password to make this connection:
OK
Server: ServerName CANCEL
DDE Share: DDEShareName
Connect As: UserName
Password: *********
_________________________________________________________________

I cant go through this and don't know why, any ideas

 

[Oakley]

What OS are you using?

 

[arekk]

Windows 2000

 

[surferb]

It sounds like a Windows [D]COM security setting. There are guides on how to losen it. Here's one:
http://www.ascolab.com/downloads/dcom.chm

There's another somewhere on the Matrikon site.

I'd recommend:
1. Trying to connect via Excel locally as a test.
2. Loosening up the Windows COM security as lenient as possible, noting down the original settings, then re-applying them if it works.

My config: RSLinx Gateway it communicates with PLC through ethernet
I want to read PLC registers on other computer in Excel.

Problem is I configured DDEShare, I made a topic, stardted right services in Windows, but when I try to connect I got a window
________________________________________________________________
Enter Network Access Password
you must supply a password to make this connection:
OK
Server: ServerName CANCEL
DDE Share: DDEShareName
Connect As: UserName
Password: *********
_________________________________________________________________

I cant go through this and don't know why, any ideas

 

[arekk]

Local Excel works fine

 

[curlyandshemp]

Local Excel works fine

Got to this knowledge database and search for NetDDE. There are technotes on linking Excel, Rslinx across a network

Before you can use the knowledge database you need to create an account first

 

[arekk]

Got to this knowledge database and search for NetDDE. There are technotes on linking Excel, Rslinx across a network

Before you can use the knowledge database you need to create an account first

I looked there and they are not solving my problem. Problem is that I want to read data through NETDDE and:

1. I made a DDE/OPC topic in RSLinx
2. I made a connection in DDESHARE.EXE
3. I turn on services (Network DSDM, Network DDE)
4. I cant connect to the data and get the window that I mentioned earlier

Anyone has ideas why it isn't working?

regards

ArekK

 

[Oakley]

Can you post an example of your DDE call/statement from Excel?

 

[arekk]

Can you post an example of your DDE call/statement from Excel?

sure:

='\\server2\NDDE$'|'test2$'!'O:1.0,L1,C1'
(machinename) (ddesharename)(PLC register)

after pressing enter
i get this:

I stuck on this and dont know what to do

regards

ArekK

 

[Oakley]

Do you have a DDE Topic set up in RSLinx? Is it test2$?

If so, try \\server2\RSLINX|'test2$'!'O:1.0'

My thought is that you don't have your DDE statement correct.

 

[arekk]

Do you have a DDE Topic set up in RSLinx? Is it test2$?

If so, try \\server2\RSLINX|'test2$'!'O:1.0'

My thought is that you don't have your DDE statement correct.

Yes I have a topic set in RSLINX (test2), next I set up DDESHARE (to use it over Network) There I have
DDESHARENAME - test2$
Application - RSLinx
Topic - test2

just like they wrote in the help file but it doesn't work.

regards

ArekK