FactoryTalk View reusing screens

[MLoweNH]

I have a FactoryTalk View ME program that has about 20 screens. The connections are linked to the plc program via the 'shortcut' method. I now have a project that has a different plc program but most of the screens are very similar.
I copied the original program and expected that when I changed the "shortcut" to my new plc program the tags would update, but they do not. They retain the reference to the original shortcut name.

Does anyone know how I can change all the tags to the new shortcut besides relinking each one individually?

In hindsight I should have just called my shortcut "my_plc" instead of the project name and then I could just change the reference and I suppose that's still an option - have a shortcut name that doesn't match my project name.

Thanks for any help.

 

[CLXlifestyle]

ctrl + a (select all objects on screen)

ctrl + f (find and replace)

You should be able to mass-replace the shortcuts this way.

 

[widelto]

Use the application manager to make a backup of your application, then restore the same application with another name and there you can change your shortcuts and that's all.

 

[nhatsen]

Keep the original shorcut name and just point it to the new controller. You need to do the same task on design tab and runtime tab.

 

[cbuysse]

In most PanelView projects I've created, the shortcut name is always "PLC" unless I'm reference multiple shortcuts in one project. Then the shortcut names get a bit more descriptive, but not so limiting that I can't easily transfer the project to another system without major changes. Then all you have to is change the PLC that shortcut is pointed at. Beyond that, I know of no way to replace all of the shortcuts project-wide in one shot. You'll have to do what CLXlifestyle recommends.

 

[MLoweNH]

Thanks all. What a quick response!

For today, I added an additional shortcut with "my_plc" to link any changed tags to and kept the original shortcut only changed the plc program. Both have my new plc program pointed to. I will do the mass replace as suggested when I have time and delete the original shortcut.

I have learned my lesson with the shortcut names.

 

[arlenjacobs]

XML export/import

Backup your project, just in case.
Export all of the displays to xml.
Open all of the xml files in Notepad++
Search and replace all open files (Note: use the whole name such as "[my_plc]")
Import the XML files back in.

That is more steps, but much faster than using the FTView search & replace.