Multiple PVP7 using same MER, Current Screen Tag

[RockyLeafs]

Hello,

I have a machine infront of me with two HMI PanelviewPlus 7.
They are the exact same, and the hope is to use the same MER file for both to keep it simple.

I usually have a tag in the HMI file that writes the current screen to a tag in the PLC. This is helpful if the operator is doing some next level adjustment (part setting changes, Date and Time change, etc).

Having two HMI running the same MER file, I'm noticing the HMICurrentScreen tag I have wont really work, since both HMIs are writing to the same tag, most likely will be overwriten.

Normally, I would just create a second MER file, but i'm trying to avoid that here. Would like the MER or FactoryTalk View Studio to know which HMI it is, and possible send to a different tag based on which HMI the MER file is running on...

Both HMIs and PLC communicate over Ethernet.

 

[Ken Roach]

I don't think you're going to find an practical way to do this with FactoryTalk View ME and a PanelView Plus. Certainly not faster or easier than the couple of minutes it would take to change the function and create a new Runtime file.

The Global Connection that writes the current display number to a PLC is "Replace Display Number", and it can only be selected as a Tag, not an Expression.

Tags are always static definitions in FactoryTalk View, whether in the HMI database or direct references to a shortcut + Tag Name. You can't write an expression in the HMI Tag Database to change the address or controller Tag Name associated with an HMI Tag.

It would be easy to do this with VBScript or VBA in a different platform, but not with FTView ME and PanelView Plus.

 

[RockyLeafs]

For the time being, I'm using Display Start Up and Shutdown macros.
And pretty much if an HMI enters an certain display, I write a 1 into a tag so that the PLC knows one of the HMI is in that screen. Once the screen changes to a different display, it writes a 0 into the tag.

This will work UNTIL the possible scenario where an operator enters an HMI display on one screen, opens the same display on another screen, and then changes it to another screen, since the shutdown macro will overwrite the tag, even though one screen is still on the certain display.

Currently Its working, and not really that important if I lose the tag value.

 

[Operaghost]

It's not perfect, but it does the job for me. Will work for any number of PV.

OG

 

[L33er]

Unlock HMI1 will lock the others screens and vice versa.

 

[Ken Roach]

to keep it simple.

Make a runtime for each of the terminals.

Don't make something complex, or something with a glaring malfunction mode, or something that disables half of your HMI system.