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[\/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion shape=”square” active_section=”0″ no_fill=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”What is an industrial automation software?” tab_id=”1586463976494-9f55cf0f-cbb0″][vc_column_text]An industrial automation software such as straton, is a solution designed to create applications according to the IEC 61131-3 programming language in order to automate the process of mechanical or numerical actions in industry, all sectors included.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”What are the applications of an industrial automation software?” tab_id=”1586464053470-d6da033d-5096″][vc_column_text]A software such as straton, can for example be used to automate the operation of an electrical substation according to the IEC 61850 protocol dedicated to the energy transmission and distribution market or to program processes and add communication functions in a simple way in an embedded platform (Linux environment or others).[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”What are the steps to integrate the straton software in your projects?” tab_id=”1586464174436-fb3bac20-b928″][vc_column_text]First of all, it is necessary to get in touch with our team in order to define your needs. This step allows us to offer the closest answer to your needs. Users can then book a training, a demonstration or a meeting.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Can straton software be integrated with other software layers?” tab_id=”1586464201371-b3d911e7-64e9″][vc_column_text]The straton software is open to third party applications and hardware interfaces. This can be achieved through a selection of communication protocols and\/or through its development kit.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Are straton software training courses mandatory?” tab_id=”1586464225671-71d2f8a6-f5a4″][vc_column_text]straton integrates an intuitive editor that follows the IEC 61131-3 standard. An experienced user in these languages will be able to use it. However, training is recommended in order to learn all the tools offered by this solution and our ‘best-practices’.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”What services does the STRATON AUTOMATION support team offer?” tab_id=”1586464305103-225801e8-920d”][vc_column_text]In addition to a reactive technical support, STRATON AUTOMATION’s teams are offering training on its tools and both IEC61131-3 and IEC61850 standards, engineering services for industrial automation application, and a project support and monitoring service. More information<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Does straton offer samples applications?” tab_id=”1586464351477-2bb44eeb-52f8″][vc_column_text]The straton editors all have a list of projects allowing both new users to discover the potential of our solution and experienced users to have a reminder on the best-practices to adopt. The current version proposes application examples in the embedded and energy fields, but also code samples in each language of the IEC61131-3 standard and an overview of its field HMI editor tool.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Does straton support IoT protocols?” tab_id=”1586464379039-939d0936-ddd9″][vc_column_text]straton offers several communication protocols closely related to the IoT needs, it offers for example MQTT and OPC UA configurations.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Does straton have protocols for the generation, transmission and distribution of energy?” tab_id=”1586464425003-8a090a93-6c5e”][vc_column_text]The field of energy being a specialty of straton, the software obviously proposes energy protocols such as IEC61850, IEC60870 and DNP3. These protocols are regularly updated in order to follow the evolution of the standards and needs, in particular for the cybersecurity aspects. More information<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”On which straton OS is it available?” tab_id=”1586464491347-9f46e9d3-808c”][vc_column_text]Thanks to the development kit, straton can work on any OS and any hardware. Our teams have many years of experience with Linux, VxWorks and Windows OS, other runtimes have already been adapted on multiple systems and our teams are available to support developers during their porting.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”What programming languages does straton support?” tab_id=”1586464529868-108723e5-b6f6″][vc_column_text]straton supports the IEC61131-3 standard, the editor proposes to its users to program in the four languages defined by this standard: ST, FBD, LD and SFC (IL being deprecated). The development kit also allows users to code their own function blocks in C language and add them to their workspace.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”What are the fieldbuses and communication protocols supported by the straton PLC?” tab_id=”1586464577625-fa30d544-8c4e”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n You have the possibility to test them by yourself [download Linux-Raspberry Pi demo runtime].[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Is the straton PLC an interpreted type PLC or a compiled one?” tab_id=”1594301849816-b672cb49-f3d1″][vc_column_text]In order to be completely independent from the operating system and let the application be ported to different platforms, the solution for an interpreted pseudo-code has been chosen. Code can also be compiled to C language; the performance is kept high in this case.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Is straton offering a monitoring solution?” tab_id=”1594379427918-2f338e88-584c”][vc_column_text]straton offers a limited array of graphical tools as well as an Embedded HMI functionality in order to answer simple monitoring needs. However, we recommend the use of our zenon software for advanced monitoring design.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Which free tools are included with straton?” tab_id=”1605514668298-4823cd18-1053″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Are products in the straton software affected by the Log4j security vulnerability registered with CVE-2021-44228?” tab_id=”1654074339765-25b15752-52da”][vc_column_text]No, core products in the straton software are not based on Java and do not make use of the Log4j library.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Are products in the straton software affected by the Codemeter?” tab_id=”1654074366337-04078579-9c76″][vc_column_text]straton does not use the features related to the vulnabilities.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_accordion][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion shape=”square” active_section=”0″ no_fill=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”How to create a new project?” tab_id=”1594374507357-9fd877c4-0154″][vc_column_text]To create a new project in straton, click on “File” in the toolbar, then on “Add a new project”. For a first use, the use of online help or tutorials is recommended.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”How to change the Editor language?” tab_id=”1586463720274-e97999c7-dff0″][vc_column_text]In the toolbar, click on “Help”, then “Language”, choose the preferred language and restart the editor.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”How do I access the online help?” tab_id=”1586463686879-d69f70ea-dda2″][vc_column_text]From the editor, the online help can be accessed at any time by pressing the F1 key on the keyboard. The help displayed will be specific to the mouse selection. In order to have an overview of all the variables in the project and\/or in order to set initial values, open the \u201cVariables\u201d item from the project workspace.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”How to change the display format of real values during debug?” tab_id=”1594373368781-a8229d4d-b5ba”][vc_column_text]From the menu, open the \u201cPoject settings\u201d box and select the \u201cDebugging\u201d page. Here you can set the number of decimal digits to be displayed for either REAL or LREAL variables.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”What is the \u201cT5xxx: Can\u2019t find Bus Driver DLL\u201d message?” tab_id=”1594373437576-d8898aa6-f19f”][vc_column_text]After trying to download an application containing Fieldbus Configurations, the following error occurs: \u201cT5xxx: Can\u2019t find Bus Driver DLL\u201d.<\/p>\n On Linux runtimes, it means that the driver is not implemented.<\/p>\n On Windows runtime, first of all, check that the DLL is present in the folder where the runtime is installed. If not, just add the DLL in this folder or restart the Energy runtime.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”How to work with libraries of function blocks or sub-programs?” tab_id=”1594373476932-1a6da41d-b179″][vc_column_text]straton proposes two solutions for this. Both are described in the \u201cProgramming Environment \/ Libraries\u201d section of the On Line help.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”How to define a Timeout for the connection attempt between the editor and the runtime?” tab_id=”1586183269930-fbf8eed5-28ff”][vc_column_text]By default, the Timeout is 3s. Here is the option \u00ab\u00a0Show ST line numbers\u00a0\u00bb.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”How to export a project as XML from a .BAT file?” tab_id=”1594373707040-7180e59f-2b8f”][vc_column_text]With straton EXE files is a program called K5B.exe. Call it with the following syntax:<\/p>\n K5B.exe X <project_path<\/i>> K5XML <xml_file<\/i>><\/p>\n Run K5B.exe without any argument to know possible options.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”How to allocate status flags and timestamps for straton variables?” tab_id=”1594373789686-8a7e3c66-0e4a”][vc_column_text]Find all details in the Help, in section: \u00ab\u00a0Programming languages \/ Variable status bits\u00a0\u00bb.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”How to manage version control for a project?” tab_id=”1594373758152-4e488098-7a5d”][vc_column_text]This is possible using SubVersion (SVN) or GIT.<\/p>\n From the \u00ab Help \/ Tutorials \u00bb menu command, select \u00ab Version Control using SVN.pdf \u00bb or\u00a0 \u00ab Version Control using GIT.pdf \u00bb to get a full description of how this works.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”How to map an array of variables on a MODBUS request in the Fieldbus Configurations?” tab_id=”1594373844905-79ec0dc6-b1c7″][vc_column_text]First of all, create the Modbus request (Insert Slave\/Data-block) but do not check the \u00ab\u00a0Declare variables\u00a0\u00bb option.<\/p>\n Create the array of variables in the dictionnary<\/p>\n Select the Slave\/Data-block node in the Fieldbus Configurations<\/p>\n Drag and drop the variable from the dictionnary into the grid (bottom window of the Fieldbus Configurations)[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”How to convert a program to another language with editor?” tab_id=”1594373897844-59aa218b-18b1″][vc_column_text]Since version 9.1, commands for converting a program are no more in the Tools menu. Right click on the program in the workspace and use the \u00ab\u00a0Convert\u00a0\u00bb commands of the contextual menu.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Can I mix data types when calling a block with \u201cANY\u201d parameters?” tab_id=”1594373928460-691dc352-8e46″][vc_column_text]No. For one call to a block, all values\/variables passed to parameters having data type \u00ab\u00a0ANY\u00a0\u00bb must have the same data type.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Why do I sometime have some unexpected compiling errors?” tab_id=”1594373979247-a22cdde6-b305″][vc_column_text]Some programming features are available only if the \u00ab\u00a0complex variables in a separate segment\u00a0\u00bb option is set.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”How to specify a LINT constant value in a test sequence?” tab_id=”1594374087327-f5ac3937-6f22″][vc_column_text]Use the \u00ab\u00a0LINT#\u00a0\u00bb prefix. Examples:<\/p>\n MyLintVar1 := LINT#123;<\/p>\n MyLintVar2 := -LINT#234;[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Is it possible to design new function blocks?” tab_id=”1594374428063-35450620-2bd3″][vc_column_text]There are two methods for a user to design new function blocks:<\/p>\n Program and add these blocks using the development kit,<\/p>\n Program and add these blocks using the straton Editor,<\/p>\n When inserting a new program into the project, choose the “Sub-program” or “UDFB” execution mode, this program then appears as a block in the project’s function library.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”How to add a fieldbus configuration?” tab_id=”1594374461232-b2d82b31-7bd8″][vc_column_text]In the project, click on the button or shortcut: “Open fieldbus configuration”. Then click on the “Add a new configuration” button, choose the desired fieldbus and follow the configuration instructions in the online help of the editor.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”What is the default port of the runtime?” tab_id=”1586463759583-ccd8ba0a-8cdf”][vc_column_text]The default connection port is 1100. To modify this value, in the communication configuration tab, you must complete the IP address with the desired timeout such as: IP address (timeout).<\/p>\n For example: 127.0.0.1 (10), for a timeout of 10 seconds.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_accordion][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row bg_color=”#fafafa” text_align=”center” top_padding=”120″ bottom_padding=”120″ bg_position=”left top”][vc_column width=”1\/1″]\n
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TECHNICAL Q&A<\/h3>\n
\nIt is also possible to access the online help and user tutorials from the toolbar in the “Help” section.
\nMoreover, all the tutorials are available on the straton web site: Downloads<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”How to disable track changes?” tab_id=”1586463630096-308e458c-9c1e”][vc_column_text]In the toolbar, click on “Tools”, then “Options”. From this window it is possible to set up most of the programming assistance functionalities and development options of the editor.
\nIn the “Editor” section, find the line “Track changes” and uncheck it.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”How to initialize variables?” tab_id=”1594373210865-1a49b0a3-3af0″][vc_column_text]Initial values can be set in the variable editor, directly in each programs, by double clicking in the \u201cInit value\u201d column.<\/p>\n
\nTo modify this value, in the communication configuration tab, you have to fill in the IP address with the desired Timeout such as: IP address (timeout).
\nFor example: 127.0.0.1 (10), for a Timeout of 10 seconds.
\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”How to display line numbers in ST or IL programs?” tab_id=”1594373578067-be34dfee-ad1a”][vc_column_text]Run the menu command \u00ab\u00a0Tools \/ Options\u00a0\u00bb and select the \u00ab\u00a0Editing\u00a0\u00bb page.<\/p>\n
\nTo change this value, in the communication configuration tab, you have to complete the IP address with the desired port such as: IP address:Port.
\nFor example: 127.0.0.1:502, to use port 502.
\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”How to define a connection attempt timeout between the editor and the runtime?” tab_id=”1616487221961-15945a62-9dc4″][vc_column_text]By default, the Timeout is 3s long.<\/p>\n