TOPKAPI Version 5

TOPKAPI version 5 is now available.

There have been minor delays compared with the original plan, mainly due to the integration of new unplanned features which we did not wish to postpone to a later version. We apologize, more particularly to those who were waiting for this new version impatiently.

TOPKAPI’s new SQL interface is a reflection of the development philosophy which has been our guide until now, and which we state again here:

Easy use remains our top priority: it offers major savings in terms of implementation and cost of ownership

Lesser use of scripts in applications should not be interpreted as a restriction in flexibility of use and adaptability. We do our best to supply ‘Built-in’ functions, which avoids having to program, and facilitates maintenance of applications.

Users acknowledge this, as we can see in TOPKAPI’s increasing success in France and in international markets. Little by little, industrial computing is spreading, losing its status of inaccessible technology: for users, simplicity no longer means restriction, but rather effectiveness.

This newsletter is not intended to expose the V5 upgrades already presented in the past, such as connectivity with database management systems or the Active Directory / LDAP interface for access rights management.

Among the improvements brought to version 5, detailed in our web site at www.areal.fr/TOPKAPI-V5-E.htm*, we present below major upgrades intended to improve user comfort.

* Password required Getting a password

Automatic adaptation to screen resolution

In client/server applications, using operating stations with different screen resolutions is frequent.

In its screens, TOPKAPI displays diagrams combining bitmap and vector objects.

Resizing bitmap objects when rescaling has been broadly improved in version 5 ; this now allows automatic adaptation in good conditions when displaying diagrams at the screen resolution of the operating station displaying the diagram.

Descending compatibility

In network applications, according to the ascending compatibility principle, a recent version of TOPKAPI (the client) is able to log onto a server running an older version. In practice, when upgrading an application, one installs the new version first on client stations, then onto server stations.

However, in many cases, unlike other supervisors with less advanced client/server functions, TOPKAPI server stations are interconnected, and clients between each other.

In large distributed architectures, updating networked stations can become delicate. From V5, AREAL has introduced ascending compatibility ; a TOPKAPI client running an earlier version can connect to a server version 5 or later. It is the server station which adapts to supply data in a form recognized by earlier versions.

Summaries and calculations on logged values

In version 5, the SUMMARIES module is enriched with 5 powerful functions. Basic calculation formulas now allow to produce a summary result from basic data saved in logs.

For example, a global flow or volume received by a treatment plant is calculated from a flow measurement on the main outlet and the on/off information of two lift pumps(1).

This calculation is possible, including when certain data, generated by remote management controllers or SMS dataloggers, reach the supervisor in differed time, with source time-stamping.

The resulting data are available in the form of classical reports, or displayed in typical TOPKAPI curves: indeed, upgrades of the COURBES module in V5 allow presenting the summary results under an appropriate graphic form, and have customizable controls to select periods, comparisons, etc.

The GRAPHS module can itself use directly the summary calculation functions to obtain the result expected in real time, without having to configure a specific summary.

All these functions form the base of the energy optimizing EMC packs for buildings and pumping(2).

Finally, we remind that the SUMMARIES module is now able to close a summary automatically, no longer on a fixed date, but whenever (and only after) all data have been acquired, regardless of the offsets due to asynchronous transmission.

(1) Using a constant for the nominal flow value.

(2) See http://www.areal.fr/PackEMC-E.htm

NEW PRODUCT RANGE

To help you select the TOPKAPI licenses best suited to your needs, the commercial offer has been broadly redesigned, by improving segmentation in terms of number of variables and features.

TopKapi mmi:

workshop operator interface with graphic diagrams for process control. The development tool is now free.

TopKapi Basic:

‘Standalone’ management station for single station and single protocol industrial applications, with graphics and history.

TopKapi TG:

central remote management station for single station and single protocol applications using remote management controllers with source time-stamping.

TopKapi Classic:

supervision station for multistation and multiprotocol network applications ; TOPKAPI Classic corresponds to the entire former offer of TOPKAPI Vision.

TopKapi DB:

supervision station for modular networked architecture adding SQL connectivity to TOPKAPI Classic’s database management systems (Oracle DBMS, SQL Server, MySQL, etc.) as well as the OPC server function.

For each product line, selection is made according to the number of variables of the application with finer detail.

In certain cases, the new offer detail reduces quite significantly the cost of TOPKAPI licenses. Please call your usual commercial contact, who will provide more details on the new pricing grid.

Automated configuration

In several occasions, we have publicized TOPKAPI’s abilities to automate application generation.

AREAL is indeed not the only publisher having considered this matter, but most certainly one of the first (see article in 1999 in this newsletter(3)) ; the openness and simplicity of the functions available result in the fact you are increasingly numerous in using it to gain productivity.

The following example, presented in a summarized way (but straight to the point), illustrates well the potential benefits. Confidentiality imposes that we cannot provide more details on this project here.

Source data:

raw data retrieved from pre-existing software to be replaced: table with 6,000 lines, 54,000 basic items of data

95 Autocad drawings

Time required to convert the data:

1 day to build the converter and adapt the data

1 day to integrate the data

Please note that these times do not include the creation of standard library objects, which existed beforehand in TOPKAPI for this application.

Mimic example with Autocad DXF file import and TOPKAPI objects automatically generated.

(3) See http://www.areal.fr/Doc/L_Topk8-E.pdf

Results:

Creation of the supervision database (60,000 points)

Creation of 95 animated diagrams

Time saved on configuring the application evaluated at 20 weeks

Saving on starting up tests (rate of error virtually zero on the part created automatically)
More than the absolute savings achieved in this precise case, we believe it is interesting to highlight the little time spent in converting data: months of development are no longer required to produce an application's generator using TOPKAPI.

IHM script: macro-commands to steer the mimics interface

IHM scripts in TOPKAPI are used to implement macro-commands to customize the control interface and optimize operator commands.

Scripts allow to create your own buttons to perform menu, command or entry actions, filter the data displayed, propose browsing menus suited to the context or operator, etc.

Local variables, specific to the control station, allow interacting with the application without impacting other stations.

With version 5, IHM scripts are enriched with the following functions:

access to the database variables

running a script when opening a view

comprehensive management of graph display

Please call us for more details.

We wish to thank all TOPKAPI users who trust us, as well as all of you who helped in writing these articles in the City of Clermont-Ferrand, C3L, WAROUDE, INEO Nord Picardie, Hospital Centre in Soissons, and more particularly Mr. Thierry HOARAU, Mr. Yves GALINIER, Mr. Xavier VINE, Mr. Olivier CAYRE, Mr. Jean-Louis PERTROT and Mr. Nicolas RENARD.