Sample How to create a OnlineContainer

[tulon]

using System;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Data;


namespace ProjectAddin
{
    [System.AddIn.AddIn("ThisProject", Version = "1.0", Publisher = "", Description = "")]
    public partial class ThisProject
    {      
        zenOn.IOnlineVariable obOnlineVar = null;


        private void ThisProject_Startup(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                ///Create OnlineContainer
                obOnlineVar = this.OnlineVariables().CreateOnlineVariables("MyContainer");
                obOnlineVar.Add("Intern_Variable_UINT_1");
                obOnlineVar.Add("Intern_Variable_UINT_2");
                obOnlineVar.Add("Intern_Variable_UINT_3");
                obOnlineVar.Add("Intern_Variable_UINT_4");
                obOnlineVar.Define();
                obOnlineVar.VariableChange += new zenOn.VariableChangeEventHandler(obOnlineVar_VariableChange);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                System.Diagnostics.Debug.Print("ERROR ThisProject_Startup : " + ex.Message + " "+ ex.Source);
            }
        }

        private void ThisProject_Shutdown(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
		///Relase OnlineContainer
                obOnlineVar.VariableChange -= new zenOn.VariableChangeEventHandler(obOnlineVar_VariableChange);
                obOnlineVar.Undefine();
                obOnlineVar = null;

            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                 System.Diagnostics.Debug.Print("ERROR ThisProject_Startup : " + ex.Message + " " + ex.Source);
            }
        }

 
	///Event for OnlineContainer Variable changes
        void obOnlineVar_VariableChange(zenOn.IVariable obVar)
        {
           	///Do something
        }
      }	
}

[tulon]

This example shows how to use Bulkmode with C#

private void ThisProject_Startup(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                Array.Resize(ref strVariables, this.Variables().Count);


                //File Array with Variables
                for (int i = 0; i < strVariables.Length; i++)
                {
                    if (this.Variables().Item(i).Name.Equals("Intern_Variable_UINT_1")) {}
                    else
                    {
                        strVariables[i] = this.Variables().Item(i).Name; 
                    }
                }

                ///Create OnlineContainer
                zOLV = this.OnlineVariables().Item("myOLV");

                if (zOLV == null)
                {
                    zOLV = this.OnlineVariables().CreateOnlineVariables("myOLV");
                }
                ///Add Array to Bulk Container
                zOLV.AddBulk(ref strVariables);
                zOLV.ActivateBulkMode();
                zOLV.Define();

                zOLV.VariableBulkChange += new zenOn.VariableBulkChangeEventHandler(zOLV_VariableBulkChange);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                System.Diagnostics.Debug.Print("ERROR ThisProject_Startup:" + ex.Message + " " + ex.Source);
            }

        }


        private void ThisProject_Shutdown(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                zOLV.VariableBulkChange -= new zenOn.VariableBulkChangeEventHandler(zOLV_VariableBulkChange);
                zOLV.Undefine();
                this.OnlineVariables().DeleteOnlineVariables("myOLV");
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                System.Diagnostics.Debug.Print("ERROR ThisProject_Startup:" + ex.Message + " " + ex.Source);
            }
        }


        /// 

        /// 
        /// 
        /// Object Array with zenonVariable Types
        /// Double Array Variable ID
        /// Double Array Variable Value
        /// State Low as Double Array
        /// Stat High as Double Array
        /// Timestampe of the Variable as Double Array
        void zOLV_VariableBulkChange(ref object pvVars, 
            ref object pvPvIDs, 
            ref object pvValues, 
            ref object pvStatesLo, 
            ref object pvStatesHi, 
            ref object pvTimes)
        {
            try
            {

                Object[] zpvVars = (Object[])pvVars;
                double[] zpvPvIDs = (double[])pvPvIDs;
                Object[] zpvValues = (Object[])pvValues;
                double[] zpvStatesLo = (double[])pvStatesLo;
                double[] zpvStatesHi = (double[])pvStatesHi;
                DateTime[] zpvTimes = (DateTime[])pvTimes;


                for (int i = 0; i <= zpvVars.GetUpperBound(0); i++)
                {
                    //Cast Object of the Array to zenon Variable Type
                    Object ix = zpvVars[i];
                    zenOn.IVariable myTest = (zenOn.IVariable)zpvVars[i];

                    ///Get Type
                    System.Diagnostics.Debug.Print(myTest.GetType().ToString());
                    System.Diagnostics.Debug.Print(zpvPvIDs[i].GetType().ToString());
                    System.Diagnostics.Debug.Print(zpvValues[i].GetType().ToString());
                    System.Diagnostics.Debug.Print(zpvStatesLo[i].GetType().ToString());
                    System.Diagnostics.Debug.Print(zpvStatesHi[i].GetType().ToString());
                    System.Diagnostics.Debug.Print(zpvTimes[i].GetType().ToString());

                    ///Get Values
                    System.Diagnostics.Debug.Print("Variable name: " + myTest.Name);
                    System.Diagnostics.Debug.Print("Variable ID: " + zpvPvIDs[i].ToString());
                    System.Diagnostics.Debug.Print("Variable Value: " + zpvValues[i].ToString());
                    System.Diagnostics.Debug.Print("State Low: " +zpvStatesLo[i].ToString());
                    System.Diagnostics.Debug.Print("State High: " + zpvStatesHi[i].ToString());
                    System.Diagnostics.Debug.Print("Timestampe: " + zpvTimes[i].ToString());

                }
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                System.Diagnostics.Debug.Print("ERROR zOLV_VariableBulkChange:" + ex.Message + " "+ ex.Source);
            }
        }

If you add the EventHandler before you call the Define will not make sence. Because without OnlineContainer the EventHandler will not triggert. The EventHandler will triggert after the call of Define.

Hi

Do you have an example using Bulk mode?

What happens if you add the EventHandler before the call to Define? Will the event automatically be called when/after Define is called? It should since it changes from "nothing" to a value, right?

Best regards
Michael

[mvj]

Thanks.

Will the first call to the EventHandler contain all the variables?

Will the change of value in one single variable result in a call to the EventHandler with all the variables or only that single variable?

Regards

[tulon]

Will the first call to the EventHandler contain all the variables?
After Define the EventHandler will be active and from this time on every change of a variable from the Bulkcontainer will be triggert.

Will the change of value in one single variable result in a call to the EventHandler with all the variables or only that single variable?
You will get only the variable which the value has changed

Thanks.

Will the first call to the EventHandler contain all the variables?

Will the change of value in one single variable result in a call to the EventHandler with all the variables or only that single variable?

Regards

[mvj]

Will the change of value in one single variable result in a call to the EventHandler with all the variables or only that single variable?
You will get only the variable which the value has changed

How is this different from the normal OnlineContainer (Not BulkMode)? If only the changed variable is passed on to the EventHandler you might as well use the normal OnlineVariable, or what?

Regards

[herberto]

Difference between an "normal" Online Container and the "Bulk Mode":

"normal" Online Container:
- VariableChange() Event is fired each time a value of a variable defined in the Online Container changes its value

Online Container with "Bulk Mode":
- Here you get an an array of variable values

See also information mentioned here http://www.copadata.com/forums/showthread.php?t=530


Regards,
Herbert

[tulon]

The different between the OnlineContainer and the BulkMode are:

OnlineContainer
By using 100 variables in the OnlineContainer and they changed the value to the same time you will get 100 change events. Every change event takes around 10ms in VBA. This will take around 1000ms.
BulkMode
By using 100 variables in the BulkMode and the changed the value to the same time you will get 1 change events. The BulkMode collect all events from the added Variables which come in the time range of 100ms to one event. This will take around 10-20 ms.

This will increase the performance especially if you use drivers which are polling the values from the driver with block transmission. If you get a new block of variables values the event of the Bulkmode will be trigger once.

[mvj]

Thanks, I think I have all the answers I need for now

[zenmyway]

I post another question on this old thread:
I can use an zenOn.IOnlineVariable container just for accessing variables values and not for capturing a variable change event? Right?
Must I call the zenOn.IOnlineVariables.Define() method if I haven't an eventhandler linked to the VariableChange event?

Thanks

[markclemens]

I post another question on this old thread:
I can use an zenOn.IOnlineVariable container just for accessing variables values and not for capturing a variable change event? Right?
Must I call the zenOn.IOnlineVariables.Define() method if I haven't an eventhandler linked to the VariableChange event?

Thanks

Yes, you need to call Define, even if you don't have an eventhandler.

The "Define" will advise the variables, and in it's turn the driver will read the variables added to the online variable container, from the PLC.

If "Define" is not called, the variables may not be advised, depending if the variables are used elsewhere in the project, and "IsOnline" will return "FALSE". When IsOnline does not return TRUE, you are not allowed to read the "Value", "StatusString", etc. properties.

When you call "Undefine", the runtime unadvises the variables, and the driver may stop reading the variables, if these are not needed elsewhere in the project.