Data Connections

GENESIS64 requires you to establish a data connection when you want to display time-varying data from a data source. It provides the tools needed to connect to a wide variety of data sources including:

Variables
Simulation functions
Real-time OPC servers with tags that can be READ-only, WRITE-only, or READ/WRITE
Historical data that has been stored in a memory cache or saved in a disk file or log
Custom data stored in a database for use when required

For example, in a GraphWorX64 display, the graphical representation of a meter that measures oven temperature would reflect its process point's data value. It displays READ-only data, which allows operators to observe but not manipulate the temperature. However, if its OPC tag is also writable, you can easily add to the GraphWorX64 display a device (such as a knob) that lets operators raise and lower the oven temperature from the console.

You can connect graphical objects to OPC points to display the value. You can either type in the address of the point or select it in the Data Browser in the DataSource property. In Configuration mode, when a developer clicks in the DataSource field, an Ellipsis button appears. Clicking this button opens the Data Browser, where the developer can select the OPC point to be connected.

The Data Browser has many functions, each of which is isolated on an individual tab. The Data Browser gives you a set of tools for navigating the OPC address space, browsing data sources, and selecting the exact data source (tag). The power of the Data Browser is that it shows you what Data Sources are actually available and correctly defines the addresses using the appropriate syntax, freeing you from having to know the individual syntax coming from the different servers. When you save your configuration and go into runtime, the needle is connected to the tag you just assigned to it and it changes appropriately. The Data Browser is described in more detail in Unified Data Browser.

GENESIS64 also provides data connectors that give you access to BACnet and SNMP protocols.