There are three ways to transfer an InteractX application to or from an industrial PC running an InteractX runtime: disk (USB drive), Ethernet and serial. This FAQ will cover USB since that is the one that is typically recommended for novice users of InteractX. This procedure applies to the following Parker (CTC) HMI model lines:
- PX
- HPX
- EPX
- EPX2
- IPX
- IXA
For this method, you will need a laptop/desktop with MachineShop Suite installed on it. While uploading and downloading applications does not require a license, you will need one if you intend to do any editing of the application.
[Related FAQ: Uploading and downloading InteractX projects over Ethernet]
Transferring an Application from the HMI to the Development PC
This method will allow you to deploy or retrieve an application in the event that your HMI is not connected to a network or you are having network connectivity issues. You will need a USB stick for this method, preferably one with 1 GB or more of free space.
Step 1: Exit Runtime
On your HMI, exit the InteractX runtime. There are several ways to exit the runtime, but it is possible for an application developer to turn off any or all of them. You may need to try more than one of these options:
- Press an Exit button in the application.
- On a keyboard, press Alt+F4.
- On a keyboard, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete. From there, open Task Manager and kill the HMIRun.exe process.
If none of the above options work, call 707-584-7558 or email emn.service@support.parker.com
Step 2: Locate the Deployment Server
Now that you are on the desktop of your InteractX HMI, look in the task bar near the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. You should see a small icon in the taskbar that looks like a bowling ball. This is the icon for the Deployment Server.
Step 3: Right-Click the Deployment Server
Plug in your USB drive and wait a few seconds for the HMI to recognize it. Right-click the Deployment Server icon and click Upload Applications to Disk in the option box that appears.
Step 4: Select a Drive
In the dialog box that appears, click Browse. Select the directory on the USB drive to which you would like to upload the InteractX application.
Click OK and then click Finish. The Deployment Server will upload your application to the disk and notify you when it is done. There should now be a file folder on your USB drive with a name ending in ".odi". Remove the USB drive from the HMI and insert it into your development PC.
NOTE: Keep the ODI folder and make a backup of it in a safe place. Having a backup of an HMI application could save weeks of downtime should an HMI fail.
Step 5: Open MachineShop Suite
Open MachineShop Suite on your development PC. You should see something similar to the image below when it starts up. Click Create a New MachineShop Project. If you do not see this dialog box, you can also create a new project by clicking File > New Project. Give your new project a name and click OK.
Step 6: Add an HMI
In the upper right-hand corner of the screen, there should be an icon labeled EPX/HPX/IPX PowerStation that looks like an HMI. Click and drag that icon into the main project workspace next to the icon that looks like three gears. When prompted, give the device a name and click Next.
Step 7: Set up the Connection
You should now see the Connections dialog box. Click Add. Then, give your connection a name, set the type to Disk, and click Configure.
You will then be asked what path you would like to use. Click Browse and navigate to the folder on the USB drive where you stored your ODI folder. Click OK.
At this point, you will be returned to the Connections dialog box and will see your new connection in the selection box. Click Finish.
Step 8: Upload from Runtime
We are now ready to upload the application. In your project workspace, double-click the HMI that you dragged onto the screen earlier. In the dialog box that appears, select Upload Applications from Runtime and click Next.
On the Connections dialog, click Next. Then, click Finish. You will be prompted to overwrite existing applications (click OK) and may then need to select the application to upload if there are multiple applications on the disk. If this is the case, select an ODI folder and click OK. MachineShop Suite will verify that the upload was successful. You should now see the application at the bottom of your Project Browser on the left and can open and edit it by double-clicking it.
NOTE: This is a good time to save the project so that you have a backup copy. Click File > Backup Project to save a backup copy.
NOTE: Users who are uploading an old application into a newer version of MachineShop Suite may be prompted to upgrade their application. It is important to create a backup of the application before upgrading it as the upgrade process is not reversable. An application that has been upgraded to a higher version of InteractX cannot run on an HMI running a lower version of InteractX.
You now have an InteractX application that you can edit or deploy onto another HMI.
Transferring an Application from the Development PC to the HMI
Now that you already have a Disk Connection set up for this application (see Step 7 in the previous procedure), deploying your application to an HMI is a simple process that is essentially a reversal of the previous one. The steps are given below.
Step 1: Download to Runtime
Double-click the HMI object in your Project Workspace and select Download to Runtime. Click Next.
Select the connection you used to upload the application, then click Next.
Check the box labeled Application Files. Do not check the box labeled InteractX Runtime or the box labeled SQL Express (for Quick Logging). Click Finish. The application will download to the USB drive and MachineShop Suite will tell you when the process is complete.
Step 2: Download from Disk
Insert the USB drive into your HMI. Right-click on the Deployment Server icon in the bottom right-hand corner of your HMI's desktop and select Download from Disk in the option box that appears.
Click Browse and navigate to the location on the USB drive where you stored the ODI folder. Click OK and then click Finish. You will be required to select which ODI folder to use if you have more than one of them. In this case, use the dialog box that appears to navigate into the ODI folder and select the ODI file. Then, click OK.
Step 3: Finishing
After the download finishes, two dialog boxes will appear. The first one asks if you want to delete the ODI folder on the USB drive. Click No. The second one asks if you want to launch InteractX. Answer Yes or No as you see fit. If you choose No you can launch InteractX later by double-clicking the Deployment Server icon and clicking the Launch InteractX button.
19JAN2017 DC
UPDATED 23JAN2017 DC: ADDED TRANSFER TO HMI SECTION AND CHANGED SOME WORDING
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