Technosoftware AG

The developer can concentrate on his application and servers can be developed fast and easily without the need to spend a lot of time learning how to implement the OPC Data Access specification. The server API is easy to use and many OPC specific functions, e.g. creating a group or adding an item to a group are handled by the framework. Even the complex asynchronous read/write handling is handled by the framework.

The “Framework” includes all OPC DA 1.0a, 2.05a, 3.00 and OPC AE 1.00, 1.10 handling and ensures the OPC compliance. It is implemented as a generic C++ based executable.

The “Server API” defines easy to use interface functions required for developing OPC DA compliant servers. The OPC server is supplied as an EXE file with the application adaptation part in a .NET assembly DLL. This imposes some limitations on the adaptation possibilities but makes the adaptation much easier and quicker. By using this API DA servers can be easily implemented by adapting just a few functions. There are only 5 functions that have to be implemented. The functions handle the configuration of the server and the read/write functionality of items.

The server supports all mandatory and optional OPC DA 1.0a / DA 2.05a interfaces and all mandatory OPC DA 3.00 interfaces. Also supported are OPC AE 1.00 and AE 1.10. The provided sample servers and sample clients, together with the detailed documentation and online help provides all essential information and tools you need to successfully develop your server application.

The OPC Server Developer Studio .NET offers unique features for performance and functionality improvements of the developed OPC Server like Event Driven Mode for Device Access; Dynamic address space with items added when they are first accessed by a client and removed when they are no longer in use; Item browsing can be implemented to browse the cache or the device/database.

The OPC Server Developer Studio .NET supports 32bit and 64bit operation. A version of the generic server is provided for 32bit and 64bit platform. The application adaption part in the .NET assembly can be used with both platforms.

An evaluation version is available featureing full functionality including source code of a Visual Studio 2005 C# and VB.NET sample server. It can be used for 30 days and the run-time is restricted to 30-minutes. The evaluation version is also restricted to 32bit operation.