SoftPLC Corporation
February 19, 2004
TO: TOPDOC NexGen Users
In order to use TOPDOC NexGen:
1) You will need at least:
128 mbytes of RAM.
800x600 screen resolution or higher.
a working ethernet interface on your TOPDOC computer.
600 MHz computer or faster.
2) you must have installed the 1.4.2 JRE from Sun
ftp://ftp.softplc.com/pub/java_install.exe
This is a 14 MByte download. If you prefer, you can install this
from our CD. This is to be installed on your TOPDOC computer.
Remove ealier versions of JRE, JavaPlugin, and Java Web Start
before installing this 1.4.2 version.
3) Unzip TDNG.ZIP into a temporary directory and then run the install.exe
from that directory. You should have a \SoftPLC directory when
you are completed. You can then delete the temporary directory
if you want.
4) You must upgrade the firmware version in your SoftPLC CPU's to 3.0
(beta) in order to use the Remote Editing (online) functionality of
TOPDOC NexGen. The "Firmware Upgrader" utility that's in TOPDOC
NexGen is used to upgrade your firmware using FTP over ethernet.
Your previous firmware is retained as well, so that you can switch
back and forth between 2.x and 3.0 simply by editing two lines in
C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT of your SoftPLC.
5) You must convert all your version 2.x ladder programs, typically
*.LOB files in the \TDZ\SPLC directory, to SOFTPLC.APP "APPs".
A 3.0 APP always is named SOFTPLC.APP, and each is placed in its own
directory so as to be given a unique full path identifier.
Use the "Convert TDZ Apps" utility to convert your ladder programs
on your development computer. You can FTP them into your development
computer.
The new SoftPLC 3.0 firmware does not and will not support the
following 2.x kernel features:
BTR, BTW using an N*:* control block. BT*:* is supported.
PID using an N*:* control block. PD*:* is supported.
ASCII datatable file. (STRING is supported but is now 16 bit
characters.)
MSG using an N*:* control block. MG*:* is supported.
6) NexGen BETA_021209 and later now requires 2.x kernel Module Definition
files (\SoftPLC\PLC\*.DEF) to have the extension *.2x. The original *.DEF
files will be used for 3.x modules. The only difference between the two
versions of the files is the location of the TLM on the processor. Version
2.x modules reside in the "\SPLCZ\IODVR" directory and version 3.x modules
reside in the "\SoftPLC\TLM" directory. For your convience, many of the
additional module definition files have been modified for you and can be
found on the SoftPLC Product CD in the "\TDNEXGEN\DEF" directory.
7) Version 2.x PLC's must be defined manually and set to version 2.x prior to
running "Detect On Net" to prevent PLC creation errors; NexGen will assume
that all new PLC's are version 3.x.
If you need support, please direct these requests through
support@softplc.com
HOT KEYS IN LADDER EDITOR
-------------------------
Each editor has a help file page showing its hotkeys.
New Concepts------------------------:
**TOPDOC NexGen does not use ONE on the TOPDOC computer. Instead
it uses only Java's TCP/IP services. This means all SoftPLC's
will need an ethernet interface. SoftPLC 3.0 still supports ONE, but
only the ethernet interface may used for programming. The DH+ and
Serial DF1 interfaces exist now only for MMI connectivity.
**The directory structure of TOPDOC NexGen is changed a lot from
TDZ. The following directories are defined as follows.
\SoftPLC home directory of the install.
\SoftPLC\plc base for specific local PLC defs.
also housed the DEFAULT.LST file and any
"driver definition files *.DEF". See
SAMPLE.DEF.
\SoftPLC\plc\<some> <some> PLC's local definitions
\SoftPLC\app\ base for SoftPLC applications (ladders)
\SoftPLC\app\<some> <some> ladder application. Each ladder application
now resides in its own subdirectory, and is only
loosely associated with a particular PLC.
\SoftPLC\usr\<some> <some> is the user name and is recorded as
one of the subdirectories of \SoftPLC\USR.
It can be as long as your OS allows.
\SoftPLC\bin TOPDOC Executables.
\SoftPLC\tlm TOPDOC loadable modules that provide TLI's that
you want NexGen to load. The \SoftPLC\plc\*\MODULE.LST files
define which of these are loaded.
\SoftPLC\clip Hold program clips. See the help file about
program clips and how they can be used to improve
productivity.
SOME THINGS THAT ARE NOT DONE
=============================
Block Cut
Advanced instruction parameter entry
Watch Editor
KNOWN PROBLEMS
==============
+We are working on a bug that comes into play when you select the bottom paths
of a branch in their entirety, then DELETE them. The work around is to position
the cursor on the branch path that you want to delete, then right mouse click
and select DELETE BRANCH, for each path.
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.