Firmware Upgrade Inquiry for Panel View Plus HMIs: Compatibility from Version 5.1 to 8.0

Geospark recently shared insights about his experience with the View Designer projects for the PanelView 5500 10" terminals, having completed one last week that’s currently undergoing testing. With the launch of Logix Designer version 31, the fourth version of View Designer has been introduced, featuring an Emulator option akin to the Test Application available for the PV+. This update also includes VNC support and expanded capabilities, such as an increased number of screens. Additionally, he has worked on several 12.1" PV5500 models and appreciates their functionality. During a recent monthly technical seminar hosted by our local Allen-Bradley representative, he learned that the PV5500 is set to be phased out. The fourth version of View Designer will be the final release compatible with the 5500 model, as it is being succeeded by the upcoming PV5510. Attendees were advised to avoid using the PV5500 if they could wait for the new PV5510 to become available. He was taken aback by the brief lifecycle of the 5500 model.

• 28-02-2025
• padees

If Rockwell hosts a seminar on the PV5000, I will certainly check it out. However, I've predominantly transitioned to utilizing Indusoft Web Studio for all my Human-Machine Interface (HMI) requirements, both for larger systems and smaller applications. Should the PV5000 introduce standout features such as an integrated SQL database or support for Python scripting, I might be swayed to consider it.

• 28-02-2025
• Ken Roach

Are you frustrated by the trend of companies releasing new products only to abandon them for the next "latest and greatest" model? It feels like consumers are being used as beta testers for products that are still in development, with brands quickly phasing out these beta versions in favor of the "final" market-ready product. This practice raises serious concerns about the trend of launching "feature light" products and later enhancing them through software updates. Instead of delivering a complete experience from the beginning, manufacturers seem to be promising future features without actually providing them upfront. There's a significant difference between upgrading products after a few years and the rapid pace at which newer models are being released today. Take the PanelView Plus 6, for example; it has already been categorized as "Active Mature" within just a few short years. Furthermore, the advanced capabilities of the latest PanelView 5000 aren’t available on the PanelView Plus 7 "Performance" terminals. Does this foreshadow the potential decline of these products? The PanelView 5000 boasts impressive features, including: - High-speed on-screen buttons - Scalable vector graphics - Property binding - Automatic rescaling - Alignment guides - Robust event and command functionalities - Navigation buttons with on-screen pop-up menus - Predefined controller terminal status screens - Smart runtime error notifications Yet, the decision to put the "new" PanelView 5x00 terminals on hold, especially when there are no plans to integrate essential features, is misleading. We were led to believe that these terminals were designated for future advancements, anticipating several years of updates before being sidelined. However, observations indicate otherwise. Certain features planned for the newer PanelView 5x10 models may not be made available for the 5x00 series, including: - HMI-based alarms - Display import/export capabilities - Portrait and landscape display modes - Localized keyboard options - Web HMI server for remote viewing and control - Recipe manager - Email functionality - Marine certification - Conformal coating - High brightness display While the existing 5x00 terminals may meet current application needs, what happens when future requirements—like recipe management—arise? If these terminals lack support for such common features, implementing alternative solutions could become necessary and potentially costly. I wish I could believe we’re being misled, but available evidence suggests otherwise. I’m eagerly anticipating the release of the next version of View Designer, possibly v5, alongside Logix Designer v32, and whether it will introduce any meaningful enhancements for the 5x00 terminals. As for options, in our Philadelphia-based multinational company, we're restricted to using "state-of-the-art" Rockwell Automation/Allen-Bradley products and software. This limits our ability to utilize other HMI terminal equipment for in-house applications, aside from a few small exceptions. Despite the concerns surrounding this situation, the products are undoubtedly effective and the software user-friendly yet powerful. For instance, Add-On Graphics are incredibly beneficial for creating customized graphical instances linked to UDT tag instances in the controller. Additionally, I’ve previously touched on the HMIBC (Button Control) instruction; this feature allows terminals to be integrated into the I/O configuration seamlessly, enabling button object instances to function correctly under monitored connections—eliminating errors and the need to unlatch tags to address glitches. There are many small, innovative features that I'll surely continue to explore; however, it appears that we may not benefit from future updates for the models we are currently using. G.

• 28-02-2025
• Geospark

I’ll be saving this discussion for later reference. As an end-user support representative for several plants utilizing various Vantage PV+ models, it can be quite challenging to keep track of all the hardware series numbers, firmware versions, and software updates. When I shared my concerns with the local RA team, they appeared genuinely taken aback. This may belong in a different discussion, but I’m curious to know what aspects you appreciate about the Indusoft product, Ken. Is it the Client/Server functionality or perhaps the pricing structure that stands out to you?

• 28-02-2025
• harryting