How to Connect OpenOffice/LibreOffice to a Rockwell PLC: Effective Solutions

Question:

Are you looking for an OpenOffice/LibreOffice spreadsheet that can communicate with a PLC, particularly a Rockwell PLC? Many have attempted to make it work, but without success. Relying on Excel for such applications may pose licensing risks. If you have a solution, please share it with the community.

Top Replies

Looking for information on using DDE in OpenOffice Calc? We've been utilizing Excel and DDE to communicate with PLC's via RSLinx. Now that our IT department transitioned us to OpenOffice, we're exploring how to accomplish the same with Calc spreadsheets. Any tips on implementing DDE functionality in OpenOffice Calc? Share your insights on www.plctalk.net. While some opt for python, I personally lean towards DDE integration.

dmroeder stated a preference for utilizing Python, acknowledging their bias. I also share the sentiment, largely influenced by their expertise and recommendation.

Utilize the libmodbus library for seamless communication with a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC).

GitHub is home to a thriving community of libraries. I have successfully connected [PLC to Excel] using a custom C# solution and also established a connection between [PLC, Ignition, MQTT, and Excel] by utilizing a C# Interface.

Are you looking for a way to integrate your Rockwell PLC data into a spreadsheet without relying on Excel and Microsoft's licensing? Check out the pylogix_logger GitHub repository, which uses the pylogix module to log PLC data to ASCII, CSV, Excel, Google Sheets, or MariaDB/MySQL database. This repository includes a plug-in and example for writing data to a Google Sheet in near-real-time, offering an alternative to traditional spreadsheet software like OpenOffice and Excel.

I've been grappling with a similar issue and developed a workaround via Python scripts. Python has libraries like pycomm3 that can communicate with Rockwell PLC. You could write a script that pulls from the PLC, processes data, and then populates the OpenOffice/LibreOffice spreadsheet. By scheduling a cron job, you can run the script at regular intervals for real-time updates. It's not a perfect solution, but it does bypass the need for Excel.

I'm not well-versed in the Rockwell PLC, but if I may suggest looking into Python, as it provides excellent libraries to communicate with PLCs. With modules such as PyLogix or Snap7, you can easily deal with Allen Bradley or Siemens PLC, respectively. You could then couple this with the Python library 'Pandas' to manage and manipulate your data as if you were in a spreadsheet. It might not be an OpenOffice or LibreOffice solution, but you won't face any licensing risks like with Excel. It adds an extra layer of flexibility as well, as Python is platform independent.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

FAQ: FAQs:

Answer: 1. Can OpenOffice/LibreOffice be used to communicate with a Rockwell PLC? - Yes, it is possible to connect OpenOffice/LibreOffice to a Rockwell PLC, but many users have faced challenges in making it work effectively.

FAQ: 2. What are the risks associated with using Excel for PLC communication instead of OpenOffice/LibreOffice?

Answer: - Using Excel for PLC communication may pose licensing risks, which can be avoided by exploring alternatives like OpenOffice/LibreOffice.

FAQ: 3. Is there a reliable solution available for connecting OpenOffice/LibreOffice to a Rockwell PLC?

Answer: - Users are seeking effective solutions for this connection. If you have a solution or workaround, it would be valuable to share it with the community facing similar challenges.

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