Hello! I’m looking to rename a PDF document on Windows using a variable from my CompactLogix PLC. Currently, I’m operating a CompactLogix PLC with FactoryTalk View ME on an industrial PC running Windows 7 Professional. There are several PDF files automatically generated on this PC, and I want to rename them based on a specific variable from my CompactLogix setup. Does anyone have suggestions or methods for accomplishing this? Thank you!
That's an intriguing question! Do you happen to have an RSLinx Gateway license and access to Microsoft Excel? If so, you can utilize Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to automate tasks, such as: 1. Implementing the Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) method to import specific PLC tags into Excel. 2. Automatically renaming the Excel file based on the tag value you retrieved. However, if you don’t have those tools, don't worry—there are alternative methods available. You could explore a scripting solution to read values from your PLC. For instance, the user dmroeder has developed a Python script that enables reading and writing of CompactLogix tags. Plus, Python can easily handle file renaming tasks. Another viable option is AdvancedHMI, which is a free application that's quite powerful if you have a basic understanding of VBA. For example, I have a personal setup where a Windows batch file pulls a weather forecast from the weather bureau every hour. Subsequently, my AdvancedHMI application retrieves that data, extracts necessary details, and sends them to a Click Koyo PLC. It also logs PLC values into a text file. While I may not be renaming files directly, the concept of using VBA to input a PLC tag value into a specified file is similar to renaming a file with that PLC tag value. Do any of these solutions appeal to you?
If you’re currently utilizing FactoryTalk View ME, I suggest leveraging the ME Program Launcher ActiveX control to execute a standard batch file. The main challenge is ensuring that you always have an ME Display open to host the ActiveX component. Personally, I typically utilize my navigation bar for this purpose. This method is particularly convenient on the PanelView Plus (PV+) since it allows me to position objects offscreen while keeping them accessible within the Display.
Even easier than before! I really appreciate it!
Thank you! While I haven't used a batch file before, I'm familiar with its concept. Is it feasible to extract a tag value from a PLC using a batch file script? Additionally, can I use that extracted value to rename a file accordingly? I appreciate your help!
You will provide the tag value to the script by using it as a parameter.
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Answer: 1. Use a communication protocol like OPC (OLE for Process Control) to read the desired variable from the CompactLogix PLC. 2. Write a script in a language such as Python or PowerShell that reads the variable value and renames the PDF files accordingly. 3. Schedule this script to run at regular intervals using Windows Task Scheduler.
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