I am seeking assistance with ensuring that the machine only operates when a user is logged in. If no user is present and someone attempts to operate the machine, I want to display a message saying 'Need to login first'. Additionally, I aim to monitor the logged in/logged out status on the PLC. While the panel view restricts operation without a login, I still want to keep track of the status on the PLC. Thank you for your help.
With the introduction of v7 firmware, multiple new features were added to PanelView 5000 terminals, all of which are currently operating on v9 firmware. If you are still using v5 or an earlier version, it is likely that you are missing out on essential Project Events and security functions. The recommended approach to updating the User or User Role on the PLC is through a Project Event triggered by periodic System tags (such as blink fast, medium, or slow). The RA Knowledgebase provides helpful examples demonstrating how to utilize Project Events to transfer status information from System tags to the PLC.
The new Forum format shortens URLs to the "Sign In" URL, which I find unappealing. However, you can easily search for keywords in the Knowledgebase to find a clear example of utilizing a Project Event to input a System Value into a String Tag in the PLC. For more information, refer to ID QA63058 with Access Levels TechConnectView Designer, which demonstrates how to write the current user name to the PLC upon login.
Thank you, Ken, I will give it a try.
Ken Roach expressed his dissatisfaction with the way URLs are displayed in the new Forum format, as they are shortened to the "Sign In" URL. However, users can still search for keywords in the Knowledgebase to find a clear example of using a Project Event to write a System Value into a String Tag in the PLC. ID: QA63058 | Access Levels: TechConnectView Designer: Writing the current user name to the PLC on login. This approach proved successful for Ken, who was pleasantly surprised by the various options available in the Local HMI tags. Thank you for sharing this information.
Ken Roach mentioned his dissatisfaction with how URLs are displayed on the new Forum format, as it shortens them to the "Sign In" URL. However, users can search for relevant keywords in the Knowledgebase to find a clear example of how to use a Project Event to write a System Value into a String Tag in the PLC. The ID for this topic is QA63058, and the Access Levels available are TechConnectView Designer. This topic demonstrates how to write the current user name to the PLC upon login. Despite attempting to undo formatting on the hyperlink in a previous post, the URL still appeared shortened as "Sign In," causing frustration for Ken Roach.
It sounds like you'd benefit from using a combination of an Operator Identification system and a sequencer or state-machine in your PLC program. The Operator ID system would manage user logins/logouts and could prevent unauthorized use, while the sequencer/state-machine would keep track of the machine status. You could use a bit in your PLC program that switches on when a user logs in and off when they logout - this would let you monitor the machine's status quite easily. For displaying the 'Need to login first' message, you would use your HMI/SCADA system, which can display messages based on tags or conditions from the PLC.
You might want to create a user login system on your PLC. Make use of the User Login/Logout functions if your PLC supports it. This can allow for tracking the status of the machine operation linked with the user status. For the message display, you could program an event-driven subroutine that will check the user status and display your 'Need to login first' message whenever an operation attempt is made without a logged-in user. Just ensure your program has some type of flag or variable to identify and remember who is logged in at a time, and reflect that status on the PLC.
What you're wanting to do relies heavily on proper programming of the PLC as well as the user interface device. You'll want to create a bit (BOOL data type) in the PLC that gets set to 1 when a user successfully logs in on the HMI, and set to 0 when they log out or if there is a timeout due to inactivity. As for the machine operation, depending on your programming platform, you could use an interlock logic where the machine operation is allowed only if that bit is set to 1. The display message can also be triggered by the same logic. This keeps track of user status on both the HMI and PLC side. Just make sure to account for any safety concerns, of course.
In terms of restricting the machine's operation until a user logs in, you could consider using coded permissions/authorization which will only allow legitimate users to access the system. Typically, this is achieved by using a command that waits for successful user authorization before operating the machine. For tracking the login status on your PLC, you could create a register or bit that changes state when a user logs in and out. This way, it'll be much easier to monitor who's logged in and when they're using the machine.
It sounds like you're trying to implement a solid access control system for your machine! To achieve the login requirement, you can set up a flag in your PLC that checks the user status—when a user logs in, set this flag to true, and when they log out, set it to false. For the display message, consider tying it to a simple condition in your code that triggers the message when the flag is false and someone tries to operate the machine. This way, you can restrict operations while still logging the user's status efficiently. Additionally, it might be helpful to implement a state chart on the PLC for easier monitoring of logged in and logged out statuses. Good luck with your project!
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Answer: 1. How can I ensure that the machine only operates when a user is logged in? - You can achieve this by implementing a system where the machine operation is restricted unless a user is logged in. This can involve displaying a message such as 'Need to login first' if someone tries to operate the machine without being logged in.
Answer: - Yes, you can monitor the logged in/logged out status on the PLC by setting up appropriate monitoring and communication mechanisms between the PanelView HMI and the PLC. This will allow you to keep track of user login/logout status even if the PanelView restricts operation.
Answer: - To track the user login/logout status on the PLC, you can implement a system that communicates the login/logout information from the PanelView HMI to the PLC. This can involve setting up data exchange protocols and logic in the PLC to monitor and update the user status accordingly.
Answer: - You can integrate user authentication with machine operation control by configuring the PanelView 5310 HMI to require login credentials before allowing access to machine operations. Additionally, you can set up communication between the HMI and PLC to monitor and control user access based on login
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