Greetings everyone, I have been diligently working on my Human Machine Interface (HMI) with FTview for over a year now without any major issues. However, recently I encountered a problem when running a test display where instead of values, only "*" appeared in place of the values. This issue is not isolated to a specific display; rather, it is occurring across all displays. It seems as though the program is unable to recognize any of the tags associated with it. It is worth noting that everything was functioning properly the day before, but the next day, it seemed like the program was unable to locate the project it is linked to. Upon inspecting the tags, I noticed that the "Online" folder, which typically contains all the program tags, was empty, giving the impression that they had been deleted or something similar had occurred. Despite attempting to refresh all folders, the online folder remained empty. Initially, I suspected that the problem lay with RSLinx not establishing a connection between FTView and my Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). Consequently, I uninstalled and reinstalled the ethernet driver. After reinstalling the ethernet driver, I was able to successfully ping both my PLC and HMI. Furthermore, I was able to access the PLC project online using Logix5000. Additionally, I created a new runtime and downloaded it to the panelview, confirming that the newly downloaded file operated correctly on the panelview. However, the test display continued to struggle in recognizing any of the tags. I would greatly appreciate any guidance on how to reestablish the connection between this project and the PLC. Thank you for your assistance.
I recently checked the Communication tab on my device to see its current connections, but it appears that nothing has been updated or altered.
Is it possible to perform a ping test on the PLC from the PC being used to test the displays? Also, ensure that the "Design" tab in the Communication Setup within FactoryTalk Linx at the bottom of the project Explorer is correctly configured to communicate with the PLC. It is recommended to double check this configuration, especially if it was working correctly yesterday.
Hello Joseph, I am able to establish communication between the PC and the PLC by pinging it. Additionally, I can access the PLC online using Logix5000. I have included a photo of the communication setup in post#2, which I believe is what you are mentioning as the FTLinx project explorer. Rest assured, the correct PLC has been identified.
thehoneybadger confirmed: Hello Joseph. I have successfully established communication between the PC and the PLC, and I am able to access the PLC online using logix5000. I have included a visual representation of the communications setup in post#2. It seems this is what you are mentioning when you mention the FTLinx project explorer. The PLC is indeed the correct one. However, Joseph may be referring to a different aspect. In FTView, navigate to the explorer panel on the left-hand side. Locate two tabs at the bottom: application and communications. Click on communications and verify that the processor is correctly designated.
Hey JT, I wanted to clarify that the image I sent matches the location you mentioned in our conversation. It's found in the communications tab at the bottom of the explorer panel. Perhaps you're thinking of the image from post #1? The image I'm talking about is actually from post #2.
Hello there! It seems like you've run into a tough puzzle! Based on what you've described, it seems as though the issue might be related to the path in FactoryTalk View Studio. Do re-check if your shortcut paths in FTView have been configured correctly. Check if the security settings adjusted recently - since they can affect the tags if they're not properly synchronized. While reconfiguring your ethernet driver might help, also try re-pointing your tags to the updated PLC program. If this doesn’t work, FTView might be requiring a firmware update or a specific driver to function optimally with your PLC. It's also worth double-checking if there's enough memory available. Hope this helps and best of luck rectifying the issue!
Hi there, It's impressive how thoroughly you've tried troubleshooting this error on your own. It's quite perplexing considering your tests and the fact that it functioned fine the day before. In situations like this, the issue could possibly relate to a mismatch of controller versions. Do double-check that. However, since you're mentioning an empty "Online" folder, it could be a file path issue. FTView may be looking in the wrong place for your tags. To correct this, I would suggest retracing the file path to ensure it correctly leads to your tags. Also, please confirm if your tags are associated with the correct HMI server in FTView. Good luck and keep us posted!
Hello, it sounds like you've done some pretty thorough troubleshooting already. Considering all the steps you've taken, it really does sound like there's a disconnect between FTView and your PLC somewhere. One possible explanation could be an issue with the OPC server not properly linking to the PLC. Given that your Logix5000 can access the PLC, it might be worthwhile to delve a bit into your OPC configuration. Additionally, double-check your tag names, data types, and addresses within FTView. Even a minor mismatch can cause a significant issue. Sometimes, a fresh setup of the corresponding data servers helps. Good luck and let us know how you get on!
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Answer: Answer: This issue may occur when the program is unable to recognize the tags associated with the display, possibly due to a connection problem between the project and the PLC.
Answer: Answer: You can start by checking if the Online folder containing program tags is empty, which might indicate a deletion or connection problem. Ensure RSLinx establishes a connection between FTView and the PLC and consider reinstalling the ethernet driver.
Answer: Answer: Try refreshing all folders in FTView, verify the connection between RSLinx, FTView, and the PLC, reinstall the ethernet driver, and confirm that the PLC project is accessible online using Logix5000. Creating a new runtime and downloading it to the panelview can help identify where the issue lies.
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