Online Manual

Basic uForte OPC Client Development Kit usage is very simple and requires no manual at all. But uForte OPC Client Development Kit offers a number of advanced ways to improve stability and performance of your OPC client. The following sections describe how to get the most out of our very powerful utility. If you have any additional questions regarding uForte OPC Client Development Kit usage, then feel free to contact us and get the information.

Quick Links

• Minimum System Requirements
• Features
• Installation
• Basic Usage
• Registration
• Distribution
• OPC Server Address Space Browser
• Additional Information

Minimum System Requirements

• Microsoft Windows x64/x86 (all currently supported versions)
• 2MB of free disk space
• 128MB of RAM
• Miscrosoft Visual Studio Express or Full (all currently supported versions)

Features

• Allows to make OPC DA clients
• The core of the toolkit is ufOPCClientHelper COM object
• Complies with the OPC DA 3.0, 2.05A and 1.0A specifications
• Arrays are supported as OPC item values
• Allows to operate with many OPC servers at a time

Installation

uForte OPC Client Development Kit setup package consists of single executable file. Just download this file into any folder on your computer, run it, and follow simple installation instructions.

Basic Usage

The wizard supplied with the product does all the routine job.

• Select the OPC Client Wizard shortcut from Start | Programs | uForte OPC Client Development Kit menu (This is done automatically for you on first use after installation).
• Trial version is full featured, but has limited usage period - 8 days (Please feel free to contact us and obtain extended license, if you need more). If you like uForte OPC Client Development Kit, then please purchase it and obtain your License Code. For more information, please refer to Registration section below.
• On the first screen you are suggested to select on OPC server your OPC client will work with (later it can be changed in source code). Then click Next.
• On the next step you are suggested to select OPC items your OPC client will work with. To select OPC items from different branches use please "Add Selected" button. After selection is done click Next.
• Now you can edit the list of OPC items you selected.
• On the next screen you are about to generate an OPC client which reads values from the selected OPC items (examples of writing are also included). Select a programming language, development tool and type of operations (synchronous or asynchronous). Then you should enter name for the project (e.g. "MyOPCClient"). Click "Finish" to generate an OPC client. In the source code all the functionality is concentrated in class Form1. In the constructor of the class selected OPC items are added to ListView controls. Handler of the button Connect contains code for connecting to the OPC server. Timer handler demonstrates how to retrieve OPC item values synchronously. Class Callback handles new values of OPC items received asynchronously from the OPC server. The following functions are available from the OPC client:
  • Connect - connects to OPC server. Connect must be called before all operations with the OPC server.
  • Disconnect - disconnects from OPC server. No operations with the OPC server are allowed after Disconnect.
  • GetItemValue - retrieves current value of an OPC item.
  • SetItemValue - writes a value to an OPC item.
  • StartReadingItem - specifies an OPC item to be read asynchronously.
  • StopReadingItem - removes an OPC item from asynchronous reading.
  • GetErrorDescription - retrieves description of an error returned.
  • SetCallback - passes pointer to callback interface.

Registration

Please follow the link given on this page to buy the full featured version. Then start uForte OPC Client Development Kit, click "Register" and specify user name and password you received after purchasing the product.

Distribution

To distribute an OPC client onto another computer uForte OPC Client Development Kit should be installed first. Every installation of the product must be registered as described above unless you buy unlimited version.

OPC Server Address Space Browser

Additional Information