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2. Configure Point Bridge Points
About this task
Point Bridge, which is part of the Base System, enables separate CIMPLICITY systems to exchange point data.
The systems are referred to as:
System Type
Description
Source
Collects the point data.
Destination
Runs the Point Bridge process
Review:
When to use Point Bridge.
Configuration Required for Point Bridge.
Guidelines for Point Bridge setup.
Point Bridge Point Configuration Specifications.
When to use Point Bridge
Configure points that use the Point Bridge when you:
Have a complex system architecture where users on Viewers need to display points from Servers.
Want to generate alarms on your Server for points on another Server.
Configure a Remote Project for the source system on the destination system.
Configure the Point Bridge port.
Define a device for the Point Bridge port.
Important: Make sure the Device Name matches the Remote Project name.
Define the points you want to retrieve from the source system.
Important: Make sure that the Point Address matches the source project's point name.
Guidelines for Point Bridge Setup
The Point ID on the destination system does not have to match the Point ID on the source system.
The data types and number of elements of the two points have to match.
When the source point changes value, the point value is updated on the local system.
The local point and the associated remote (source) point must have identical:
Point Class,
Data Type, and
Number of Elements.
Reading and writing points are supported.
If a point is configured for WRITE access on both systems, a user on the Point Bridge system can set the value of the Point Bridge point.
The point on the source system is then updated.
Dynamic configuration of Point Bridge points is also supported.
Points configured incorrectly will remain in an unavailable state.
The Point Bridge Device Communications process will generate error messages regarding configuration errors. These can be found in the project's Status Log and the PB.ERR file.
Point Bridge Points require the following entries in the device Point Properties dialog box on the destination server.
Create a device point on the destination server.
Note: The name does not need to match the Point ID on the source system, but it can if desired.
The Point Properties dialog box General and Device tabs include entry decisions that need to address Point Bridge requirements.
Point Bridge Point Properties: General Tab
Point Bridge Point Properties: Device Tab
Point Bridge Point Properties: General Tab
Select the General tab in the Point Properties dialog box.
The following entry decisions need to take Point Bridge into consideration
Item
Description
1
Read only
Specifies if the Point Bridge process can set the value of a point on a source system.
Checked
The point can only be read on the destination server.
Clear
The point is read/write on the destination server.
A user on the Point Bridge system can set the value of the Point Bridge point.
The point on the source system is then updated.
Important: Write access is only valid if it is configured for the point on the Point Bridge system and on the source system.
2
Change approval
If change approval is required to set points, the change approval configuration, including valid user names/passwords must be the same on both the source and destination machine.
If the configuration is not the same Point Bridge will treat the point as an invalid configuration and log an error.
Point Bridge Point Properties: Device Tab
Select the Device tab in the Point Properties dialog box.
Point Bridge specifications are as follows.
Option
Description
1
Device ID
Node name of the source system where the Point Translation process is running.
2
Address
Point ID of the point on the source system.
3
Update Criteria
Only Unsolicited updates are supported.
4
Diagnostic Data
Diagnostic points are not available for the Point Bridge.
Clear the Diagnostic Data checkbox.
5
Poll After Set
Poll After Set is not supported by Point Bridge.
Clear the Poll After Set check box.