verview
This guide walks you through the complete solution lifecycle from
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development through production deployment
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What You'll Learn:
- Plan and scope your project
- Design the architecture
- Build using the Four Pillars
- Deploy to production
- Maintain and support
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<ac:structured-macro ac:name="info"> ac:rich-text-body Time Estimate
- Small System: 4-6 weeks
- Medium System: 8-12 weeks
- Enterprise: 16-24 weeks </ac:rich-text-body> </ac:structured-macro> </ac:layout-cell> </ac:layout-section> </ac:layout>
Quick Start Workflow
Follow this high-level workflow, then dive into detailed procedures for each stage:
1. INITIATE (1-2 weeks)
??? Define Requirements
??? Identify Stakeholders
??? Create Project Charter
2. DESIGN (2-4 weeks)
??? Architecture Planning
??? Data Model Design
??? Standards Definition
3. BUILD (4-12 weeks)
??? P1: Configure UNS
??? P2: Setup Process Modules
??? P3: Add Application Logic
??? P4: Create User Interface
4. DEPLOY (1-2 weeks)
??? Production Installation
??? Commissioning
??? Training
5. SUPPORT (Ongoing)
??? Monitoring
??? Maintenance
??? Optimization
Stage 1: Initiate Your Project
Step 1.1: Define Project Scope
Prerequisites: Business objectives, budget constraints
- Create Project Charter
Project Name: _____________ Business Objective: _____________ Success Criteria: _____________ Constraints: _____________ Timeline: _____________
- Document Technical Requirements
- I/O Count: _____ points
- User Count: _____ concurrent
- Data Sources: _____ systems
- Performance: _____ ms response
- Identify Stakeholders <table> <tr><th>Role</th><th>Name</th><th>Responsibility</th></tr> <tr><td>Sponsor</td><td>___</td><td>Approval</td></tr> <tr><td>Operations</td><td>___</td><td>Requirements</td></tr> <tr><td>IT</td><td>___</td><td>Infrastructure</td></tr> </table>
Validation: All stakeholders sign off on scope document
Step 1.2: Gather Requirements
- Collect Data Source Information
For each PLC/Device: - Protocol: _____________ - IP Address: _____________ - Point Count: _____________ - Scan Rate: _____________
- Define Functional Requirements
- Process control needs
- Alarm requirements
- Reporting specifications
- Integration points
- Security requirements
Deliverable: Requirements Specification Document
Stage 2: Design Your Architecture
Step 2.1: System Architecture
- Select Deployment Model
[ ] Standalone - Single server [ ] Distributed - Multiple servers [ ] Cloud - Azure/AWS [ ] Hybrid - Mixed deployment
- Design Network Topology
- Production Network: _____________
- Control Network: _____________
- DMZ Configuration: _____________
- Plan Database Architecture
Development: SQLite (default) Production: [ ] SQL Server [ ] PostgreSQL [ ] Oracle Historian: [ ] Local [ ] Enterprise [ ] Cloud
Step 2.2: Data Architecture
- Define Naming Convention
Standard: [Area]_[Equipment]_[Signal] Example: WTP_PUMP01_RUNNING
- Design UDT Templates
yaml
Motor_Template: - Running: Boolean - Speed_SP: Float - Speed_PV: Float - Fault: Boolean
- Plan Asset Structure
Plant ??? Area1 ? ??? Line1 ? ??? Line2 ??? Area2
Deliverable: Architecture Design Document
Stage 3: Build Your Solution
Step 3.1: Configure Foundation (P1)
- Create Tag Structure
a. Open Designer → UNS → Tags b. Click New Tag c. Enter: Name, Type, Initial Value d. Set Engineering Units e. Configure Min/Max ranges
- Build UserTypes (UDTs)
a. Navigate to UNS → UserTypes b. Click New Type c. Add Members: - Commands (Start, Stop) - Status (Running, Faulted) - Values (Speed, Current) d. Save Template
- Organize Asset Tree
a. Go to UNS → Asset Tree b. Create Folders for Areas c. Add Equipment nodes d. Link to Tags/UDTs
Step 3.2: Setup Process Modules (P2)
- Configure Device Communications
a. Devices → Channels → New b. Select Protocol (Modbus, OPC UA, etc.) c. Configure Connection: - IP: _____________ - Port: _____________ - Timeout: 3000ms d. Add Nodes → Map Points e. Test Communication
- Setup Alarms
a. Alarms → Groups → New Group b. Add Alarm Items: - Tag: Select from UNS - Condition: HiHi, Hi, Lo, LoLo - Limits: Set values - Priority: 1-999 c. Configure Notifications
- Enable Historian
a. Historian → Storage → Configure b. Select Location (SQL Database) c. Create Storage Groups d. Add Tags to collect e. Set collection rates
Step 3.3: Add Application Logic (P3)
- Create Scripts
csharp
// Scripts → Tasks → New // Name: Calculate_KPI // Trigger: Timer (60 seconds) public void RunTask() { // Calculate OEE float availability = Tag.RunTime / Tag.PlannedTime; float performance = Tag.ActualRate / Tag.TargetRate; float quality = Tag.GoodParts / Tag.TotalParts; Tag.OEE = availability * performance * quality; }
- Configure Datasets
sql
-- Datasets → DBs → New Connection -- Datasets → Queries → New SELECT ProductID, BatchNumber, Quantity, Timestamp FROM Production WHERE Timestamp > @StartTime
Step 3.4: Build User Interface (P4)
- Create Main Navigation
a. Displays → New Display b. Name: MainMenu c. Add Navigation buttons: - Overview - Areas - Reports - Admin
- Design Process Graphics
a. Create display per area b. Add equipment symbols c. Bind to tags: - Drag tag to object - Configure animation d. Add navigation buttons
Validation: Test all displays in Test Mode (F5)
Stage 4: Deploy to Production
Step 4.1: Pre-Deployment Checklist
- All tests passed
- Documentation complete
- Backup created (.dbback file)
- Licenses verified
- Training materials ready
- Rollback plan prepared
Step 4.2: Installation Procedure
- Backup Current System (if exists)
Solution Center → Backup Save to: Backup_YYYYMMDD.dbback
- Install Software
a. Run FrameworX installer b. Select components c. Enter license d. Configure services
- Deploy Solution
a. Copy .dbsln to server b. Open Solution Center c. Import solution d. Select Production profile e. Start Runtime
Step 4.3: Commissioning
- I/O Checkout
For each signal: - [ ] Force value at source - [ ] Verify in FrameworX - [ ] Document in loop sheet
- Functional Testing
- Test each control loop
- Verify alarm functions
- Check interlock logic
- Validate calculations
- Performance Validation
- Response time: < 500ms
- CPU usage: < 60%
- Memory: < 70%
- Network: < 50%
Sign-off: Customer acceptance signature
Stage 5: Support & Maintenance
Step 5.1: Setup Monitoring
- Configure Diagnostics
Runtime → Diagnostics → Enable: - [ ] Performance counters - [ ] Error logging - [ ] Audit trail
- Create KPI Dashboard
- System uptime
- Response times
- Alarm rates
- Data quality
Step 5.2: Maintenance Schedule
<table> <thead> <tr><th>Frequency</th><th>Tasks</th><th>Procedure</th></tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><strong>Daily</strong></td> <td>System check</td> <td>Review alarms, check status</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Weekly</strong></td> <td>Backup</td> <td>Solution Center → Backup</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Monthly</strong></td> <td>Archive</td> <td>Export historian data</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Quarterly</strong></td> <td>Review</td> <td>Performance analysis</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
Step 5.3: Common Troubleshooting
Issue: Communication Loss
- Check network connectivity
- Verify device status
- Review error logs
- Restart communication service
Issue: High CPU Usage
- Check script execution times
- Review polling rates
- Optimize queries
- Adjust priorities
Tools and Templates
Project Management Tools
FrameworX Built-in:
- Track Changes (version control)
- Cross-Reference (dependency tracking)
- Build Flag (backup points)
- Publish (production lock)
Recommended Third-party:
- JIRA/Azure DevOps (task tracking)
- Git/SVN (source control)
- Confluence (documentation)
Downloadable Templates
- [Project Charter Template]
- [Requirements Checklist]
- [Test Plan Template]
- [Commissioning Sheets]
- [Training Materials]
Best Practices Summary
DO:
? Follow naming conventions consistently ? Test at each stage ? Document all decisions ? Plan for 20-30% growth ? Use version control ? Create reusable components
DON'T:
? Skip testing to save time ? Hardcode values ? Deploy without backups ? Ignore user feedback ? Neglect documentation
Next Steps
After completing this lifecycle:
- Review Advanced Topics
- [Performance Optimization →]
- [Security Hardening →]
- [Redundancy Setup →]
- Explore Templates
- [Industry Solutions →]
- [Standard Libraries →]
- Get Support
- [Training Courses →]
- [Community Forum →]
- [Technical Support →]
. Learn to manage versions, migrate between environments, and maintain solution integrity across all stages.
Prerequisites:
- Understanding of three workspaces (Solution Center, Designer, Runtime)
- Familiarity with execution profiles
- Basic knowledge of solution architecture
Solution Lifecycle Overview
The Three Stages
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? Development ? --> ? Validation ? --> ? Production ?
? ? ? (Test) ? ? ?
??????????????? ??????????????? ????????????????
? • Create ? ? • Test ? ? • Deploy ?
? • Configure ? ? • Validate ? ? • Monitor ?
? • Debug ? ? • Optimize ? ? • Maintain ?
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