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Introduction

Every knowledge area domain has its own terminology, and the same applies to software applications are no exception. While the nomenclature used on this platform follows market standards our platform uses industry-standard terms whenever possible, some specific terms related to the system may have special certain words may carry specific meanings in this context.

This glossary includes most of the terms and keywords used by our platform, as well as concepts and related technologies relevant to our context.

It is recommended to read this glossary at least once after using our platform for a few months. Reviewing the definitions and concepts, combined with your experience, will enhance your understanding of the system and improve your efficiency in creating applications.

We recommend reviewing this glossary after you've gained some experience with the platform. Revisiting these definitions will help clarify key concepts and improve your efficiency when building applications.

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Glossary (A-Z)

Name

DevicePoint is

assigned an AccessType,

which defines its read/write behavior, including polling rate and

permissions

.

AlarmArea
A hierarchical grouping of AlarmGroups for structured alarm management.

Can contain child AlarmAreas, useful for large systems

.

AlarmGroup
A collection of AlarmItems sharing common properties. Simplifies configuration with settings like AckRequired, AutoAckTime, and Sound.

AlarmItem
A tag or expression monitored by the Alarm Module,

including condition, limit, deadband, and message settings.

AlarmGroup

A collection of AlarmItems sharing common properties. It simplifies alarm management with configuration properties like AckRequired, AutoAckTime, and Sound.

App Domain, Application Domain
A virtual, isolated environment

for running a .NET application

, providing process isolation.

Application, Project, Solution

"Project" applies to version 9.2

and earlier. "Solution" applies to version 10+. "Application"

refers to

the functional use of the configuration.

Application Modules

Modules that

execute a system's internal logic and

transformations

, including

Datasets, Reports, Scripts, and Displays.

Assembly
An executable file (.EXE or .DLL) created using managed code

within the .NET framework.

Asset Tree

The Asset Tree is a hierarchical representation of the solution data model. It may contain variables and data templates that match physical equipment in the production environment, as well as any enterprise or auxiliary variables necessary to implement your real-time application.

A hierarchical view of variables and templates reflecting equipment, recipes, setpoints, and other process data.

Audit Trail
Logs changes and events

during runtime execution, useful for diagnostics and compliance.

Build

compiles the solution

; Publish creates a read-only version for

deployment in

validated environments.

Labels used

to organize large

configurations across multiple tables.

Channels

Configuration object in the Devices Module specifying communication protocol and settings.

Client

Software interacting with

the server or

runtime. Includes .NET

, HTML5

, and Remote Clients.

In scripting, "Client Domain" refers to client-local values.

Client Connection
A runtime connection to the solution from a local or remote station. Does not include engineering sessions.

CodeBehind
Custom VB.NET or C# code used for event handling, calculations, and behavior. Can also call Python classes

Connection Target

.

Component, User Controls
Graphical

controls used in displays. Includes buttons, inputs, and custom elements.

DatasetDBs

Connections settings created  by the Dataset Module to communicate with an external database.

Date Template (UDT)

User-defined data structures that include variables and references to other templates, creating a hierarchical data structure.

DatasetFile

Connection Target
Defines the data source (Local Solution, TagProvider, or Remote source).

DatasetDBs
Settings in the Datasets Module for external database connections.

DatasetFile
A logical object in the Datasets Module for reading/writing ASCII, Unicode, or XML

files.

DatasetTable

 Datasets Module object, logical name created to hold configuration settings to access specific tables in a connected database, mapping tags to table columns for operations.

DatasetQuery

DatasetQuery
A configured SQL query in the Datasets Module, with properties and methods for execution.

DatasetTable
A table mapping Tags to database columns for read/write operations.

DataTemplate (UDT)
User-defined data structure with nested variables and template references.

Designer, Solution Designer
The

interface used to configure FrameworX solutions.

Display / Screen

A window or frame of your application’s user interface, containing static or dynamic graphical elements.

Draw

Visual container for user interface elements.

DLL Hell

Conflicts from

shared DLLs in legacy systems, addressed by .NET’s assembly isolation.

Domain, Server Domain, Client Domain

Object value scope during runtime: Server-wide vs. Client-local.

Draw
Designer module for building synoptic screens and animations.

Dynamics and Animations

Definition for changes in the graphical elements attributes, driven by the values of real-time tags.

Changes to graphical attributes based on tag values.

Enumerations
Maps possible tag values to states, labels, and colors.

Form, Report Form
Rich text document that can embed real-time data and symbols; exportable to PDF.

FrameworX
The core software platform and runtime environment.

FrameworX Unlimited
Licensing model with unlimited Clients, Developers, and Connections

External TagProviders

Enable direct interaction with variables in remote systems without creating specific tags, enhancing data access within the Unified Namespace.

Enumerations

Define potential values or ranges for a variable, mapping messages and colors to each state.

Forms, Report Forms

Rich Text documents that can include real-time tag values, tables, and symbols, saved as Text or PDF files.

Graphical Element

Components used in screens, such as shapes, checkboxes, or trend charts.

Image resources

Imported image files used as graphical elements in your solution.

Industrial icons

Pre-built icons designed for industrial automation applications.

Internal Module

Features and programs that implement internal system functions, running without user configuration.

FactoryStudio

 A scalable product version for SCADA/HMI, IIoT Edge, and Gateway applications, built on Tatsoft’s FrameworX.

FrameworX

The software platform and underlying technologies and components.

FrameworX Unlimited

.

FX EDGE
A FrameworX

deployment for edge computing scenarios.

FX MQTT Broker

Built-in MQTT broker in the FrameworX

platform.

FX MQTT Simulator

An MQTT Client simulator with Sparkplug, included in the product installation.

Simulator for testing MQTT Clients and Sparkplug payloads.

HistorianTag
Tag configured for storage in a HistorianTable, optionally referencing external sources.

Hot Updates (Hot Reload)
Apply offline changes to the runtime without restarting execution.

Industrial Icons
Pre-built graphics suited for industrial applications.

Internal Module
Background functionality that operates without user configuration.

Hot Updates (Hot Reload)

Apply offline solution changes without disrupting the runtime environment, maintaining stability and preventing downtime.

HistorianTables

Groups Tags for historical archiving, defining settings for storage and retention.

HistorianTag

Tags whose values are stored in a HistorianTable, including dynamic references to external data.

Project File

SQL Studio encoded database containing the Project configuration, with extensions .TPROJ and .TRUN.

Layout

.

Modifier (Device/Points)

Parameter for DevicePoints enabling custom access for arrays, bits, and strings.

Modular

Architecture
System design that splits functionality into interchangeable modules.

Module

Executable unit interfacing with the real-time database

.

Namespace

An address space with unique names for objects, grouping process variables, modules properties and methods, etc.

Logical space where named runtime objects exist.

.NET CodeBehind

Allows custom code in VB.NET or C# for event handling, calculations, and application behavior management.

Nodes

Device Module object with connection the settings to physical devices, using the protocol defined in the DeviceChannel. Each Node contains one more DevicePoints.

Online Configuration

Identifies the type of runtime object (

e.g., Display, Report, Script).

Objects, Runtime Objects

Visible objects in the Solution, accessed via scripts and displays, updated by the respective execution modules.

PanelType

Defines how graphical elements are organized, supporting Canvas and Dashboard types.

Canvas (or Process Screens): The elements are in a drawing surface, where each element has its specific location and size.

Entities managed and accessed in runtime via displays and scripts.

ObjectValues, PropertyValue
Runtime properties of Tags and system objects.

Online Configuration
Ability to edit running systems in real time.

Parameters (Tag Configuration)
Settings that define tag behavior and data handling

.

Permissions, PermissionsGroup

Set levels of access for users, determining their capabilities within the solution.

Pollicies

Manage user identification and session control requirements.

Plugins

Reusable components of a solution, containing Tags, Displays, or other objects.

ObjectValues, PropertyValue

Properties defined for runtime objects, such as Tags and DeviceNodes.

PropertyWatch

Diagnostic utility to check and modify object values at runtime.

Parameters(Tag Configuration)

Defines behavior and value processing for Tags.

Process Modules

Access levels and user role definitions.

Plugin
Reusable component exported/imported from a solution.

Policies
Rules for login and user session handling.

Points, DevicePoint
Mapped values representing physical I/O or register addresses.

Process Modules
Modules such as Alarms, Devices, and Historian that interface with the physical process.

PlugIn

Subset of a FrameworX Solution, exported and imported using the Solution-Export command.

Points, DevicePoint

Individual items read or written from/to DeviceNodes, mapping specific Tags to device registers or PLC I/O address. 

Product Family

Process Tag
Tag that reflects real-world data via devices or other sources.

Product Family
Platform variants: FrameworX, FactoryStudio, MachineHMI, EdgeConnect

.

Product Family and Model

Defines runtime licensing requirements

.

Project File
In

versions before v10, contains project configuration (.tproj, .trun).

Protocols
Communication rules supported by the Devices Module.

Property or Attribute
Defined value of a runtime object.

PropertyWatch
Tool for live inspection/modification of values.

Protocols

Rules for communication between devices, supported by the software.

Solution

Application for real-time data built on the platform, including configurations for all Modules.

SolutionDB / SolutionDatabase

Database containing configuration information, with extensions .dbsln

Solution File / Solution Name

Configuration of an application saved in a .dbsln file, matching the solution name.

Property or Attribute

Associated value of a Tag or object.

, RunDB, Runtime Database, RtDB
In-memory database

that stores tag data during

execution

.

Rendering Engine

Graphics rendering engine supporting WPF, HTML5, and Portable Clients.

Reports WebData
Interfaces for JSON, XML,

HTML data exchange or file output.

Runtime
Phase where

the solution

executes in real time.

Runtime Database

The core in-memory

database used during solution execution.

Users created and retrieved from an external encrypted SQL database or other identification servers.

TargetPlatform

Defines the operating platform for running the solution, either Windows Only (.NET Framework 4.8) or Multiplatform (Linux and .NET 8).

Runtime Startup

The initialization of the

runtime,

handled by TStartup.exe or TServer.exe.

RuntimeUsers
Authenticated users stored in secure databases or identity providers.

DLLs referenced by scripts and displays.

ScriptClass

Reusable code library for use in script and display logic.

ScriptExpression

Single-line

code for simple runtime actions.

ScriptTask

Script block triggered by events or timers.

Smart

raphical elements with dynamic properties and connections to real-time tags and templates.

Symbols
Reusable graphical components bound to data and templates.

Solution
A complete application configuration built using the platform.

Solution File / Solution Name
Saved configuration file (.dbsln) with the solution's name.

SolutionDB / SolutionDatabase
Database file storing the configuration of a solution.

StorageLocation
Defines where historian

data is saved or retrieved.

Tag

variable representing real-time

or historical data

.

Tag Type

Specifies the kind of data (e.g., Integer, Digital, Text).

TagProvider Connections
Enable live access to external data sources without redundant tags.

TargetPlatform
Specifies runtime host platform (Windows/.NET Framework or .NET 8/Linux).

Task (Script.Task)

A code program written in C#, VB.NET, or Python

.

Time-Series

Sequentially recorded data points with timestamps.

Toggle

Switches a value between 0 and 1.

Trust, Partial Trust, Full Trust

Full Trust: Full system resource access (e.g., installed applications).

Unified Namespace

Execution permissions: full vs limited system access.

User
Any individual accessing the application via design or runtime interfaces.

A software solution that acts as a centralized repository of data, information and context where any application or device can consume or publish data needed for a specific action. FactoryStudio 9.2 fully incorporates this concept: you can create, consume or integrate to a variety of namespaces.

The Unified Namespace (UNS) centralizes data in complex systems like smart manufacturing, offering semantic data structuring. It aggregates, normalizes, and provides data access, streamlining communication and integration among disparate systems. As a middleware layer, the UNS translates raw data into actionable information, ensuring device interaction within a hub-and-spoke architecture, minimizing direct communications, and maximizing flexibility.

The Unified Namespace provides a centralized data repository and a standardized method for organizing and accessing data from various sources. This concept streamlines data management, enhances system interoperability, and simplifies the development of applications that utilize data from multiple sources.

Users

Anyone accessing the solution, either in engineering (Designer Tool) or in runtime mode (Displays).

Visibility (Tag Visibility)

Refers to the tagging system; Tags can be Private, Public or Protected. In another context, the graphical objects in a display can have a visibility dynamic property to appear or not when the screen is running.

The Tag Visibility can be Public, Protected or Private

Public: The value of the Tag during the execution of the Runtime is available for access to external Programs via TCP / IP or OPC Server. Also, the value of Tag is necessarily global or shared in all the client stations (Server Domain).

Protected: Read-only.

Private: A Tag set to "Private" can not be accessed by external applications (OPC Server, TCP / IP) and will run in Client or Server machines according to the application configuration with the following characteristics:

Tags used only in modules called by the client (such as displays and Reports) run in the scope of the client, or may have different values on each client machine (Client Domain);

Tags used in server modules, such as Devices and Alarms have a unique value in the system (Server Domain).

WebData, Reports WebData

WebData encapsulates everything needed to exchange JSON, XML, or HTML data with other applications or save its contents to a file. Web Data objects can also be used in displays, enabling interaction with web services and REST APIs.

XBAP

.