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<h1 style="text-align: center;">Designer <br>(IDE Overview)</h1>

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Introduction to Designer Workspace

The Designer is a configuration workspace for industrial solutions, designed to make solution configuration procedures even more accessible and intuitive, offering engineering features, functionalities, and configuration tools.

It provides a single, integrated environment for design, development, testing, simulation, validation, deployment, execution, and solution management, delivering high-end applications.

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Key Concepts and Terms

Solution

A Solution refers to an application for real-time data built on the software platform. The platform organizes its smart applications into solutions, providing various tools and features to design and manage the end-to-end Solution Development Life Cycle. Every solution developed on the software platform generates a file (.dbsln). This file is the output of the application, containing all the engineering and business logic developed, tested, validated, and deployed according to operational requirements and ready to run. The solution files store all of an application's configuration information. All configuration items are saved in a single embedded SQL database. The file is encrypted for security and can be opened and edited with the Solution Designer and engineering tools.

Modular Architecture

Modular architecture is the foundation of the Solution Designer workspace. Its core is based on compartmentalization, breaking down complex system functionalities into distinct and standalone modules. The modular architecture provides flexibility in design and configuration while ensuring that changes or adjustments to one module won't inadvertently disrupt or compromise another.

Unified Namespace

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.

Process Modules

Process modules refer to the software components that manage and execute a system's internal logic and data transformations. They encompass Scripts, Reports, and Datasets. They are called "process modules" because these components specifically deal with the internal processes and workflows that enable the system to function efficiently.

Application Modules

Application modules are software components that facilitate interactions between a system and its external environment or various system parts. The application modules encompass Alarms, Devices, and Historians. They are called "Application Modules" because they are applied to specific tasks or applications within the system. These modules continuously monitor, collect, and process information, ensuring that the system remains in its desired state.

Runtime

Runtime refers specifically to the phase where a solution is in active execution. This phase involves running tests, carrying out validations, and handling other critical tasks associated with deploying a solution. During this phase, the software effectively utilizes all configured modules — such as Devices, Alarms, and Historians — to execute tasks, manage data, and perform automated operations based on predefined settings. The Runtime Environment operates seamlessly, integrating with the Solution Designer workspace and the Unified Namespace to ensure real-time data exchange and process control.

Understanding the User Interface

Welcome page

The Designer home page is the entry point when you design a solution using the software platform. It provides an interface for the following actions:

User Login: Some configuration features may be protected according to the user.
Solution Information: A summary of key information about your solution.
Local Settings / User Preferences: Allows customization of the IDE, such as themes and help messages.
Recent Items: Shows information about the last objects modified in the solution.
Help Quick Links: On the left side, information for new users on where to start.

Go to Welcome Page Settings for more information

Tip
To return to the Welcome page, use the Home icon located in the top-left area.

Environment Navigation

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On the left side of the software, you'll find the complete navigation tree, divided by modules. You can also use the shortcuts at the top of the tree to quickly jump to the Workspace homepage, the UNS module (where you'll manage your tags), the Draw Environment, and the Runtime environment. You may also search for any specific configuration section.

Switch Button and Quick Navigation Icons
Search Modules Configuration
Solution Explorer

Solution Explorer
Module	Children Pages
Solution	Settings \| Categories \| Import Tags \| Import Plugin \| Export \| History
Runtime	Startup \| Execution Profiles \| Build and Publish \| Diagnostics
Unified Namespace	Asset Tree \| Tags \| Templates \| Enumerations \| TagProviders \| Connections Monitor
Devices	Protocols \| Channels \| Nodes \| Points \| Access Types \| Monitor
Alarms	Items \| Groups \| Areas \| Global Settings \| Monitor
Historian	Historian Tags \| Historian Tables \| Storage Location \| Monitor
Datasets	Databases \| Queries \| Query Editor \| Tables \| Files \| Monitor
Reports	Forms \| Forms Editor \| WebData \| WebData Editor \| Monitor
Scripts	Tasks \| Classes \| Code Editor \| Expressions \| References \| Monitor
Security	Users \| Permissions \| Policies \| Runtime Users \| Monitor
Displays	List \| Draw \| Layouts \| Client Settings Additional pages for Displays: Images, Symbols, Themes, Localization, and Units Conversion
Data Explorer	MQTT tools \| OPC Tools \| PLC Finder \| SQL Query Builder
Track Changes	Recent Changes \| Version Control \| Cross Reference \| Use Count \| Unused Objects

Tip

title	Shortcuts on the Top-Right side

In addition to the Solution Explorer, the top-right side has those shortcuts always available for direct navigation.

Find Results and Output Window

At the bottom of the window, there are expander for different windows:

Find Results: Shows the Results for Cross-Reference requests. See more at the Find Results Panel page.
Output: System messages concerning the Designer tool itself.
Error List. When in the Code Editor or Draw, the Error List shows errors from the last time the document was saved.

Quick Navigation Icons

The Quick Navigation bar includes the following shortcuts:

Shortcut		Description
Image Added	Home	Redirects users to the Solution Designer home page.
Image Added	Tags	Takes the user to the Asset Tree within the Unified Namespace. It is where your assets can be viewed and managed.
Image Added	Draw	Navigates users to the Draw section on Displays. It is where users can create, edit, or visualize graphical representations or designs.
Image Added	Runtime	Directs the user to the Startup section of the Runtime. It is where users can initiate, run, or monitor processes or applications.
Image Added	Navigation back	Allows users to go back to the previous page or section they were on.
Image Added	Navigation forward	Lets users navigate forward if they've previously used the back button.
Image Added	Navigation history	Presents users with a list of their recent navigation actions, allowing them to quickly jump to a specific page or section they visited earlier.

Switch Button

By clicking on the logo in the top left of the Designer, a menu opens where you can access Solution Management, documentation, the forum, and video training related to design, development, and solution deployment on the software platform.

Switch to allows users to quickly switch between different interfaces, applications, or modes. Designed for quick navigation and enhancing user experience by saving time.
Go to Solutions Management	Directs users to a section or interface where they can manage solutions. This may include adding, editing, deleting, or viewing details of various solutions, depending on the context of the application.
Runtime .NET Displays	Refers to an interface or functionality that showcases the real-time or "runtime" displays or outputs generated using the .NET framework. This is useful for developers or users working with .NET-based applications to monitor or debug their work.
Runtime HTML5 Pages	An interface that displays pages or outputs rendered in real-time using HTML5. It allows users to preview or inspect HTML5-based web pages or applications during their runtime.

Discover allows users to explore or find new features, content, or functionalities. Can also be a search or recommendation tool, helping users find relevant information or tools.
Documentation Site	Directs users to a website or portal where they can find detailed documentation about the product, software, or service. It serves as a resource for users to access information, guidelines, and tutorials.
Users Forum	A platform or section where users can interact with each other, ask questions, share insights, and provide solutions. Forums are community-driven and allow users to discuss various topics related to the product or service.
Training Videos	Leads to a library or collection of video content designed to train or educate users about specific features or functionalities. Training videos are visual aids that help users understand and utilize the product or service more effectively.

Note

title	Navigating to other Applications

In some scenarios, when a dialog is open and you navigate to another application and then return to the dialog, the TextBoxes (text input) in the dialog may not accept focus. To overcome this issue, you need to click on the main Designer window, which will then allow full access to the child dialogs. Alternatively, you can press Cancel or OK in the dialog that was left open.

Top Main Toolbar

At the top of the page, you have buttons that allow users to

Introduction to Designer Workspace

The Solution Designer is a configuration workspace for industrial solutions designed to make solution configuration procedures even more accessible and intuitive, offering engineering features, functionalities, and configuration tools.
It offers a single and integrated environment for the design, development, testing, simulation, validation, deployment, execution, and solution management, delivering high-end applications.

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