The Solution module provides centralized configuration for solution-wide settings and tools for managing solution components. Access via Solution in the Solution Explorer.
Parent Page: Designer (Reference)
Related Topics:
- Solution Settings (Concept) - Understanding solution configuration
- Managing Solutions (How-to) - Step-by-step procedures
- Plugins and Templates - Reusable components
Navigation Pages
| Page | Type | Purpose | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Settings | Configuration | Global solution parameters | Solution → Settings |
| Categories | Configuration | Organization labels | Solution → Categories |
| Import Tags | Tool | Tag import wizards | Solution → Import Tags |
| Import Plugin | Tool | Plugin integration | Solution → Import Plugin |
| Export | Tool | Backup and plugin creation | Solution → Export |
| History | Tool | Event tracking and audit | Solution → History |
| Component | Purpose | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Settings | Global configuration | Solution → Settings |
| Categories | Organization labels | Solution → Categories |
| Import Tags | Tag import wizards | Solution → Import Tags |
| Import Plugin | Plugin integration | Solution → Import Plugin |
| Export | Backup and plugins | Solution → Export |
| History | Event tracking | Solution → History |
Key Concepts
Target Platform
Defines the operating system and framework for the solution:
| Platform | Framework | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Only | .NET Framework 4.8 | Windows-specific features |
| Multiplatform | .NET 8 | Linux and cross-platform |
Product Family and Model
Licensing configuration for production deployment:
| Aspect | Purpose | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Product Family | License type | Feature availability |
| Product Model | Point limits | Tag count restrictions |
Categories
Metadata labels for organizing large-scale applications:
- Applied across all configuration tables
- Used for filtering and grouping
- Associated with default symbols
Plugins
Self-contained solution components:
- Reusable across solutions
- Include tags, displays, scripts
- Version controlled
- Update managed
Typical Workflow
Initial Setup
- Verify Settings - Check Target Platform and Product Model
- Define Categories - Create organizational structure
- Import Tags - Bring in existing definitions
- Add Plugins - Include reusable components
Development
- Use Categories - Apply to new objects
- Export Regularly - Create backups
- Track History - Monitor changes
- Update Plugins - Keep components current
Deployment
- Validate Settings - Confirm production configuration
- Export Solution - Create deployment package
- Review History - Check recent changes
Module Navigation
Solution Explorer Location
Solution Explorer
??? Solution
??? Settings
??? Categories
??? Import Tags
??? Import Plugin
??? Export
??? HistoryQuick Access
- Direct navigation: Click module name
- Search: Type "Solution" in search box
- Recent: Check Recent Items on Welcome page
Common Tasks
| Task | Location | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Change platform | Settings | Switch Windows/Linux |
| Set license | Settings | Configure Product Model |
| Organize objects | Categories | Apply labels |
| Import from CSV | Import Tags | Bulk tag creation |
| Add components | Import Plugin | Reuse standards |
| Backup solution | Export | Save complete copy |
| Create plugin | Export | Make reusable parts |
| Review changes | History | Audit trail |
Data Storage
Configuration Location
All Solution module settings stored in .dbsln file:
| Setting | Table | Encrypted |
|---|---|---|
| Settings | SolutionSettings | Yes |
| Categories | Categories | Yes |
| Plugin Info | PluginRegistry | Yes |
| History | SolutionHistory | Yes |
Temporary Folders
Solution-Data folder structure:
Solution-Data/
??? Designer/ # UI settings
??? Runtime/ # Execution cache
??? Git/ # Export files
??? Backup/ # Build backupsIntegration Points
With Other Modules
| Module | Integration | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| UNS | Tag import | Define data model |
| Devices | Import wizards | Configure channels |
| All modules | Categories | Organization |
| All modules | Export/Plugin | Packaging |
External Systems
| System | Via | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| CSV Files | Import Tags | Bulk configuration |
| ControlLogix | Import wizard | PLC integration |
| Git | Export | Version control |
| Other solutions | Plugins | Reuse |
Best Practices
Settings Management
- Set Target Platform early
- Match Product Model to license
- Configure Python path if needed
- Set Culture Info for localization
Category Usage
- Define before creating objects
- Use consistent naming
- Apply to all object types
- Associate with symbols
Plugin Management
- Version control plugins
- Document plugin contents
- Test before updating
- Keep update history
Export Strategy
- Regular full backups
- Export before major changes
- Create plugins for standards
- Use Git integration
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Can't import tags | Wrong format | Check CSV headers |
| Plugin fails | Version mismatch | Update plugin |
| Export too large | Many images | Exclude images |
| History missing | Not enabled | Enable in settings |
Validation
| Check | Method | Expected |
|---|---|---|
| Platform correct | Settings page | Matches target |
| License valid | Settings page | Matches production |
| Categories defined | Categories page | All needed labels |
| Plugins current | History page | No updates pending |
Child Pages
Configuration Pages:
- Solution Settings - Global configuration
- Solution Categories - Organization system
- Solution Import Tags - Tag import wizards
- Solution Import Plugin - Plugin integration
- Solution Export - Backup and plugin creation
- Solution History - Event tracking
Related Topics:
- Configuration Workflow - Best practices
- Temporary Data Folders - File structure
See Also
- Designer (Reference) - Main Designer documentation
- UNS Module (Reference) - Tag configuration
- Runtime Module (Reference) - Execution settings
In this section: