IEN poses the question, What enhancements can be expected in software? One answer is: the ability to do the majority of what the other SCADA software products do at a fraction of the cost. Plus, it is now possible to split up the software applications such as Logger/Trender, Alarming or Batching into separate, even less expensive, purchases.
ControlShop is a collection of SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) and applications including communication servers supporting OPC. The applications include logging, trending, alarming, and batch capabilities.
ControlShop''s logger/trender features include unlimited tag/points, sample rates down to .10 seconds, real-time and historical trends (including simultaneous display), multiple PLCs and PLC vendors on one chart, ability to handle up to 8 graphs with up to 255 points per graph, ability to log to a database using both a row-based and/or column-based format. Plus the ControlShop logger/trender program has support for Access 97/2000 and SQL, supports error recovery for server or device failure, and the spanning of database files based on size or date/time. For customized data acquisition, ControlShop includes examples of Active X controls, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), and VB Script.
Similarly, ControlShop''s Alarm Annunciator features include virtually unlimited alarms, flashing, audible, emailed and printed alarms, remote access to retrieve the status of alarms, read/write ability to register values, and the ability to configure alarm recipients based on an annual availability schedule. The ControlShop''s Alarm Annunciator also supports alphanumeric pagers and telephony with text-to-speech conversion.