Product Data Sheet

NEMATRON DDE Server

The Klinkmann Automation NEMATRON DDE Server (NEM_DDE) is a Microsoft Windows 16-bit application program that acts as a communication protocol Server and enables other Windows application programs to communicate with Nematron Series 30/110/120 PLC Workstations through the RS-232 or RS-422 serial interface. The run-time system consists of one IBM PC or compatible computer connected to one or several Nematron Workstations. The Nematron Driver Firmware must be downloaded and run on each connected Nematron Workstation.

Any Microsoft Windows program that is capable of acting as a DDE or FastDDE Client may use the NEMATRON DDE Server.

FEATURES

If only one Workstation is connected to the computer serial port (point-to-point connection) then RS-232 or RS-232/RS-422 (through converter, e.g. ENTRELEC model ILPH RS232/RS422-RS485 or OPTO22 AC7B) interface can be used for data exchange between Workstation and NEM_DDE Server.

If multiple Workstations must be connected to the computer serial port (multi-drop connection) then serial Line Sharer (e.g. Black Box Electronics RS-232 Line Sharer) can be used to share a single RS-232 line. If connection is longer than 15 m then the RS-232/RS-422 converter can be added between Line Sharer and Workstation.

The Serial Communication Board (e.g. DigiBoard PC/8e) also can be used to establish multiple point-to-point connections between Workstations and the computer. In this case both RS-232 and RS-422 interfaces can be used depending on installed Serial Communication Board type.

Each connected Workstation is a "master" which requests or sends it's current screen data by sending poll or write messages to the NEM_DDE Server.

Supports multiple topics for each Nematron Workstation.

Provides a communication status flag for each topic.

Supports standard DDE among multiple applications.

The Nematron Driver Firmware must be downloaded to each connected Nematron Workstation before starting the NEM_DDE Server.

CONNECTION EXAMPLES

Connection to one Workstation, RS-232 or RS-232/RS-422:

Multi-drop connection using Line Sharer:

Multiple point-to-point connections using Serial Communication Board:

SPECIFICATIONS

Hardware IBM or compatible 386/486/Pentium equipped with a minimum of 4 MB RAM. May require more memory to run other Windows programs simultaneously.

Software Microsoft Windows 95, 98 and ME.

Maximum Connections Up to 256 Workstations can be connected. Depends on the type of Serial Communication Board or Line Sharer(s) used.

Devices Supported Nematron Series 30/110/120 PLC Workstations.

Baud Rates Supported 110, 300, 600. 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600 and 19200.

Accessible Data Types The supported DDE item/point types are DDE Discrete and DDE Integer. The following data types are supported:

Bits (up to 65536 values)
Unsigned and signed bytes (up to 1024 values)
Unsigned and signed 16-bit integers (up to 1024 values)
Signed 32-bit integers (up to 1024 values)

Note: All data types are Read/Write and they do not overlap.

ORDERING INFORMATION

Description / Order Number

NEMATRON DDE Server Manual & Disk Set / DR 130 05