AB Viewer

[jjdavis]

I don't normally work with PLC's. So, I have a question about Allen Bradley. I want to view a program and only view, nothing else. But I think that someone told me that you have to RSView or RSLogix to view programs. Does anybody have a free or low cost program just for viewing AB programs?

 

[ScottyUK]

If you have a copy of the program and are prepared to upload it to the engineering.com filehost one of us might be able to open it and print it to a .pdf for you and upload it back to engineering.com

Use the upload function below the box where you write your post.


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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[marshg]

Look for the service edition of program which will allow you to view, download, and upload programs.
Control Logix/Compact Logix/Flex Logix -

http://www.rockwellautomation.com/rockwellsoftware/design/rslogix5000/orderinginfo.html

RSLogix 500 Starter Offline/Online Programming
SLC500 series/MicroLogix -

http://www.rockwellautomation.com/rockwellsoftware/design/rslogix500/orderinginfo.html

Standard Edition
PLC 5 -

http://www.rockwellautomation.com/rockwellsoftware/design/rslogix5/orderinginfo.html

Goto this link to find the pricing for these items after getting the part #'s.

http://www.rockwellautomation.com/en/e-tools/

 

[jjdavis]

Thanks for offering to print it, but the program is fairly large.

I think that I need the RSLogix500 starter edition. Thanks for the help. I think that the dealer and I were getting our wires crossed. I was kind of hoping for a free or almost free viewer only, but I guess I'll see if I can talk my boss into purchasing RSLogix.

 

[roydm]

Be aware that you have to install the same version the application was developed with. If you buy a new package it will probably be later version, tell the vendor you also need ver xx
Roy

 

[ScottyUK]

Printing it to a .pdf file costs nothing except disk space and a few minutes effort so it's not a problem to me.

The chopped down RSLogix looks like a good bet though - I wasn't aware of the service edition.

Roy - is that the case with an old application and newer RSlogix? I have had a problem once with a new application and a much older version of RSlogix but wasn't aware of a forward compatibility problem. That seems very lax of Rockwell.


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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[catserveng]

If you're looking for just a way to view, try Rockwell's RSLadder, we use it with some of our HMI projects for troubleshooting.

Not sure of the cost because we get it bundled with other Rockwell software packages.

 

[roydm]

ScottyUK,
I did a project 2 years ago with Ver 14. The software went with the project. I needed to look at the file, RSLogix Ver 15 I bought this year wouldn't open it. It wasn't a big deal as the local vendor supplied the earlier version free of charge.
I just mentioned it so JJDavis could ask for the earlier version up front.
It would also be a problem if you upgraded the file to the latest, the clients earlier version wouldn't open the new file.
I don't claim to be an expert in Rockwell software but it sure has traps for young players.

Roy

 

[jjdavis]

Thanks for all the info. I have RSLadder. However, in looking at the release notes, you have to have RSView which I don't have and if you use third party software with it, it says that you have to purchase a license. So why does it come bundled with RSLinx when you can't use RSLadder with it? I don't know.

I agreee that for someone who's not familiar with Rockwell/AB, it is not fun.

The program that I want to look at is loaded onto a maintenance laptop, so I can always borrow it. But, trying to do that previously, we ended up trading the laptop back and forth.