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OLE for Process Control (OPC)
B.1
Using OPC with SIMATIC Computing
OPC allows you to access data from the plant floor and integrate the data into your
existing business systems. You can use off-the-shelf tools (such as SCADA
packages, databases, spreadsheets) to assemble a system that meets your
needs. As shown in Figure B-1, OPC provides an open and effective
communication architecture which concentrates on data access and not the types
of data.
OPC Server
Figure B-1
Your OPC client connects to the OPC server object provided by SIMATIC
Computing. Due to this connection, you can create and edit OPC groups. OPC
groups structure the data that are accessed. You can activate or deactivate a
group as a unit, or you can "subscribe" to the list in a group of items so that you
can be notified when the data change. (A group is a collection of items.) Figure B-2
shows the connection from the OPC client application through WinAC to the
process data.
WinAC
Figure B-2
To access the OPC server provided by the SIMATIC Computing software, browse
to: OPCServer.WinAC
B-2
Application
X
OPC Client Interface
SIMATIC Computing OPC Server
A
OPCServer.WinAC
Applications Working with Many OPC Servers
Third-party OPC client application
SIMATIC Computing: OPCServer.WinAC
Control engine
Distributed I/O
Using the WinAC OPC Server to Access Your Process Data
Windows Automation Center WinAC Slot 412/WinAC Slot 416 Version 3.1
Application
Y
OPC Client Interface
OPC Server
C
A5E00065531-03
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