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Every knowledge area has its own terminology, and the same applies to software applications are no exception. While the nomenclature used on this platform follows market standards whenever possible, some specific terms related to the system may have special meanings in this context.

This glossary includes most of the key terms and keywords concepts used by our platform, as well as concepts and related technologies relevant to our contextrelevant technologies.

It is recommended to read this glossary at least once after using our platform for a few months. Reviewing the definitions and concepts, combined with your experience, will enhance your understanding of the system and improve your efficiency in creating applications.

A process variable. Name of a Namespace that includes all the variables created by the user in a Solution configuration.

A tag represents real-time and historical data variables that modules can read, write, and subscribe to. Tags can be created locally within the solution or accessed remotely via External TagSources connectivity. Additional metadata, known as tag attributes (e.g., last update time, quality status, description), are automatically generated when creating a tag.

Tags are the central point of the Solution Configuration. When configuring modules, they will interact using the tags, such as in these examples:

Devices Module: Maps tag values to field equipment like PLC registers.•Datasets Module: Links tags to SQL database tables and queries.•Scripts Module: Performs analytics and calculations using tags.•Historian Module: Creates a time-series archive of tag values.•Displays Module: Enables operator displays to show values corresponding to tags, regardless of their data source.

Name

Description

AccessTypes, Device AccessType

Each Point is associated with an AccessType, defining rules for when to read and/or write values. It includes settings like polling rate and read/write permissions, allowing users to configure the data acquisition and the sending of commands to the devices with total flexibility.

AlarmArea

A hierarchical grouping of AlarmGroups for structured alarm management. It can contain child AlarmAreas, useful for large systems with many AlarmItems configured.

AlarmItem

A tag or expression monitored by the Alarm Module, containing information such as tag name, alarm condition, and AlarmGroup. It includes properties like Limit, Deadband, and Message.



AlarmGroup

A collection of AlarmItems sharing common properties. It simplifies alarm management with configuration properties like AckRequired, AutoAckTime, and Sound.

App Domain, Application Domain

Represents the A virtual, isolated computer environment , where a .NET application runs. Isolated, in its context, means that the memory areas and components used by programming running in that environment are completely isolated from other programs running in the same computer.The inherent isolation of the .NET domains creates an intrinsically safe protection for the running solutions, as it prevents This isolation provides safety, preventing one process from interfering with another, allowing even two different versions of the same program to run side by side.A more technical definition if AppDomain is the boundaries that the CLR (Common Language Runtime) provides around the objects created from the same application.

Application, Project, Solution

Refers to solution or the final system configuration created using the platform. The terms Application. Project and Solution were used with close meaning, referring to the engineering configuration and files necessary to implement the an application intended to deploy in a production environment.With the release of version 10, Project is now used to refer to applications created with “Project” is used for version 9.2 or older , as Solutions refer to applications created with versions, while “Solution” is for version 10 and up. "Application" is used to refer to the functionally the configuration is intended to perform, in opposition to "Project" and "Solution" that are more closely related to the configuration itself.

Application Modules

The application modules are software components facilitating interactions between a system and its external environment or various system parts. The application modules encompass Alarms, Devices, and Historians.  They are called "application modules" because they are applied to specific tasks or applications within the system. These modules continuously monitor, collect, and process information, ensuring that the system remains in its desired state.

Software components that manage and execute a system's internal logic and data transformations. They encompass Scripts, Reports, and Datasets. 

Manage and execute a system’s internal logic and data transformations, including the Modules: Datasets, Reports, Scripts and Displays.

Assembly

An

Assembly

Refers to an executable file (.EXE or Library .DLL) created using managed code and Microsoft the .NET framework. 

Asset Tree

The Asset Tree is a A hierarchical representation of the solution data model. It may contain variables , containing variables, tags, and data templates that match physical equipment in the production environment, as well as any enterprise or auxiliary matching sensor reading physical equipments, setpoints, recipes, management data, and all the variables necessary to implement your real-time and operate an application.

Audit Trail

Logs changes and events when executing the solution, tracking who made changes and when. Useful for troubleshooting, analysis, and compliance

Categories

Metadata labels that be used across all configuration tables, assisting to organize large size application.



Build and Publish

The Build  process involves compiling process compiles the solution code and , while Publish is creating creates a read-only version of the solution for distribution in regulated sites.

Categories

Metadata labels used across configuration tables to organize large solutions.

Channels

Devices Module object that encapsulates configuration settings and execution properties for a selected Communication Protocol.

Client

A software component interacting with a server or services, including .NET Clients, HTML5 Clients, and Remote Clients. Regarding Scripts or Tags, refers to the Client Domain, meaning values that reside and methods that are executed on the client software components.

CodeBehind

Allows custom code in VB.NET or C# for event handling, calculations, and application behavior management. It also allows to call Python classes.

Connection Target

Configures the location of the data source, selecting from Local Solution, TagProviders, or Remote sources.

Component, User Controls

Graphical User Controls available to create displays for creating displays, including customizable objects and elements.



DatasetDBs

Connection settings created by the Datasets Module to communicate with an external database.

Date Template (UDT)

Data templates, or UDT's (User Data Types), are user-defined data structures that can include variables of any type and references to other templates, creating a hierarchical data structure. When creating tags based on templates, each variable in the template is referred to as a property. An example of a data template is a simple PID information template with properties such as ProcessValue, Setpoint, and ControlValue.

DatasetFile

Datasets Module object, logical name defining parameters for reading and writing files in ASCII, Unicode, or XML formats.



DatasetTable

Datasets Module object, logical name created to hold configuration settings to access specific tables in a connected database, mapping tags to table columns for operations.

DatasetQuery

Datasets Module object, logical name associated with the configuration for SQL query statements with a Database, and its properties and methods for running queries.  





Designer, Solution Designer

The application and user interface for configuring FrameworX Solutions.

Display / Screen

A window or frame of your application’s user interface, containing static or dynamic graphical elementsApplication and User Interface to configure FrameworX Solutions.



Draw

Part of the Solution Designer configuration used to draw and animate displays and synoptic screens.

DLL Hell

Term used to refer the complications on running the Complications from running legacy Windows applications as there is no due to lack of built-in isolation on the in DLL libraries, memory and COM objects used . Solved by the applications. The .NET Framework completely eliminated that problem.

Domain, Server Domain, Client Domain

Refers to the values and location Values and locations of objects at run time. Domain server objects running on the server are the objects running on the server during runtime. Values associated with this object are system-wide. Client domain means that the object is running on the client station and each machine can have different values.runtime, with server objects having system-wide values and client objects having machine-specific values.

Dynamics and Animations

Definition for changes in the graphical elements attributes, driven by the values of real-time tags.

TagProvider Connections

Enable direct interaction with variables, tags and data structures in remote systems without creating specific tags, enhancing data access

External TagProviders

External TagProviders enable direct interaction with variables in remote systems, bypassing the need to create specific tags in the solution. They establish connections with tag sources, which can be set up in a table or directly in the assets, enhancing the versatility of data access and exploration within the Unified Namespace.

Enumerations

Enumerations define a series of Define potential values or ranges for a variable, mapping messages and colors to each state. When connected to a tag, the enumeration value enhances data interpretation, providing context to the different states the variable can assume

Forms, Report Forms

Rich Text documents that can include real-time tag values, tables, and symbols, saved as Text or PDF files.

Graphical Element

Components used in screens, such as shapes, checkboxes, or trend charts.

Image resources

Imported image files used as graphical elements in your solution.

Industrial icons

Pre-built icons designed for industrial automation applications.

Internal Module

Features and programs that implement internal system functions

which run

, running without

any

user configuration.

Examples are the Network Synchronization task and the Background Report Generator. Some Studio tools (e.g., ModuleInformation.exe) may display status information of those internal Modules. However, this information is required only for advanced system optimizations.

FactoryStudio

A scalable product version for

FactoryStudio

Scalable product version by I/O and Clients, simple to advanced SCADA/HMI, IIoT Edge, and Gateway all applications, built on Tatsoft’s FrameworX.

FrameworX

Our The software platform . It's also used in the context to refer to the and underlying technologies and components of the platform.

FrameworX Unlimited

Includes unlimited Clients, Connections, and Developers. Built, with built-in drivers, SQL, OPC UA, MQTT, and more.

FX EDGE

A FrameworX Edge application.

FX MQTT BrokerOur embedded Broker for testing

The embedded broker within the FrameworX Platform.

FX MQTT Simulator

A An MQTT Client simulator ( with Sparkplug) for testing, included in the product installation.

Hot Updates / (Hot ReloadHot Updates are a subset of online configurations that allow the application of )

Apply offline solution changes without disrupting the runtime environment

. They maintain solution

, maintaining stability and

prevent downtime, ensuring the solution remains up-to-date with the latest changes.

preventing downtime.

HistorianTables

Groups Tags for historical archiving, defining settings for storage and retention.

HistorianTag

Tags whose values are stored in a HistorianTable, including dynamic references to external data.

Project File

SQL Studio encoded database containing the Project configuration, with extensions .TPROJ and .TRUN.

Layout

Organizes the user interface into frames or panels, acting as containers for Displays

Main Solution File

Refers to the SQL Studio encoded database that contains the Solution configuration. The extension .TPROJ references the current project still under development. The extension .TRUN references read-only published projects.

Modifier (Device/Points)

Auxiliary parameter to effect for read and write points for a device, the treatment of /write operations on DevicePoints, handling Arrays, bit masks, strings, swap and other operations in which a DataType definition can not define them completelysettings.

Modular architectureModular Architecture is a  foundation of our platform. Its core is based on compartmentalization, break

Breaks down complex

system

functionalities into distinct

and standalone modules. The modular architecture provides

modules, providing flexibility in design and configuration

while ensuring that changes or adjustments to one module won't inadvertently disrupt or compromise another

.

 

Module

A program that accesses the database in real time (RtDB) and can be

Program accessing the real-time database, composed of one or more Assemblies.

Namespace

An address space . All objects created with a Namespace have unique names . "Address space" can also be understood as a form of tier objects. All process variables are grouped in the tag namespace; all reports grouped in the namespace report. The name of an object should be unique within the namespace to which the object belongsfor objects, grouping process variables, modules properties and methods, etc.

Nodes

Device Module object defining the settings to physical devices, using the protocol defined in the DeviceChannel. Each Node contains one or more DevicePoints.

Online Configuration

This feature allows

Allows real-time modifications to a running solution without stopping

its

execution.

Users can adapt the solution to changing requirements, enhancing flexibility and responsiveness.

Object Type (RunObj type)

Determines the type of runtime object (display, report, script).

Objects, Runtime Objects

Runtime objects are those objects visible (through their names) to access Visible objects in the Solution, accessed via scripts and displays, such as Tags, Reports, Alarms, Displays among others. The namespaces also identify which execution module is responsible to update those values, for example the Alarm Module will start and will update the values of the runtime objects associated with the alarms.

Plugins

Excerpts of a Solution, it can holds Tags, Displays, or any other objects. Useful to create reusable components and enforce development standards. 

updated by the respective execution modules.

PanelType


Defines how graphical elements are organized, supporting Canvas and Dashboard types.

Canvas (or Process Screens): The elements are in a drawing surface, where each element has its specific location and size.

Grid (or Dashboard Screens): The elements are placed in a grid with responsive size, columns and rows. The graphical elements adjust accordingly.



Permissions, PermissionsGroup

Set levels of access for users, determining their capabilities within the solution.

Policies

Manage user identification and session control requirements.

Plugin

Subset of a FrameworX Solution, exported and imported using the Solution-Export command. Reusable components of a solution, containing Tags, Displays, or other objects.

ObjectValues, PropertyValue

Properties defined for runtime objects, such as Tags and DeviceNodes

ObjectValues, PropertyValue

Runtime objects (e.g.: Tags, deviceNodes, etc.) can have one or more properties defined. The TAG and the property value, for example, MIN, MAX, description, among other properties.

PropertyWatch

Diagnostic utility to check and modify the object values of the objects at runtime.

Parameters (Tag Configuration)

Definition of the parameters of Defines behavior and values value processing for Tags.

Process Modules

Process modules refer to the software components that manage and execute a system's internal logic and data transformations. They encompass Scripts, Reports, and Datasets. They are called "process modules" because these components deal specifically with the internal processes and workflows that enable the system to function efficiently.

Plug-in

Sub-set of a FrameworX Solution. Plugins are created using the Solution-Export command, selecting which parts and objects from the Solution will be exported. The Plugins can be imported or used by other solutions.

Software components facilitating interactions between the system and its environment, including Alarms, Devices, and Historian.



Points, DevicePoint

Individual items read or written from/to DeviceNodes, mapping specific Tags to device registers or PLC I/O addresses. 

Product Family

Options in the product line, including FrameworX, FactoryStudio, EdgeHMI, and EdgeGateway

Product Family

Specify the many options in our product line. It includes:

FrameworX: Our Unlimited version, unlimited Clients, I/O and development, server based with all the tools you need

FactoryStudio: Scalable, by the number of I/O & clients

EdgeHMI: Scalable by I/O, more affordable

EdgeGateway: Embedded device communications and processing at the edge or as flexible secure gateway

This Product Family reflects in the software licenses.

Product Family and Model

Define the Licensing Requirement for to run the Solution in Production. Even the Designer is unlimited, you should always setup those fields properly, so the Designer will limit its functionality consistent with the License required for field deployment. Define the Licensing Requirement for to run the Solution in Production. Even the Designer is unlimited, you should always setup those fields properly, so the Designer will limit its functionality consistent with the License required for field deployment. licensing requirements for running the Solution in production.



Project File

In order to facilitate distinction of current version with legacy product versions, Project File

, refer

refers to files with extension .tproj created with version 9.3 or older. 

Protocols

Protocols are the rules Rules for communication between devices. Our software supports a variety of communication protocols., supported by the software.

Solution

Application for real-time data built on the platform. It includes the configuration , including configurations for all Modules, all stored and managed as a single entity.

SolutionDB / SolutionDatabase

SolutionDB (or Solution database) is a database that contains configuration information. Matches files with the extension <Solution>.dbsln (current type, for example) or <Solution>_ version.Teng (type released, for example).Database containing configuration information, with extension .dbsln.

Solution File / Solution Name

The configuration

Configuration of an application

(solution) is

saved

is

in a

file with extension .dbSln. All modules settings are stored in that file. The solution name matches the name of the configuration file

.dbsln file, matching the solution name.

Property or Attribute

Property (value) associated with Associated value of a Tag or object.

Real time database, RunDB, Runtime Database, RtDB

The real time database created when the Solution is running. All objects running accessible (such as Tags, Displays, Reports) are objects on the Runtime Database, also called Real-Time Database or RtDB.

In-memory database managing Unified Namespace data during solution execution, implemented by the TServer.exe process.

Rendering Engine

Generates visual output from an application’s display drawing, supporting WPF, HTML5, or Portable clients.

Runtime

Phase

Runtime

A Solution with modules loaded and running.

Runtime refers specifically to the phase where a solution is in active execution. Related to running tests, carrying out validations, and handling other critical tasks associated with deploying a solution. During this phase, the software effectively utilizes all configured modules — such as Devices, Alarms, and Historian — to execute tasks, manage data, and perform automated operations based on predefined settings. The Runtime environment operates in a seamless manner, integrating with the Solution Designer workspace and the Unified Namespace to ensure real-time data exchange and process control.

The term "Runtime" or "Runtime environment" refers to the execution environment, when the solution is running, distinguishing it from the Configuration (or Engineering, or Development) phase. "Runtime" also denotes the software components and computer processes that are in execution when the solution is started. 

, utilizing configured modules for tasks, data management, and operations.

Runtime Database

In

Runtime Database

The runtime database is an in-memory real-time database that stores and manages for Unified Namespace data, ensuring efficient data management during the solution execution of a solution. It provides an event-driven data exchange of the values of tags and assets between various modules, such as alarms and displays. The runtime database is implemented by the TServer.exe process, ensuring efficient and reliable data management..

RuntimeUsers

Users created and retrieved from an external encrypted SQL database or other identification servers.



TargetPlatform

Defines the Operating Platform where the Solution is intended to Run. It can be operating platform for running the solution, either Windows Only (.NET Framework 4.8) , or Multiplatform (Linux and any OS support .NET 8).)

Runtime Startup

Operation that is of the Solution at run time. This operation can be performed from the program runtime, performed by TStartup.exe in the current version of FactoryStudio, or TServer.exe in the published version of the Solution.

Tag

Script References

External DLLs included for script or display code compilation.

ScriptClass

Library of functions and methods for Script Tasks, Expressions, or CodeBehind on graphical Displays.

ScriptExpression

One line of code responding to an event.

ScriptTask

Code executing in reaction to an event or at specified intervals.

Smart symbols

Graphical elements with dynamic properties and connections to real-time tags and templates.

StorageLocation

Defines where historian variables will be archived or read for charts and calculations.

Tag

Process variable representing real-time and historical data, created locally or accessed remotely.

Tag Type

Defines object types in the Tag Namespace, such as Digital, Integer, or Text.

Tag Type

Defines the type of objects in the Tag Namespace: Digital, analog, text. These Tags are a class of compounds or properties accessed directly such as minimum, maximum, Value, quality. Each property is internally created as ValueType.

Task (Script.Task)

Task program

Program written in C#, VB.NET

(or C #) that runs on the server or client during the runtime of a solution. The execution will be on the server or client, depending on the configuration of the domain property in the script.

or Python running during solution runtime.

Time-Series

Time-Series data is a collection of data

, usually a list, or a set, or a stream of data, often with one entry following after the other in time, so a "series" of data readings over some consecutive time period.A single time-series data point is usually represented as a data value, such as a temperature reading

points, often recorded sequentially over time. Each entry typically includes a data value and a timestamp (e.g.

56) and the time at which that reading was done (a.k.a. the "time-stamp" or "timestamp"). E.g.: 4/18/2024 9:45:30.015 AMIt is helpful for analysis if the timestamps from various systems use the same "clock" and "time zone", so often people use UTC time (Universal Coordinated Time) as the "common" time zone. This helps avoid the potential confusion and extra work to "align" the

, temperature reading at a specific time). Using UTC time helps align data from various time zones

.

TManager

The program that performs the configuration of a solution

.



Toggle

Reverses the value of a variable. Values : values greater than zero are converted to zero; zero is converted to the value "1"become zero, and zero becomes one.

Trust, Partial Trust, Full Trust

Partial Trust:

Environment in which an application has limited access to resources (restricted access to files from particular folders, running other applications, etc.). XBAP applications that run within a browser (e.g., Internet Explorer) should run in "Partial Trust"

Limited resource access (e.g., applications in a browser).

Full Trust:

Environment in which an application has access to all system resources. Applications installed on a computer usually run in "Full Trust" mode

Full system resource access (e.g., installed applications).

Unified Namespace

A software solution that acts as a centralized repository of data , information and context where any application or device can , enabling applications or devices to consume or publish data needed for a specific action. FactoryStudio 9.2 fully incorporates this concept: you can create, consume or integrate to a variety of namespaces.The Unified Namespace (UNS) centralizes data in complex systems like smart manufacturing, offering semantic data structuring. It aggregates, normalizes, and provides data access, streamlining communication and integration among disparate systems. As a middleware layer, the UNS translates raw data into actionable information, ensuring device interaction within a hub-and-spoke architecture, minimizing direct communications, and maximizing flexibility.

The Unified Namespace provides a centralized data repository and a standardized method for organizing and accessing data from various sources. This concept streamlines data management,

enhances system interoperability

,

and simplifies

the development of applications that utilize data from multiple sources.

data management.

Users

Anyone accessing the solution, either through the Designer Tool or in runtime mode (Displays).

Visibility (Tag Visibility)

Defines how tags can be accessed:

Visibility (Tag Visibility)

Refers to the tagging system; Tags can be Private, Public or Protected. In another context, the graphical objects in a display can have a visibility dynamic property to appear or not when the screen is running.

The Tag Visibility can be Public, Protected or Private

Public: The value of the Tag during the execution of the Runtime is available for access to external Programs via TCP / IP or OPC Server. Also, the value of Tag is necessarily global or shared in all the client stations (Server Domain).

Public: Accessible by external programs and shared across client stations.

Protected: Read-only access.
Private:  A Tag set to "Private" can not be accessed by external applications (OPC Server, TCP / IP) and will run in Client or Server machines according to the application configuration with the following characteristics:Tags used only in modules called by the client (such as displays and Reports) run in the scope of the client, or Not accessible by external applications and may have different values on each client machine (Client Domain);

Tags used in server modules, such as Devices and Alarms have a unique value in the system (Server Domain).

.

WebData, Reports WebData

Encapsulates data exchange via JSON, XML, or HTML with other applications, or saves content to a file. It can also be used in displays for interaction with web services and REST APIs

XBAP

Xaml Browser Application (XBAP) is a graphical application using the XAML technology that runs inside a web browse. This is a legacy technology no longer in use..





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