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Every knowledge area has its own terminology, and the same applies to software applications are no exception. Certainly While the nomenclature used by Tatsoft FrameworX on this platform follows market standards whenever possible, but some specific terms related to the system and other common words may have a special meaning when using meanings in this context.

This glossary

has most

includes the key terms and

keywords

concepts used by our platform

and also concepts and related technologies that are relevant to our context

, as well as relevant technologies.

It is recommended to

at least

read this glossary at least once after using our platform for a

couple of

few months.

Doing a review of

Reviewing the definitions and

nomenclature used by the FactoryStudio platform and Tatsoft development and engineering teams

concepts, combined with your experience

with the product

, will

put

enhance your understanding of the system and improve your efficiency

on

in creating applications

to a new higher level

.

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 projects, 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 created using FactoryStudio. The terms Application and Project are used with close meanings: Project refers engineering configuration and files necessary to implement the Solution and Application refers to conceptual solution that was created.AssemblyRefers to an

configuration created using the platform. “Project” is used for version 9.2 or older 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

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 executable file (.EXE or

Library

.DLL) created using managed code and

Microsoft .NET framework.

the .NET framework.
Asset Tree	A hierarchical representation of the solution data, containing variables, tags, and data templates matching sensor reading physical equipments, setpoints, recipes, management data, and all the variables necessary to implement 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.

Build and Publish	The Build process compiles the solution code, while Publish creates a read-only version 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 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)	User-defined data structures that include variables and references to other templates, creating a hierarchical data structure.
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 elements

ComponentGraphical control available to create displays Designer, Project DesignerApplication and User Interface to configure FrameworX Projects

.

Draw	Part of the

Project

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 within the Unified Namespace.
Enumerations	Define potential values or ranges for a variable, mapping messages and colors to each state.
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

Scalable

A scalable product version

by I/O and Clients, simple to advanced

for 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 Broker

Our embedded Broker for testing

The embedded broker within the FrameworX Platform.

FX MQTT Simulator

A

An MQTT Client simulator

(

with Sparkplug

) for testingMain

, included in the product installation

.
Hot Updates (Hot Reload)	Apply offline solution changes without disrupting the runtime environment, maintaining stability and 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

Refers to the

SQL Studio encoded database

that contains

containing the

project

Project configuration, with extensions .

The extension .TPROJ references the current project still under development. The extension .TRUN references read-only published projects

TPROJ and .TRUN.
Layout	Organizes the user interface into frames or panels, acting as containers for Displays.
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 completely

settings.
Modular architecture	Breaks down complex functionalities into distinct modules, providing flexibility in design and configuration.
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 belongs

for 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	Allows real-time modifications to a running solution without stopping execution.
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 the project

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

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

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

Properties defined for runtime objects, such as Tags and DeviceNodes.
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.

Plug-inSub-set of a FrameworX project. Plugins are created using the Project-Export command, selecting which parts and objects from the project will be exported. The Plugins can be imported or used by other projects.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.

Project

A configuration set Studio sketches of displays, reports, scripts and user notes created and edited with a single entity.

projectDB / ProjectDatabase

ProjectDB (or project database) is a database that contains configuration information. Matches files with the extension <Project>.Tproj (current type, for example) or <Project>_ version.Teng (type released, for example).

Process Modules	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 and Model	Define licensing requirements for running the Solution in production.

Project File	In order to facilitate distinction of current version with legacy product versions, Project File refers to files with extension .tproj created with version 9.3 or older.
Protocols	Rules for communication between devices, supported by the software.
Solution	Application for real-time data built on the platform, including configurations for all Modules.
SolutionDB / SolutionDatabase	Database containing configuration information, with extension .dbsln.
Solution File / Solution Name	Configuration of an application saved in a .dbsln file, matching the solution name.
Property or Attribute	Associated value of

Property or AtributeProperty (value) associated with

a Tag or object.

Real time database, RunDB, Runtime Database, RtDB

The real time database created when the project 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 where a solution is in active execution, utilizing configured modules for tasks, data management, and operations.
Runtime Database	In-memory real-time database for Unified Namespace data, ensuring efficient data management during solution execution.
RuntimeUsers	Users created and retrieved from an external encrypted SQL database or other identification servers.

TargetPlatform	Defines the operating platform for running the solution, either Windows Only (.NET Framework 4.8) or Multiplatform (Linux and .NET 8).
Runtime Startup	Operation of the Solution at runtime, performed by TStartup.exe or TServer.exe.
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

RuntimeA project with modules loaded and running.Runtime StartupOperation that is the project at run time. This operation can be performed from the program TStartup.exe in the current version of FactoryStudio, or TServer.exe in the published version of the project.TagA process variable. Name of a Namespace that includes all the variables created by the user in a project configuration.Tag TypeDefines 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 project. 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 points, often recorded sequentially over time. Each entry typically includes a data value and a timestamp (e.g., temperature reading at a specific time). Using UTC time helps align data from various time zones

TManagerThe program that performs the configuration of a project

.

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 needed data

needed for a specific action. FactoryStudio 9.2 fully incorporates this concept: you can create, consume or integrate to a variety of namespaces

. It enhances system interoperability and simplifies data management.
Users	Anyone accessing the solution, either through the Designer Tool or in runtime mode (Displays).
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).
Protected: Read-only.
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

Defines how tags can be accessed:

•Public: Accessible by external programs and shared across client stations.
•Protected: Read-only access.
•Private: 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).XBAPXaml 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..

.
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.

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