Workspace overview
The Solution Designer is a configuration workspace for industrial solutions designed to make solution configuration procedures even more accessible and intuitive, offering engineering features, functionalities, and configuration tools.
It offers a single and integrated environment for the design, development, testing, simulation, validation, deployment, execution, and solution management, delivering high-end applications.
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Purpose and Key Concepts
The Solution Designer workspace offers an integrated platform for engineering solutions development and management. It combines several tools, functions, and data in a user-friendly interface to improve efficiency in solution design. The workspace has been redesigned to prioritize intuitive workflows, thereby simplifying and speeding up the configuration process. This enhancement aims to make the design and management of solutions more straightforward and agile.
Solution
Solution refers to an application for real-time data built based on the software platform. It means the platform organizes its smart applications into solutions, providing several tools and features to design and manage the end-to-end Solution Development Life Cycle. Every solution developed on the software platform generates a file (.bdsln). This file refers to the output file of the application, with all engineering and business logic developed, tested, validated, and deployed according to the operational requirements and ready to run. The solution files store all of an application's configuration information. All configuration items are saved in a single embedded SQL database. The file is encrypted for security and opened and edited with the Solution design and engineering tools.
Modular architecture
Modular Architecture is the Solution Designer workspace foundation. Its core is based on compartmentalization, break down complex system functionalities into distinct and standalone modules. The modular architecture provides flexibility in design and configuration while ensuring that changes or adjustments to one module won't inadvertently disrupt or compromise another.
unified Namespace
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.
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.
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.
Runtime
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.
Understanding the User Interface
The Solution Designer workspace gathers several engineering features, tools, functions, and information to configure and manage every aspect of a solution thought user-friendly interface that enhances the user experience by making the design processes faster and more efficient. This is possible because the workspace was redesigned to make workflows even more intuitive, simple, and fast.
Welcome page
The Designer home page is the entry point when you design a solution using the software platform. This page gathers navigation customizations, solution information and local preferences related to the Solution Designer user interface.
Solution Explorer Navigation
The Solution Explorer Navigation enables users to choose the format that best suits their navigation preferences. It has two available configuration: the Filter shows a combo box allowing select a filter option and the Style shows radio buttons for users to switch the navigation style between 'Tree' or 'Accordion'.
Solution Information
The Solution Information provides details about the solution. It specifies the "ProductName," which is determined based on the Product Family it belongs to, and the "TagQuantity," which varies according to the Product Series. It describes solution compatibility, informing which target-framework the solution is based. Additionally, it features a "Tags Counter" to distinguish between tags sourced locally from the user's computer and those obtained externally from tag providers.
Designer Local Settings
The Designer Local Settings allow users to customize their workspace by setting local preferences. They can alter the platform's appearance using themes like Sky, Dark, and Navy and customize fonts in terms of family, typeface, and size through the Grid Fonts feature. Users have the choice to display or hide the Quick Help panel by default. The Auto-save function enables setting the frequency of automatic saves, either upon closing documents or at intervals of 5, 10, or 15 minutes. Additionally, users can opt to automatically export configuration changes to CSV or JSON files in the GIT folder, enhancing data management and documentation.
Furthermore, it shows a recent items list with solution edit events. And also, the workspace home page provides quick tips guiding where do start with a link to go to the interfaces, it can be useful when you are starting a new solution.
Workspace Navigation
The left side centers the Solution Designer navigation. The workspace navigation comprises the navigation bar on the top, the navigation menu in the middle, and the navigation filters on the bottom. Also, there are the navigation path and the breadcrumb navigation.
The navigation bar offers quick accesses and fast navigation to the most used configuration interfaces when designing a solution on the software platform. It provides also navigation controls and navigation history.
The navigation bar enables quick access to the Solution Manager interface, Documentation, Forum, and Training Videos. By clicking on the icons on the navigation bar, you can navigate to the workspace home page, Asset Tree, Drawing, or the Startup settings.
The navigation menu lets you explore each module configuration interface. That is why we called it the Solution Explorer. You can customize the Solution Explorer by applying some navigation filter or changing its navigation style on the workspace home page.
The Solution Explorer comprises the modules tree, the button to collapse the tree showing just the modules icons or for the complete visualization of the modules and their configuration interfaces, and the search box to look for a specific setting.
The navigation path lets you track your location in the Solution Designer workspace. The Breadcrumb navigation allows you to navigate internally through the configuration interfaces of each module available on the Solution Explorer.
If you apply a navigation filter, the Solution Explorer and their Breadcrumbs will show just the configuration interfaces enabled according to the applied filter option. Then, if you use the Basic filter option, both will display only the available features for this filter option.
But, even with a filter applied, the search box in Solution Explorer allows you to access all resources by searching for a configuration. But, to see all modules and their features on the Solution Explorer, use the Show All Modules and Features filter option.
Finally, if you are not looking for something on Solution Explorer and are not finding it, try to check if some filter is applied.
Solution toolbar
On the top, you have buttons where users can undo or redo actions, manipulate rows or objects with cut, copy, paste, and delete functions, and interact with Git for document synchronization. There are also functionalities for searching and navigating references, handling database tags, editing tags properties, and directly accessing documentation or providing feedback.
The table provides a concise reference for the commands and their associated functionalities.
Action | Description | |
| Undo | Undoes an operation/change. This button is available until you save changes. |
| Redo | Redoes a previously undone operation/change. This button is available until you save changes. |
| Cut | Cuts a selected row (DataGrid) or objects (Drawing). This command will delete any select row or object in order to paste it somewhere else. |
| Copy | Copies a selected row (DataGrid) or objects (Drawing). |
| Paste | Pastes a row (DataGrid) or objects (Drawing) that was copied or cut previously. |
| Delete | Deletes selected row (DataGrid) or objects (Drawing). |
| Prints current table (DataGrid) or display (Drawing). | |
| Save Document on Git folder | Commits and pushes the current document to a designated Git folder, saving its state and making it available for version tracking. |
| Import Document from Git folder | Pulls a document from a designated Git repository folder into the current application, facilitating synchronization and collaboration. |
| Find Elements | The Find Elements button on the toolbar accesses the object cross-reference, which lets you find where objects are used in the Project and go directly to each location. |
| Next Reference | Navigates to the subsequent reference or item in a given list or sequence. |
| Previous Reference | Navigates to the preceding reference or item in a given list or sequence. |
| New Tag | Allows the creation of a new tag in the real-time database. |
| Tag Properties | Shows the properties of the tag selected in the text box. |
| Object Selection | Enables the user to choose a specific item from a set of objects or elements within the interface. |
| Open a New Window to the Selected Document | Opens the document or file currently selected in a new window, allowing for parallel viewing or editing alongside the current content. |
| Feedback | Give your opinion in the feedback tab of the Tatsoft website. |
| Documentation | Access the documentation on the website. |
Features Highlights
Working with DataGrids
The DataGrid is a tool for data management in your Solution. It provides a versatile framework that can be tailored to suit a range of data types and user interactions, enabling efficient data navigation and manipulation. To acquire a comprehensive understanding of how to leverage DataGrids in your Solutions, please refer to our detailed Working with DataGrids.
Multiple Document Interface and Multi-Screen Engineering
The Multiple Document Interface (MDI) and the Multi-Screen Engineering tool differ primarily in their scope and specific functionalities. MDI is designed for editing multiple displays or scripts concurrently within a single main window, enhancing the efficiency of content copying, document comparison, and reducing the time needed to switch between documents. It keeps all documents organized under one main window, streamlining multitasking management. On the other hand, the Multi-Screen Engineering tool provides a more flexible interface, where multiple windows are housed under a single parent window. It allows module configuration tables and documents to open in separate, independent external windows, while certain settings and utility pages remain within the main window. This tool adds an extra layer of organizational flexibility, particularly beneficial for multi-monitor setups, by facilitating external window usage for document viewing and editing.
Tooltips and Validation
On the software platform, the fields and buttons have tooltips that contain information about the field or button. Tooltips appear when you move your cursor over the related field or button. Some tooltips also include an example that can help you. The system validates whatever you enter into most fields, especially tables. Validation rules may check if the input is in the correct format or if the values are within the appropriate range and other factors. The exact rules depend on the specific item. The entry is invalid if you see a red outline around the table cell.
IntelliSense
The Intellisense feature presents a list of valid objects according to the characters you type into a specific input field and a list of the valid entries for that field. You can insert a selected item from that list by pressing enter, space, the dot key, or another symbol key. All the input fields that use tag names or object names, either in the datagrids or in the drawing tools, are enabled through Intellisense. The Intellisense fields have built-in tooltips and validation. Putting the mouse over a field will present the expected entries to that field. When you have an invalid input, the border of the field will become red and the tooltip will show the error.
Refactoring
Refactoring is the procedure of changing the definition of tag names or object names (such as alarm groups, device nodes, etc.) after the symbolic name is already in use in the application. The centralized SQL configuration allows you to rename any object by simply typing the new name in the configuration table where that object is defined. All the references to that object will remain valid, using the new name with no actions required. For instance, to rename a tag that is already being used all across the solution, just go to Unified Namespace/Tags and rename it. The same applies to Edit-Alarms-Groups, members of templates, or any named object in the system.
Configuring the solution
Solution configuration Workflow
The module's configuration workflow explains the general configuration procedures for Solution development in the software framework. It offers an overview of the main settings for each Solution module, letting you fine-tune their behavior to your Solution's needs. Refer to the Solution Configuration Workflow for more details.
Solution Settings
The Solution Settings is the central hub for Solution management. It encompasses several utilities, allowing for adjustments tailored to the needs of your Solution. For a thorough understanding, visit our Solution Settings.
Categories
The Categories feature within the Solution Settings is a powerful tool that enables you to organize your solution content effectively. By grouping related elements together, it improves solution structure and navigability. For an in-depth understanding of this feature, please visit our Solution Categories.
Using Import Wizards
Our Solution Settings includes an Import Wizards feature, which simplifies the process of integrating external data or components into your solution. These wizards can significantly enhance your solution setup workflow. For a detailed walkthrough, please refer to our Import Tags.
Managing Plugins
In Solution Settings, the Managing Plugins feature allows you to control and configure the additional functionalities provided by plugins. It's an essential tool for enhancing your solution's capabilities and customizing its behavior. Learn more about plugin management in Import Plugin.
Exporting Solution Contents
The ability to export solution contents efficiently is a crucial part of Solution Settings. This feature provides a convenient way to backup, share or migrate your solution data and settings. For a comprehensive guide on how to export solution contents, please see Solution Export.
Utilizing the Solution History
Solution History is a significant feature within Solution Settings, providing insights into your solution's evolution. It allows for better tracking of changes, improved version control, and efficient error resolution. To master this feature, explore Solution History.
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