Introduction
Different requirements for deployment such as security, performance, physical devices, network infrastructures, may require different models. When it comes to client data access, one size does not fit it all. FactoryStudio has a comprehensive set of client access tools.
One set of clients, the Displays Clients, uses the built-in drawing tools to deliver uniform views of rich and dynamic graphical interfaces across multiple platforms; the other set of clients, Data Client Types, use different data exchange APIs to consume the data in their own application or user interface.
Displays Client Types
Many types of remote graphic clients are supported. This page will describe what is required for the installation and configuration of each one of these types of clients.
Rich Clients
Runs as a desktop application, allows blocking the Windows task-switch. This is ideal for process control applications that need high performance and enhanced security.
Smart Clients
Uses Click-Once technology. Installs and updates on remote clients with a single click from a browser and is automatically updated on the remote clients when it is updated on the server. It uses all the power of the remote computer yet retains the advantages of a centralized installation.
Web HTML5 Clients
Runs directly from the Web-Browser with no installation of any software required (nor any active-x controls!). The partial-trust security guarantees it runs in a completely isolated secure environment.
Smart Clients
The same displays created on Windows computers are automatically rendered to run natively on iPads or iPhones, combining the rich user experience and security of a native app with the benefits of having only one project configuration.
Terminal Server Clients
Runs using remote desktop connection or Terminal server or other thin client technology. Currently, this option is less used and not included in the installation, but our software platform is still compatible with third-party tools enabling that technology.
Rich Clients Setup
A Rich Client is a computer with the FactoryStudio RichClient installed. The RichClient is a WPF-based desktop application. (in Linux, the Rich Client is a WinForm application)
Advantages:
Allows the blocking of Windows task switching (Ctrl+Alt+Del, Alt+Tab, etc).
Can use redundant application servers automatically.
Project updates are downloaded automatically.
Trade offs:
Local FactoryStudio product installation is required (Project is remote, only the product is local). Therefore, product updates must be deployed to each client station.
Rich Clients | |
|---|---|
Installation | Install FactoryStudio on the client computer. |
How to start | Run the TRichClient.exe program. For an example of how to automatically start the client when a user logs into Windows, see Automatically Starting Windows Clients in the previous section. |
Execution | The project runs in its own window. This client type has strong user security and includes the ability to disable the user from using the Windows Task Switch functionality. The ability to use or not use the Windows Task Switch can be tied to the user login. When running the TRichClientt.exe program on 64-bit machines, the application runs in 64-bit native code. If you need to run the 32-bit version, you can use the TRichClient32.exe program; this can be used to ensure compatibility with legacy COM and Active-X components. |
Communication | Communicates with the server using the Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) (port configurable, default 3101). |
Smart Clients Setup
A .NET Smart Client automatically downloads the application the first time you execute and also when it is updated on the server. It uses local processing so the hardware requirements are identical to the Rich Client, but there is no local installation of either the product or the project, therefore having all the benefits of a web-based solution plus the performance and security of a desktop solution.
Advantages:
- One-click application installation.
- Application updates are downloaded automatically from the server.
- Allows the blocking of Windows task switching
- Automatically recognize redundant servers
Trade off:
- Only available to Windows computers
Smart clients are client applications that behave like rich clients, but either run from the web or can be installed painlessly with a single click. You can deploy your application to be used by Windows smart clients. The smart client runs like the rich client, but the smart client uses ClickOnce™ installation. This technology allows you to have the same functionality as the rich client, but without having to install FactoryStudio on your computer.
The first time you access the application, the system automatically downloads the components necessary to run the application. The next time you access the application, the system checks if the local cache is the same version of the application that is on the server, and if necessary, updates the local cache before running the application. If the version is the same, the application starts immediately.
Smart client | |
|---|---|
Installation | No installation required. The client computer needs to have the .NET Framework 4.0 and Internet Explorer 8.0 or later. |
How to start | From Internet Explorer (or a shortcut) go to the URL: |
Execution | Runs exactly the same as the rich client. The functionality of the rich client and the smart client are the same; only the installation and activation methods are different. |
Communication | Communicates with the server using WCF (port configurable, default 3101). |
Web HTML5 Clients Setup
The Web clients run inside the browser.
Advantages:
- Requires only web browser and it is multi-platform.
- No installation required on the client-side Application.
- Updates are downloaded immediately from the web server.
Trade offs:
- Requires a web server (however, FactoryStudio includes a zero-config Web server).
- Browser does not block Windows task switching (Ctrl+Alt+Del, Alt+Tab, etc).
- Data communication performance, due the HTTP protocols will be slower than SmartClient and redundancy options must have external IP resolving or operator confirmation.
HTML5 Clients | |
|---|---|
Installation | No installation required. The client computer needs to have the .NET Framework 4.0 and Internet Explorer 8.0 or later. |
How to start | From Internet Explorer (or a shortcut) go to the URL: |
Execution | Runs inside a web browser window using "Partial Trust" (Sandbox Security). |
Communication | Communicates with the server using HTTP or HTTPS (port 80). |
iOS Clients Setup
You can deploy your application to be used by iOS clients (iPad, iPhone, and iTouch). For other tablet devices, contact support.
iOS deployment | |
|---|---|
Installation | Install the SCADA HMI Client app from the Apple Store. |
How to start | Start the SCADA HMI Client app and follow the initial setup options. |
Execution | It runs natively on iOS. Thus, it provides higher performance, enhanced security, and access to native graphical components. This is compared to other applications using Terminal Client, Remote Desktop, or HTML web. |
Communication | Communicates with the server by calling a web service using port 80. The server must be on the same VPN or local network as the iOS device, or it can be a public IP address, as long as HTTP access is enabled. |
To deploy your project on an iOS device:
- From your iOS device, tap the App Store icon. You can also go to the Apple App Store from iTunes.
- Search for and install the SCADA HMI Client app, iDataPanel app.
- Start the SCADA HMI Client app.
- Enter the following information:
Field | Description |
|---|---|
Host Server | IP address or name of the project server. |
Port | Port 80. |
Polling | Defines the refresh rate between the client and the server, expressed in quarters of a second. The default value of 1 means the client gets new data from the server every 250 ms. When connecting to servers located on the internet or low bandwidth networks, this value should be increased. For more information, refer to for the app's help section. |
User | Project user name as it is configured in the project. The default is guest. |
Password | Project password associated with the user name. |
Project | Project name on the remote project server. |
- Tap Login. The application's graphics and displays download before the application starts. The application may take longer than normal to startup the first time the application is started.
Clients Technologies Comparison
The 3 types of displays supported (.NET, HTML5 and iOS) have their own benefits and trade offs. Depending on the Application each one, or a combination of more than is more suitable for your application.
This table as Summary of those Differences.
| Clients Technologies comparison | |
|---|---|
| Display Type | Comments |
| .NET Clients | Only to clients running on Windows Operating Systems. Higher performance of all options, with Multithreading on the client side. Stronger Security, allowing for instance to disable the Task Switch based on the User Logged. It is can be executed as a RichClient or SmartClient application. |
| HTML5 Clients |
|
| iOS Clients |
|
LocalDisplay Wiinforms | When running local display on Linux, instead of the RichClient.Exe that is the client for Windows,
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In this section...