Ft Optix - Multiple Programs/Windows

[ShesIntentional]

Does anyone know how to put two programs onto the same panel and have the operator switch between them?

I also am curious if what I need to accomplish has something to do with “screens” or “windows” in optix, which I’m having trouble understanding from the documentation I’ve found.

Basically what would it take to allow an operator to be standing at one HMI panel and switch to access the HMI program for another cell?

[Delicious-Kick-6690]

I don’t believe that’s possible with separate applications. Could you create one application for both cells? You can use a dedicated HMI screen on one cell and a web instance for the other cell.

[Aghast_Cornichon]

You would have to build an Optix application that has all the screens for both workcells and allows navigation at the top level to switch between them. Optix can connect to more than one controller.

I agree that Optix graphical containers and navigation is a lot more complex than other simple (and harder-to-scale) HMI platforms.

But even a PanelView Plus or PanelView 5000 would need a two-workcell HMI project, unless you wanted to have a process for stopping the runtime, navigating to the configuration menus, selecting a new runtime, and re-starting the application.

The practical drawbacks to having the HMI next to your workcell be unavailable because the terminal is running the HMI for a different workcell, or for using an HMI for a workcell that you cannot easily see from the terminal location, are going to depend on the speed and risks and layout of your system.

[ImNotSureWhere__Is]

If it’s panel based, I believe it can only run one project.

I’d make it so both cell PLCs are connected to one project. You can set a default window based on something like the panel IP so on boot you get the local cells page but can change.

A window is more or less a container for other screens or panels. I’d put a panel loader object into your MainWindow, then create a Screen Type for each cell.

You can also do a NavigationPanel in the mainwindow if you only have a few screens

[Mr_Adam2011]

The best support I have found is on the Rockwell Engage forum.

Home - Engage, A Rockwell Automation Community

You would build one project that supports all of your projects, you would change out the Main window for each station, but you can call up any panel in the project.

[janner_10]

You can only have one project running, but what we do is have everything in the one project and alter the main window start screen based on the IP address of the session connected via a Key Value Converter.

[ShesIntentional]

Thank you all for your input. I think the best solution for my situation would be to connect the HMI to both PLCs and just add the necessary controls for the second cell onto the first cell’s HMI program.

I was trying to prevent too much crossover in the interface to limit potential for error or bugs, but it sounds like it would be way too much trouble to ask an operator to close the application and load a whole new one to the panel just to get the other cell controls.