Index

1 BEFORE CREATI NG THE FI RST ACTI VEX OBJ ECT ...................................................................................2

1.1 INSTALLING ACTIVEX SOFTWARE COMPONENTS ON PC...................................................................................... 2
1.2 INSTALLING ACTIVEX SOFTWARE COMPONENTS ON OPERATOR PANEL............................................................... 3
2 USI NG ACTI VEX OBJ ECTSI N THE APPLI CATI ON......................................................................................3
This document
In RSView panel projects it is possible to implement standard windows components into the application. An example
could be a *.PDF file or a movieclip. The ActiveX objects can only be used on VersaView CE operator panels.
Introduction to Allen Bradley systems
ActiveX
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1 Before creating the first ActiveX object
An ActiveX launcher has to be installed both on your computer and on the operator panel before being able to use
ActiveX objects in your application. The latest ActiveX launcher can be downloaded from the Internet from the
Knowledgebases on www.Rockwell.com. You have to search for
technote A20818.
The download contains a number of folders:
VVCE : Software to be installed on the VersaView CE operator panel (until Windows CE version 4.1)
VVCE41 : Software to be installed on the VersaView CE operator panel (Windows CE version 4.1 or newer)
Win32 : Software to be installed on the PC.
1.1 Installing ActiveX software components on PC
To install the ActiveX launcher you have to open the application in which you want to create the ActiveX launcher and
then follow the steps described below.
1. First you have to store the contents from the folder Win32 (mentioned in the previous chapter) to the
harddisk on your computer.
2. Next you have to open a display and insert an ActiveX object.
3. Use the mouse to drag a area in the display where you want the ActiveX object to be.
4. A box like the one shown below appears
Choose to register and then select the file mentioned in step 1.
5. The ActiveX control ME program launch is now added to the list and your computer is ready to insert
ActiveX objects in the project. The ActiveX control will be available for all projects on the computer.
Note that you only have installed the launcher for the ActiveX objects.
Additional software may have to be installed on thepanel depending what
ActiveX object you want to run. As a standard only a PDF viewer and a
Windows media player is installed on the panel. Other software like for
instanceExcel hastobeinstalledseparately.
!
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ActiveX
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1.2 Installing ActiveX software components on operator panel
The VersaView operator panel also has to have installed some software to able to run applications with ActiveX
objects. This software is stored in the folders VVCE or VVCE41 depending the version of Windows CE on the operator
panel. Usually the version of Windows CE is 4.1 or newer meaning that you will have to use the software from the
folder VVCE41. To install the software on the operator panel follow the steps described below.
1. Copy the contents of the folder VVCE41 to the root of a compact flash card either by using ftp or a card
reader.
2. Rename the file install.bat to batch.bat.
3. Insert the compact flash card in the operator panel. The software should now be installed and registered
automatically on the operator panel. If the software is not installed automatically activate the autorun.exe file
manually by double clicking on the file. Use the Windows explorer to locate the file (/Storage
card2/autorun.exe).
4. The operator panel is now ready to run applications with ActiveX objects.
2 Using ActiveX objects in the application
How to insert an ActiveX object into an application is described below. It will be described as an example where it is
assumed that you want to insert a link to a PDF document from an already existing display.
1. Choose to insert an ActiveX object.
2. Use the mouse to drag a square where you want to place the ActiveX object. It is recommended to place the
ActiveX object outside the visible display area.
3. You will now be asked to choose the kind of ActiveX object you want to insert.
Choose the ME Program Launcher and press OK.
4. Next you have to double click on the ActiveX object to access the properties. Click on the Connections flag.
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ActiveX
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5. The tags inserted here specify what program to use and what file to open.
ProgramLocation : Path for the program to use in the ActiveX object
ProgramParameter : Path for the file to open
LaunchEnable : Tag to launch the ActiveX.
The tags for the ProgramLocation and the ProgramParameter have to be HMI tags (type: String) where you
have entered the path for the program and the document file. For this example where we want to launch a PDF
file (stored on the external storage card) the two HMI tags should contain:
ProgramLocation : /Storage Card/Bin/pdfviewer (Standard path for the pdf viewer)
ProgramParameter : /Storage Card2/pdfdocument.pdf (Path for the pdf file to be displayed)
The LaunchEnable is a Boolean tag that can be triggered either from a pushbutton on the panel or from the
PLC. The PDF file is launched when the value of the tag changes from 0 to 1.
When the ActiveX object is triggered a new window opens with the specified program and the specified document is
automatically opened too. When ActiveX object is closed you return to the application.