Projects
This section describes how to work with projects in iX Developer.
Tip
For basic information on how to create a new project using the Wizard, refer to Create a New Project With the Wizard.
To ensure optimal performance, keep the items within the project to the Recommended Project Item Limits.
A project consists of two main sets of files:
Design Files: These files relate to the functional and graphical design of the project.
App Files: These files are compiled from the design files and are used in the iX App.
When a new project is created, a top-level folder named after the project is created, referred to as the Project folder. The files that define the functional and graphical design are stored at the top level of this folder. Additional folders are generated during validation and build processes.
Note
Do not save your iX project in a folder that syncs with Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, or similar services. This may prevent the project from opening and cause an Access Denied error.
Keep file and folder names short. If any file path in the project folder exceeds 260 characters, Build, Rebuild, Run or Simulate fails.
The Project Properties includes iX App behavior, system font, and settings for mouse and keyboard. To open the project properties, click Project > Settings in the Project Ribbon Tab.
Properties |
|---|
Advanced
Parameter | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Cache | Set default value on all new screens to cache | Enables the Cached option in General > Screen for all newly created screens. If unchecked, Cached is disabled by default for new screens. NoteThis does not apply to the start screen (always cached) and popup screens (never cached). | |
Screen cache in project | Set all to cache | Enables Cached in General > Screen for all existing screens, except the start screen and popup screens. | |
Remove all cache | Disables Cached in General > Screen for all existing screens, except the start screen and popup screens. | ||
Filenames | Enable FTP friendly names | When enabled, file names with spaces are replaced with underscores, and periods (except for before the extension) are replaced with dashes. . Applies to
Example 2. Example File name changes from: to: | |
OPC UA Structured Tags | Enable Structured Tags | Enables OPC UA Structured Tags in the project. Disabled by default. | |
Script Warnings Behavior | Determines how script warnings are handled during project build. . Options
| ||
Alarm Button
Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
Show Screen | Select the screen to display when the predefined alarm key is pressed on a keyboard-operated HMI panel. |
Database
Parameter | Description | |
|---|---|---|
Database location | Sets location for the active database.
| |
Database Settings | Back up database at startup | When enabled, a backup of the database is created at startup if the integrity check is successful. If the integrity check fails, the system uses the previous backup. If no backup is available and the database is corrupt, the corrupt database will be replaced with a new, empty one. NoteEnabling this option increases the HMI panels startup time. |
Max size (MB) | When the database exceeds this size, the system tag Database Max Size Exceeded is set. For more information, see Available System Tags. | |
Display/Target
Parameter | Description | |
|---|---|---|
Window |
| |
Maximize On Startup (only for PC targets): When enabled, the app window is maximized in the iX App. | ||
Screen Size (only for PC targets) | Defines the screen resolution for the project. | |
Target Rotate | Not available in the current version of iX Developer. | |
Target Type | Displays the selected target device. To change the project target, see Change Project Target. | |
Mouse/Touch Input Delay
Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
Time (ms) | Configures the input delay for mouse and touch actions in the iX App. This delay can be applied globally to all objects that have Delay Mouse/Touch Input enabled without a specific delay, or it can be set individually for each object. To configure the delay for individual objects, use the Property Grid Window. To reset to the delay setting, enter 0. |
Project Transfer
Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
Include source code when transferring project | When enabled, the software transfers a zipped file containing all source code to the HMI panel during App transfer. ImportantThis option must be enabled to use the Fetch the Project From the HMI Panel feature later. |
Set password to zip file | Protects the zipped source code file with a password. |
System Requirements
This chapter describes how to define the System Requirements in iX Developer.
In iX Developer 3, you cannot configure system settings directly as in previous versions. Instead, you define System Requirements that are evaluated and then reserved by the OS3 operating system. If the requirements are not met, the iX App is installed on the HMI panel but cannot run.
Tip
For information on the HMI panels system settings, see App-Required System Settings in the OS3 User Guide.
When converting an iX Developer project from iX2 to iX3, you can manually import the system settings from iX2 to the System Requirements. For instructions, see Migrate System Settings from iX2 to iX3 in the X2 to X3 – Transition Guide.
Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
COM port (only for HMI panel targets) | Enter the required mode for a COM port. Select Any, RS-232, RS-422, RS-485 or CAN. The number of available ports and possible configuration differ depending on selected target. For configuration instructions, refer to Serial Ports in the OS3 User Guide. |
Network interface - Default gateway | Enter the required default gateway for the selected network interface. |
Network interface - IP address | Enter the required IP address for the selected network interface. |
Network interface - Primary DNS server | Enter the required primary DNS server for the selected network interface. |
Network interface - Secondary DNS server | Enter the required secondary DNS server for the selected network interface. |
Network interface - Subnet mask | Enter the required subnet mask for the selected network interface. |
Power saving - Automatically turn off display | Select Yes to enable automatic backlight turn-off. This reduces backlight usage, helping extend the lifespan of HMI panels. |
Power saving - Seconds until display is automatically turned off (only available if Power saving - Automatically turn off display is set to Yes) | Select the duration after which the backlight turns off automatically. |
TCP server port | Enter the required TCP server port number for incoming traffic. |
Time - SNTP synchronization | Select Yes if the panel clock needs to be synchronized with an external SNTP (Simple Network Time Protocol) server. |
Time - SNTP server (only available if Time - SNTP synchronization is set to Yes) | Enter the SNTP server name for time synchronization. |
Time - SNTP update interval (only available if Time - SNTP synchronization is set to Yes) | Enter the synchronization update interval in minutes. |
UDP server port | Enter the required UDP server port number. |
System Dialogs
Parameter | Description | |
|---|---|---|
Color | Form Color | Background: Background color of system dialogs. Foreground: Font and foreground element color. |
Control Color | Background: Color of buttons and controls. Foreground: Font and icon color for buttons and controls. | |
Title Text | Font | Font used for dialog titles. |
Font Size | Font size for dialog titles. | |
General Text | Font | Font used for other text. |
Font SIze | Font size for other text. | |
MessageBox Timeout | Sets how long certain dialogs stay open without user interaction. Default is 20 seconds. | |
List Item Height | Sets the height of list items in system dialogs. | |
Virtual Keyboard
The virtual keyboard in the iX App is affected by settings in the Multiple Languages function. For more details, see Set Up Multiple Languages. The following settings apply when using the default language.
Parameter | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Enable Virtual Keyboard | Enables the virtual keyboard. | ||
Default Keyboard Layout | Select the default keyboard layout from the following options: Arabic, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Korean, Russian, Simplified Chinese (Compact), Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, Traditional Chinese, US. | ||
Keyboard Size Customization | Alpha Numeric Keyboard | Enable Keyboard Size Customization | Check this option to customize the size of the alphanumeric or numeric keyboard. Choose whether scaling is based on the Width or Height of the target resolution. Use the slider to set the keyboard size as a percentage of the target width or height. TipTest the keyboard size by simulating the iX App before transferring it to the target device. For the most accurate scaling, ensure the PC's DPI settings are set to 100%. |
Numeric Keyboard | |||
The Project Ribbon Tab contains the following commands that enables building and simulation of the project. The table below highlights the differences between these commands:
Command | Validates the script code | Compiles the project | Deletes temporary files | Runs the iX App on the development PC | Communicates with the controller(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ✅ | ✅ Only changes are recompiled. | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
 | ✅ | ✅ Entire project is recompiled. | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
Note
If project validation fails, check that the absolute path to the project, including its components, does not exceed 260 characters.
Projects must be stored on the local hard drive for iX Developer to be able to Run or Simulate them.
When launching the Build, Rebuild and Run commands iX Developer will automatically check for unused tags. This function can be disabled or enabled from CheckForUnusedTags in iX Developer Options.
Command | Execute | Quit |
|---|---|---|
| Click Build in the Project Ribbon Tab. | |
Press F6. | ||
| Click Rebuild in the Project Ribbon Tab. | |
| Click Run in the Project Ribbon Tab. | Press Alt + F4. |
Click Run in the Quick Access Toolbar. | ||
Press F5. | ||
Press Alt + 4. | ||
| Click Simulate in the Project Ribbon Tab. | Press Alt + F4. |
Click Simulate in the Quick Access Toolbar. | ||
Press Alt + 5. |
Tip
For more information about the commands, see Run Group.
The iX Apps, projects, files and databases can be moved between devices using the following commands:
Compiles and transfers the iX App from the development PC to the HMI panel.
Fetches the project databases, app data, project files or source code from the HMI panel to the development PC.
Compiles and saves the iX App on the development PC, allowing it to be imported to an HMI panel later.
Imports the exported iX App to the HMI panel.
Fetches the entire iX project source code from the HMI panel to the development PC.
To transfer the iX App to the HMI panel, follow the steps below or watch the video tutorial.
Important
All files and databases on the target HMI panels will be overwritten.
To Fetch Source Code (Fetch From Target) later, enable Include source code when transferring project in Project > Settings > Project Transfer before the transfer.
Video tutorial
Connect the development PC and the HMI panel to the same network.
In iX Developer, go to Project > Transfer > Transfer.
Select a transfer mode:
- Test Mode
Faster build time, slower runtime performance.
- Production Mode
Slower build time, optimized runtime performance.
Tip
Use Test Mode during development. Use Production Mode for final deployment.
In the Transfer Client, select the target HMI panel and click Transfer.
Enter the credentials for the OS3 user Administrator or App Manager. For more information see User Management in the OS3 User Guide.
Accept the Self-Signed Certificate if prompted (required the first time only).
Click OK. Your authentication remains valid for 12 hours unless you close iX Developer. The lock symbol under Authenticated indicates if you are authenticated.
The HMI panel stops the current iX App, installs the new iX App, and starts it automatically.
Note
Time zone, region or daylight saving settings will not be transferred if these settings have been changed manually on the HMI panel.
The Export feature compiles and saves the iX App on the development PC. This allows you to import it later to the HMI panel, see Import the iX App to the HMI Panel Using Transfer Client CLI for more details.
Important
To Fetch Source Code (Fetch From Target) later, enable Include source code when transferring project in Project > Settings > Project Transfer before the transfer.
In iX Developer, go to Project > Transfer > Export.
Select a transfer mode:
- Test Mode
Faster build time, slower runtime performance.
- Production Mode
Slower build time, optimized runtime performance.
Choose a destination for the exported project and click OK. A progress bar will indicate the export status.
Import the iX App to the HMI Panel
You can import an exported iX App in two ways:
- Transfer Client (simple)
Use this method to manually import the iX App to one HMI panel. See instructions below.
- Transfer Client CLI (advanced)
Use this method to import the iX App to multiple HMI panels or when manual import is not practical. See Import the iX App to the HMI Panel Using Transfer Client CLI.
Import the iX App to the HMI Panel Using the Transfer Client
Important
All files and databases on the target HMI panels will be overwritten.
Export the iX App beforehand using the Export command in iX Developer. For instructions, see Export the iX App.
Connect the development PC and the HMI panel to the same network.
On the development PC, navigate to the
{Exported App}\TransferClientfolder.Open
X3TransferClient.exe.In the Transfer Client, select the target HMI panel and click Transfer.
Enter the credentials for the OS3 user Administrator or App Manager. For more information see User Management in the OS3 User Guide.
Accept the Self-Signed Certificate if prompted (required the first time only).
Click OK. Your authentication remains valid for 12 hours unless you close iX Developer. The lock symbol under Authenticated indicates if you are authenticated.
The HMI panel stops the current iX App, installs the new iX App, and starts it automatically.
Note
Time zone, region or daylight saving settings will not be transferred if these settings have been changed manually on the HMI panel.
The Fetch From Target command, located in the File menu, allows you to download the project source code from the HMI panel to the development PC.
Important
The Include source code when transferring project option must have been enabled in Project Properties > Project Transfer when the iX App was transferred to the HMI panel.
Tip
To reduce project size before fetching the project, first run the Clear Datalogger action, then run the Database Cleanup action. For more information on actions, see the Actions chapter.
Click File > Fetch from Target.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
The transfer log tracks and displays the progress and details of data transfers between devices. Use the expand/collapse button in the Transfer Client to show or hide the log.
Green: Success messages.
Red: Failure, error, or exception messages.
Black: General informational messages.
After a transfer completes, the log file is saved to: %temp%\Transfer Logs\
Each transfer creates one log file per device, named as follows: [TimeStamp]_[IPAddress]_[TargetType]_[TransferType].log
Note
If the iX App is transferred to an HMI panel and settings have changed since the last transfer, the previous log on the panel is replaced.
To create a backup of an iX Developer project, follow these steps:
Go to File > Back Up Project, or Project > Back Up Project.
Choose the location to save the ZIP file.
Optional: Set a password to protect the ZIP file.
Click OK to complete the backup.
To change the project target:
Click Project > Settings to open the Project Properties.
Select Display/Target.
Choose the Target Type.
(For PC targets only) Change the Screen Size if needed.
Note
Target rotate is not yet available for X3 HMI panels.
Click OK.
Select if you want to back up the project.
Important
Beijer Electronics strongly recommend to make a backup of the project before changing the project target.
Click Convert.
If the new screen size differs from the old target, you can then choose to automatically resize objects to fit the new screen. Resizing adjusts horizontal and vertical scales independently, optimizing for wide-screen targets. This may change the aspect ratio of objects.
. Items resized automaticallyGraphical objects
Popup screens
Font
Dynamics size and move settings
Limitations
Some objects and styles may not be compatible with the new target and will be deleted. A log of removed objects is displayed after the transformation and can be saved as a file.
Reverting to the previous target does not restore removed objects.