The Configuration Tool
Introduction
The iX Developer software is used to configure HMI panels and PC operated control applications, including applications for IPCs (Industrial PCs) from Beijer Electronics.
iX Developer contains all basic functions needed in an application. The functions are tested and developed with customer needs and preferences in focus.
Pre-defined objects in iX Developer can be used to create complete process images, providing an overview of a complex application. You can customize the pre-defined objects or create objects of your own.
Communication drivers for a large number of controllers and automation equipment are available.
The help file assumes that the most recent versions of the system program (image) and iX Developer are used.
HMI Panels
iX Developer can be used to configure several models of HMI panels. To improve readability, unless stated otherwise, the information in this manual applies to the panels according to the table below:
Base model[a] | Also applies to | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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X2 base v2 | X2 base v2 HP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
X2 pro | X2 marine (including HB) X2 marine SC (including HB) X2 control X2 extreme (including combinations of HP and 12V) X2 extreme SL (including HP) X2 extreme SL SC (including HP) X2 extreme SC (including HP) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[a] The term Base model does not necessarily mean that the panels share a common hardware platform, it merely indicates that they have the same capabilities from the perspective of iX Developer. |
Controller
iX Developer HMI panels can be connected to many types of automation equipment, such as PLCs, servos, and drives. Further on, the expression controller is used as a general term for the connected equipment.
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Tags
Data values in a controller are referred to as tags.
Tags may also belong to the system or be internal. A tag has a symbolic name and can be of different data types.
Objects connected to tags can change values in the controller, and tag values can be reflected by changing object appearance in various ways. Objects in a screen will remain static until connected to a tag.
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System Requirements and Limitations
iX Developer
iX Developer System Requirements | |
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Parameter | Recommendation |
RAM | 2 GB |
Processor | 2 GHz or higher |
Operating system | Microsoft Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise editions. Supported versions: 22H2. Microsoft Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise editions. Supported versions: 23H2 and 22H2. |
Graphics card | Tier 2: DirectX version: 9.0 or higher (DirectX version 10 or higher for Windows 11) Video RAM: 120 MB or higher Pixel shader: version level 2.0 or higher Vertex shader: version level 2.0 or higher Multitexture units: 4 or more |
Updates
Software, drivers and protocols may have been updated since the USB stick was produced. Therefore, it is recommended that you use the built-in update function in iX Developer before creating a project.
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iX Runtime
iX Runtime System Requirements | |
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Parameter | Recommendation |
RAM | 1 GB |
Processor | 1.3 GHz or higher |
Operating system | Microsoft Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise editions. Supported versions: 22H2. Microsoft Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2019 LTSC. Microsoft Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2021 LTSC. Microsoft Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise editions. Supported versions: 23H2 and 22H2. |
Graphics card | Tier 2: DirectX version: 9.0 or higher (DirectX version 10 or higher for Windows 11) Video RAM: 120 MB or higher Pixel shader: version level 2.0 or higher Vertex shader: version level 2.0 or higher Multitexture units: 4 or more |
Updating the Panel Image in an HMI Panel
The Panel Image is pre-loaded in every HMI panel on delivery. If necessary, this could be upgraded to a newer version using the Image Loader application.
Special Requirements for Some Objects
For some objects to be included in the iX Developer project, specific software versions are required. Simulation of the project on the development PC may also be limited for some targets.
Object | Minimum requirement | Simulation on PC target | Simulation on panel target |
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Media Player | Windows Media Player 10 | Supported | Not supported |
PDF Viewer | - | Supported | Not supported |
Web Browser | Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 | Supported | Not supported |
OnScreenKeyboard | DPI setting at 100% | Supported | Supported |
Getting Started
iX Developer is installed on a development PC, where projects are developed, designed and compiled. The project is then run in an HMI panel or PC to observe and control a controller (or a group of controllers).
Starting in iX Developer 2.30 it is possible to have multiple installations of iX Developer versions from the same generation on the same target PC in design time.
E.g. One version of iX Developer 1.x (e.g. 1.31), and one version of iX Developer 2.0 to iX Developer 2.20 SP2 (e.g. 2.20 SP1), and iX Developer 2.30 and all following versions after that.
Note
Running two versions of iX Developer at the same time and copying and pasting from one version to another is not supported.
Target
iX Developer projects can be targeted for
An HMI panel from Beijer Electronics
A PC (Industrial PC) from Beijer Electronics
A standard PC with Microsoft Windows 10 Home, Pro and Enterprise editions.
To enhance readability, only HMI panel will be mentioned sometimes, when all different targets actually could be included.
The functions in iX Developer depend on the model of HMI panel used. Some differences exist between the targets, for example:
Item | Support on PC target | Support on HMI panel target |
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Media Player | Supported | Not supported on X2 base v2 panels |
Web Browser | Supported | |
PDF Viewer | Supported | Not supported on X2 panels 4” and 7“ (except for X2 marine7 HB SC) panels |
Navigation List Box | Supported | Not supported on HMI panels |
Drop down shadow effect | Supported | |
Rounded corners on rectangle | Supported | |
Opacity | Supported | |
Report | Supported | Reports containing charts and pictures can not be printed from an HMI panel target |
Dynamics | All dynamic settings are supported | Some dynamic settings are not supported on HMI panels, e.g. background color for button, trend viewer and meter, and min/max values for meter |
License
A project for an HMI panel can be used without any restrictions imposed by licensing.
A limited number of controller tags are available for a standard PC project. The number of tags is controlled by a USB hardware dongle.
The PCs from Beijer Electronics are configured with a fixed limit of tags, and do not require a USB dongle.
The number of used controller tags (including DEMO controller tags) is shown in the lower right of the desktop. The figures will turn red if the number of used tags becomes greater than the number of available tags.
There are no license restrictions for internal tags.
Note
The license system does not work without internet connection after activation on a virtual machine. This is a safety measure to ensure that a key is not activated on a virtual machine and the virtual machine is then cloned. Please install iX Developer on a physical machine or make sure the virtual machine has internet connection.
Note
The USB hardware dongle will not be detected when using Remote Desktop Connection in Windows to connect remotely.
A third party VNC based remote connection is recommended when remote connections are required.
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Product Registration
The first time iX Developer is started, a registration dialog is displayed. Entering the registration key provides unlimited access to all program functionality and software updates.
Alternatively, select to continue using a trial version of the software. You may evaluate iX Developer with full functionality for 30 days. When the evaluation period has expired, it will still be possible to use the software, but the functions in the Run and Transfer groups will be disabled.
Note
If you have already used a Demo version of iX Developer for 30 days, you will not be issued another 30 days for evaluation.
Project Size
The project size is shown in the lower right of the desktop area when designing an HMI panel project. The size was calculated at the latest validation.
Installation
The iX Developer software is downloaded from https://smartstore.beijerelectronics.com.
The installation creates an icon for iX Developer in the group named iX Developer.
Note
iX Developer must be installed on a development PC.
Installation of iX Runtime
To install iX Runtime on a PC, start the iX Runtime installer. To run the program, a dongle or software license is required that is supplied by Beijer Electronics.
Configured Features
iX Developer offers the possibility to add customer-specific features in the program. This is done through the use of registration keys that are entered after the iX Developer software installation has been done.
Clicking on Show Features displays a list of enabled features. To install a new feature, enter the feature registration key under Configured Features and click OK. A restart of the program is required to activate the function.
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Project
The top folder for a specific application designed with iX Developer is referred to as the project folder.
During runtime, project database files can be updated, for example with new recipes. This means that to completely reproduce a project that has been in operation, it may be necessary to combine source files with files retrieved from the HMI panel.
File Structure
A project consists of two main sets of files:
Design Files: These files relate to the functional and graphical design of the project.
Runtime Files: These files are compiled from the design files and are used in iX Runtime.
Project Folder
When a new project is created, a folder with the project name is created as the top-level container, the Project folder. The files that define the functional and graphical design reside in the top level of the project folder. Other folders are created as a result of validation and build.
Symbols Folder
Pictures used in projects are converted to .png files during project validation. These images are resized to the largest static usage in any project screen to conserve memory space on the panel. If a picture is enlarged at runtime using dynamics, the enlarged image may have reduced effective resolution.
Project pictures are stored in the Symbols folder as a compressed file named Symbols.zip.
Temp Folder
The Temp folder contains intermediate build files from project compilation.
The Temp folder also includes the Output folder. The Output folder contains all files needed to run the project in the target. These files are copied to an HMI panel when the Download command is used. For a PC, the Export command is used to copy the necessary files to a USB stick to the runtime PC via a network connection.
When the Windows firewall is used, ports required by the iX Runtime are opened automatically by the installer. If your operating system is protected by another firewall product, this step needs to be done manually.
Protocol: tcp
Port: 9999
Scope: any
Application: CommunicationServer.exe
And:
NeoRT_UDP
Protocol: udp
Port: 9999
Scope: any
Application: TargetControlService.exe
Moving Design Files
To move the project files needed for the design:
Create a new folder for the project design files.
Copy all single files (files not included in any folders) as well as all folders, except the Temp folder, in the project folder.
Paste the files in the new folder.
Moving Application Project
The runtime project can be downloaded to the HMI panel using the transfer or export commands, but can also be moved manually:
Create the new folder for the project files.
Copy the Output folder.
Paste it in the new folder.
Database
iX Developer uses SQLite as database.
The contents of the database can be managed with third-party database management tools. iX Developer includes a database viewer object that can be used to display database contents in runtime.
Some changes in the project will lead to data being lost when the updated project is downloaded to the HMI panel. These changes include:
Renaming a recipe
Changing the data type or name of a recipe's items or runtime data
Renaming a data logger
Changing the data type or name of a data logger's items
A copy of the database can be made with the Upload Database command. Some of the databases can be exported individually in csv, comma separated values, format using the Database Export action. If possible, it is recommended to use the Database Export action rather than the Back Up Databases action.
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