What's new in Reliance 4.7.3
March 8, 2017 | Stepan Drzka
The previous official version of the Reliance SCADA/HMI system (version 4.7.2) was released in May 2016. Now, after almost a year, Reliance 4.7.3 is out with many new features, enhancements, and optimizations that will be appreciated by those who operate large-scale projects and by countless others. The major changes are summarized below.
Chapters
Standard popup menu now available to most components
Reports in a visualization window
Mitsubishi and KNX: New communication drivers
Reliance Mobile Client: Termination of development
State Manager
A new manager named State Manager has been added to the Reliance system. Among other things, it helps solve the problem of how to display numeric-type tags' values as text. In addition, it allows entering numeric-type tags' values by selecting a state from a state list. For detailed information, read this article.
Dynamic links to objects
In Reliance, it is now possible to define dynamic (indirect) links to objects. They can be a powerful tool when creating visualization projects. In dynamic links to objects, the target object is specified by the name (by the value of the control tag). The control tag is of type String. Dynamic links can be defined for some components (Container, Real-Time Trend, Picture) and some action types (“Activate window”, “Show trend”, “Show report”, “Show custom report”, “Edit custom report”). Examples of dynamic links can be found in this article.
Data specific to thin clients
We have added the possibility to maintain a specific tag value for each connected thin client. It is suitable, for example, for applications that display data depending on which user is logged on. A thin client user logs on. Then, based on the user's name, the data server prepares data (tag values) that will be displayed to the user. Different data, however, must be displayed to a different user (who can be logged on at the same time). This data is only intended for this user. But both users use the same set of tags and view the same visualization window. On the server, therefore, there is a separate version of these tags for each connected client. For more information, check out this article.
New action types
The following action types have been added to the Action Manager: “Select alarm/event groups”, “Select alarm/event types”, “Select device”, “Select trend”, and “Select real-time trend”. These action types can be used in combination with objects in which dynamic links are defined (for example, the Container, Real-Time Trend, and Picture components and actions of type “Activate window”, “Show trend”, “Show report”, “Show custom report”, and “Edit custom report”).
Access right checking method
The “Access right checking method” property has been added to the Project Options dialog box. This option determines how to check access rights, i.e., whether to require at least one (that's how it has been until now) or all specified access rights. The latter option results in substantially reducing the number of access rights defined within large-scale projects.
Standard popup menu now available to most components
Up to version 4.7.2, the standard popup menu had only been accessible from the Display component. Removing this restriction was frequently requested by many of our users. Beginning with version 4.7.3, the popup menu can be activated for all components linked to a main tag.
Reports in a visualization window
We have added the possibility for the Container component to embed reports and custom reports. This allows inserting reports and custom reports directly into the visualization window.
Web server
In Reliance 4.7.3, the Web server has support for gzip compression (optimizing the size of HTTP messages), which substantially reduces the amount of transferred data and accelerates the server's response. This acceleration will take effect mainly within telephone service provider networks. To activate the compression, go to Project Options.
The data servers' Web page has been completely revamped (it can now be also displayed on touch devices). In the Administration section, server connections to other runtime software modules are now listed. In addition, it allows downloading log files. We have also improved the report viewer, which now allows entering a time range of data. The custom report viewer enables you to export a custom report to different formats.
Mitsubishi and KNX: New communication drivers
A new driver named Mitsubishi Communication Driver is now part of Reliance. The driver is intended for data connection between Reliance's runtime software and Mitsubishi FX, A, Q, L control systems through Ethernet. There are two communication protocols available: MELSEC A compatible 1E and MELSEC QnA compatible 3E, both in binary encoding.
Also, KNX Communication Driver, a driver for the KNX protocol, has been added to Reliance. It allows connecting to devices in the KNX/IP network.
Reliance Mobile Client: Termination of development
Beginning with version 4.7.3, Reliance Mobile Client will no longer be part of the Reliance system. This article explains the reasons for our decision.
Have you not found the feature you were looking forward to? The above are only some of the new features. The full change log is available on this page.
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