TOP Server Client Connectivity

Guide for National Instruments'

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Table of Contents
1. Overview and Requirements .......................................................................................................... 3
2. Setting TOP Server to Interactive Mode ........................................................................................ 3
3. Creating a LabVIEW Project ......................................................................................................... 3
4. Creating Bound Variables .............................................................................................................. 7
5. Adding an I/O Control to the VI .................................................................................................. 11

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1. Overview and Requirements

This guide intends to demonstrate how to establish a connection between the TOP Server OPC
server and a LabVIEW project. Users must complete the following before continuing with this
tutorial:

 Configure a server project. Users may either select the appropriate driver and settings or
run the Simulation Driver Demo that is included with TOP Server. The Simulation Driver
Demo project will be used for all examples in this tutorial.
 Start TOP Server and load the Simulation Driver Demo project. Once the server project has
been loaded, open the Runtime menu on the main menu bar and verify that the server
project is connected.

Note: LabVIEW version 8.6.1 is used in this tutorial. Its installation must include the Datalogging
and Supervisory Control (DSC) module in order to connect with an OPC data server.

2. Setting TOP Server to Interactive Mode

Before the LabVIEW project is created, the OPC server Runtime must be started. National
Instruments also recommends that the OPC server be placed in Interactive Mode. For more
information, refer to the instructions below.

1. To start, right-click on the Administrative icon located in the System Tray. Then, select
Settings.
2. Next, open the Runtime Process tab.
3. Beneath Process Mode, change the Selected Mode to Interactive.
4. Then, click OK to apply the changes.

Note: TOP Server’s Runtime must be running during the configuration of the LabVIEW project.
Users should also ensure that the Simulation Driver Demo project has been loaded into TOP
Server.

3. Creating a LabVIEW Project

1. To start, open LabVIEW by clicking Start | Programs | National Instruments LabVIEW8.6.

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2. In Getting Started, select Empty Project.

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3. In the Project Explorer, right-click on My Computer and then select New | I/O Server.

4. In Create New I/O Server, select OPC Client. Then, click Continue.

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5. In Configure OPC Client I/O Server, open the Settings tab. For the machine "localhost,"
select [Link].V5 from beneath Registered OPC Servers.
6. In Update Rate, set the value to 250 ms.

7. Upon completion, click OK.

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 9. In File Name, enter "Demo OPC Server." Then, click OK.

Note: The Name the Library (Untitled Library 1) dialog will then be invoked.

10. In File Name, enter "Simulator Driver." Then, click OK.

4. Creating Bound Variables

1. In the Project Explorer, right-click on Simulator [Link] and then select Create Bound
Variables.

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 2. In Create Bound Variables, expand the project tree beneath Project Items until all the
folders beneath OPC1 are visible. Then, open Simulation Examples and Functions.
3. Next, select the tag "Ramp3" and then click Add>>.
4. Next, select the tag "Ramp4" and then click Add>>.

Note: Both "Ramp3" and "Ramp4" should be visible beneath Added Variables.

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 5. Upon completion, click OK.

Note: The Multiple Variable Editor dialog will then be invoked. This dialog is used to configure
tag-related options.

6. Leave the options at their default settings and then click Done.

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 Note: In the Project Explorer, the two variables "Ramp3" and "Ramp4" should be visible
beneath the Simulator [Link] library.

7. Next, click File | New VI.

Note: Two new windows will be invoked. One is an untitled Front Panel. The other is the
corresponding Block Diagram window. Together, these two windows comprise a Virtual
Instrument (VI).

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5. Adding an I/O Control to the VI

1. From the Project Explorer, drag "Ramp3" to the Untitled 1 Front Panel. Place an I/O
control for "Ramp4" on the front panel in the same fashion.
2. In the front panel's main menu, click Run Continuously. Changing data should be visible in
both I/O controls.

3. Next, click Abort Execution to stop the VI.

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