Proficy HMI/SCADA - iFIX

with FIX Desktop

Getting Started Guide

Proprietary Notice

The manual and software contain confidential information which represents trade secrets
of GE Fanuc Automation Americas, Inc. and/or its suppliers, and may not be copied or
disclosed except as provided in the license with GE Fanuc Automation Americas, Inc. The
information in this manual is subject to change without notice and should not be construed
as a commitment by GE Fanuc Automation Americas, Inc. GE Fanuc Automation
Americas, Inc. assumes no responsibility for any errors that may be in this document.

©2004 GE Fanuc Automation Americas, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Trademarks

©2004 GE Fanuc Automation Americas, Inc. All rights reserved. Microsoft is a registered
trademark of Microsoft Corporation. All other brands or names are property of their
respective holders.

Proficy HMI/SCADA - iFIX Version 3.5 - 04.04

 Contents
Introduction............................................................................................vii

1. General Installation Information ....................................................... 1

Set-up Overview .......................................................................... 1

Hardware Requirements.............................................................. 2
Recommended Computers............................................. 4
Memory Requirements ................................................... 5
Disk Space Requirements .............................................. 5
The Hardware Key....................................................................... 7
Installing the Hardware Key............................................ 7
Troubleshooting Hardware Key Installation .................. 11
Replacing Defective Hardware Keys ............................ 13
Common Questions About USB Hardware Keys.......... 14
Software Requirements ............................................................. 16
Third-Party Software Installed During the iFIX Install ... 17
Notes on VBA and MDAC Software Installed with iFIX 17
Additional Third Party Software on the iFIX CD............ 18
Supported Regional Settings ........................................ 18
Video Drivers ................................................................ 20
Using Third-party Video Drivers.................................... 20
Optimizing Virtual Memory............................................ 20

Contents iii
 Running iFIX as a Service ............................................ 21
Installing the iFIX Software ........................................................ 23
Installing the FIX Desktop Software .......................................... 25
Online Registration .................................................................... 26
Using iFIX and FIX on the Same Computer .............................. 27
Installing the Sample System .................................................... 28
Installing iFIX v3.5 after Uninstalling iVisualize ......................... 30
Using iFIX with Microsoft Office................................................. 31
Optional Hardware..................................................................... 32

2. Upgrading from an Earlier Version of iFIX ..................................... 33

Upgrading the iFIX v3.5 License ............................................... 33
Upgrading from iFIX v2.6 or Later ................................ 33
Upgrading from iFIX v2.5 and Earlier ........................... 34
Preserving Settings when Upgrading to iFIX v3.5 ..................... 34
Notes on Database Dynamos and Custom Programs that
Run with iFIX Startup.................................................... 35
Title Bar in iFIX WorkSpace ...................................................... 35
Imported Toolbars ..................................................................... 36
Windows XP Windows Styles .................................................... 36
Changing Permissions for PlugAndSolve and User Globals ..... 36
Database Dynamos for iFIX v2.6 and Earlier Must be Updated for
iFIX v3.5 .................................................................................... 36
Advanced Historian Not Supported with iFIX v3.5..................... 37
Upgrading to iFIX v3.5 with iDownTime Installed ...................... 37
Compatibility of iFIX v3.5 Pictures ............................................. 37
Resolving iFIX Displays ................................................ 38
Converting Pictures from FIX v7 to iFIX ....................... 38
Running Pictures Created in an Older Version of iFIX . 38

iv Getting Started Guide

 Using Code Written for Pictures in iFIX v2.1 ................ 39
iFIX Dynamo Sets...................................................................... 39
Deleting Temp Directory Contents if iFIX v3.5 Installation Fails 40

3. Upgrading from FIX v7.x .................................................................. 41

Preparing for the Upgrade to iFIX with FIX Desktop.................. 41

Preparing the Recipe Files for the Upgrade ................. 42
Preparing the I/O Drivers for the Upgrade .................... 43
Checking the Environmental Protection Settings.......... 44
Backing Up FIX Files .................................................... 45
Exporting a Report of the Security Configuration ......... 47
Adding Passwords to the .RPT File .............................. 48
Generating a System Configuration Report.................. 49
Overview of Steps to Upgrade from FIX v7.x ............................ 50
Install the Newest Drivers and iFIX Product SIMs ..................... 51
Copy the Backed Up Files into the New Product Folder............ 52
Import the FIX I/O Driver Configuration Information .................. 53
Verify the I/O Driver and Database Migration ............................ 55
Import the Recipes Files ............................................................ 56
Import the Security Configuration .............................................. 57
Reconfigure the Application Features and Passwords for Each
User ........................................................................................... 58
Identical Application Features in FIX32 and iFIX with FIX
Desktop......................................................................... 60
FIX32 Application Feature Names That Are Different After
the Upgrade .................................................................. 61
FIX32 Application Features No Longer Available After the
Upgrade ........................................................................ 63
New Application Features Available for iFIX Users ...... 65
Redefine SCADA Failover Settings ........................................... 66

Contents v
 Understanding Failover Options After Upgrading ......... 67
Example of Failover Option One................................... 68
Steps To Configure Failover Option One...................... 69
Example of Failover Option Two................................... 71
Steps To Configure Failover Option Two...................... 71
Enable Environmental Protection .............................................. 73
Understanding Environment Protection in iFIX............. 75
Steps to Enable Environment Protection ...................... 76
Understanding Environment Protection ........................ 77
Setup the Report Generator ...................................................... 78
Update Database Dynamos ...................................................... 79

4. Other iFIX Installation Considerations ........................................... 81

Supported Drivers...................................................................... 81
Special Keyboard Buttons ......................................................... 81

5. Networking ........................................................................................ 83
Supported Networks .................................................................. 83
Supported Network Software List ................................. 83
Supported File Servers .............................................................. 84
Installing a Network Card with a Windows NT Service Pack..... 85
Handling Time Zones when Using Networked FIX v6.15 and iFIX
Nodes ........................................................................................ 85
Networking with Other iFIX and FIX Nodes ............................... 86

Index ...................................................................................................... 87

vi Getting Started Guide

Introduction
Before you begin installing this product, please take some time to
review this Getting Started Guide.

The guide includes information about the following:

• Installing iFIX

• Installing FIX Desktop

• Upgrading from earlier versions of iFIX

• Upgrading from FIX v7.x

• Supported networking components

Reference Documents

For more information on the System Configuration Utility,

troubleshooting your set-up, working with the iFIX WorkSpace, or
setting up a process database or SCADA system, please refer to the
following manuals:

• Setting Up the Environment

• Understanding iFIX

• Building a SCADA System

Introduction vii
viii Getting Started Guide
1. General Installation Information
This chapter provides general information you need in order to install
iFIX® with FIX Desktop including:

• Hardware requirements, including required computer hardware,

recommended computers, required memory, and required hard
disk space.

• Installing the hardware key and replacing defective keys.

• iFIX software requirements, including operating systems,

supported regional settings, video drivers, optimizing virtual
memory, and running iFIX as a service.

• Optional installation features, including online registration,

installing the Sample System, and installing optional hardware.

• Installing iFIX with other applications including FIX32, plug

and solve components, and Microsoft Office.

Set-up Overview
When you are ready to begin setting up your iFIX environment, use the
following steps to set up your nodes:

[1] Set up each computer you require. Use the Hardware

Requirements section as a guide, and refer to the user manual
that accompanies each computer for detailed information.

[2] Install and optimize Windows on each computer as needed.

Also make sure you create a login account with administrator
rights so you can install iFIX later. For instructions on
optimizing Windows, refer to the Working with the Hardware
Key and Windows chapter of the Setting Up the Environment
manual.

General Installation Information 1

 [3] Set up the network adapters and network software required for
each computer. Refer to the Networking iFIX Nodes and
Advanced Topics chapters of the Setting Up the Environment
manual for more information.

[4] Install the hardware key and any other hardware you may have
purchased. Refer to the section Installing the Hardware Key for
instructions on attaching the key to your computer. For
information on installing other hardware, refer to the hardware
installation guide that accompanies it.

[5] Install and configure iFIX on each computer. Make sure that the
user installing iFIX is a member of the Administrators Windows
group. Refer to the Configuring iFIX Using the SCU chapter of
the Setting Up the Environment manual for more information on
configuring iFIX.

Hardware Requirements
The minimum iFIX with FIX Desktop hardware requirements are:

• A Pentium II-based 266 MHz computer. For optimum

performance, GE Fanuc recommends a Pentium 4-based 1 GHz
computer. For a list of machines tested by GE Fanuc, refer to the
Recommended Computers section.

• A minimum of 96MB RAM for SCADA servers and iClients.

Refer to the Memory Requirements section for more information.

2 Getting Started Guide

• 120MB of free hard drive space to install a typical iFIX system,
including pictures, databases, alarm files, and other data files.

iFIX alarm and historical data files grow dynamically. If you

plan to perform extensive alarm or data collection on a node, you
may need more disk space on that particular node.

Other GE Fanuc products, such as iDownTime, Proficy

Historian, and infoAgent, impose additional requirements. Refer
to the appropriate electronic manual for specific system
requirements.

• A CD-ROM drive.

• NETBIOS-compatible or TCP/IP-compatible network interface

adapter for network communication and certain I/O drivers.

NOTE: Because Microsoft does not support NetBIOS on

Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, iFIX installed on
Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 also does not support
NetBIOS.

• One parallel port or free direct-connect USB port. Some touch

screens, pointing devices, and I/O drivers require a serial port.
Additional ports for I/O hardware should be ordered with the
computer.

• SVGA or better color graphics monitor and a 100% IBM-

compatible, 24-bit graphics card capable of 800x600 resolution
and at least 65,535 colors.

• Two-button mouse or compatible pointing device (such as a

touch screen).

General Installation Information 3

 Recommended Computers

iFIX has been tested by GE Fanuc on the following machines that were
running Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows
Server 2003:

• Compaq Deskpro

• Compaq EVO D500 (Desktop 500 Minitower)

• Dell Dimension

• Dell Optiplex GX1

• Dell Optiplex GX110

• Dell Optiplex GX200

• Dell Precision 340

• Dell Precision 530 Dual Xeon

• Dell Precision Workstation 420MT

• Dell Precision Dual

• Gateway 8400 Server (Quad Processor)

• IBM NetVista

• Micron Millennia

• Stratus® ftStratus® 3300

While GE Fanuc cannot guarantee the integrity of any computer, our

testing has shown a higher potential for problems with the economy
lines of computers on the market. Because of these problems, GE Fanuc

4 Getting Started Guide

does not recommend the use of value or economy type computers with
iFIX. Instead, GE Fanuc recommends you invest in the higher end
(premier) line of computers when purchasing computer hardware.

Memory Requirements

iClients and SCADA nodes require at least 96MB RAM. This

configuration provides enough memory to run iFIX applications. GE
Fanuc recommends at least 128MB RAM.

NOTE: As more applications run simultaneously on a SCADA server,

performance decreases. Whenever possible, run additional
applications on different computers.

If the size of your process database is over 1MB, add 1 megabyte of

memory for each megabyte of database size. For example, if your
database is 2MB in size, your SCADA server requires 98MB minimum
(96+2=98).

If your picture cache size increases, your memory requirements should

increase:

• 2 to 3 times the file size for each picture that does not include
bitmaps and controls.

• 3 to 4 times the file size for each picture that includes bitmaps
and controls.

For example, a 2 megabyte file that does not include bitmaps and
controls requires a 4 to 6 megabyte increase in memory. A 2 megabyte
file that includes bitmaps and controls requires an increase in the
memory of 6 to 8 megabytes.

Disk Space Requirements

The Intellution iFIX WorkSpace checks to make sure you have at least
10 MB of disk space when you save a picture or a schedule. If there is
insufficient disk space, the WorkSpace may react unpredictably and you
may lose your work.

General Installation Information 5

 To help minimize this problem, the WorkSpace warns you if you have
less than 10 MB of disk space available. Although you can continue
loading the software, we recommend that you stop iFIX, free some disk
space, then restart. Otherwise, the WorkSpace may become unstable.

The WorkSpace examines the iFIX Picture path and the Windows
TEMP path when it starts. If you change either path so that they
reference different drives, for example, D:\Dynamics and C:\Temp, the
WorkSpace requires 10 MB on each drive.

You may find that 10MB is not enough space to protect against
instability during file save operations. You can increase this threshold
by changing the FreeDiskSpace parameter in the FixUserPreferences.ini
file. This parameter sets the minimum amount of space that the
WorkSpace requires in bytes. By default, the parameter is set as
follows:

[AppRunPreferences]
FreeDiskSpace=10000000

To change this setting:

[1] Shut down the WorkSpace.

[2] Locate the FixUserPreferences.ini file in the Local path.

[3] Open the file with a text editor and change the parameter.

[4] Save the .INI file and restart the WorkSpace.

6 Getting Started Guide

The Hardware Key
The hardware key you use to run iFIX with FIX Desktop:

• Controls and enables software options available to your

installation.

• Uses a utility to electronically reprogram options you choose to

upgrade or change. Consequently, you are no longer required to
exchange hardware keys for version updates or option changes.

Two types of hardware key are offered: one that supports parallel port
configurations, and a key that supports USB port configurations.

iFIX runs in demo mode for two hours if the key is not installed or
found. Hardware keys from version 2.5 and older will not work. You
can exchange the older key by contacting your iFIX sales
representative. You will need to use iKeyUpdate to upgrade your
hardware keys from version 2.6 and later. For more information, see the
Upgrading from iFIX v2.6 or Later section.

Be sure to file your hardware key packing slip in a safe location. The
codes on this slip are necessary for GE Fanuc to quickly duplicate the
key in case it is damaged or misplaced. You can verify that your serial
number matches the serial number on the hardware key packing slip by
using the iKeyDiag utility to detect and display your hardware key
settings. For more information, see the Using iKeyDiag section of the
Setting Up the Environment manual.

Installing the Hardware Key

A hardware key is included with your iFIX software. You must install
your hardware key in order to access all the components of the iFIX
software you purchased. The following sections provide procedures for
installing your hardware key. Follow the appropriate procedures for
your key type.

General Installation Information 7

 Parallel Port Hardware Key and Microsoft Windows

GE Fanuc supports the installation of a parallel port hardware key on

systems running Windows.

To install the parallel port hardware key:

[1] Power off the computer and all peripheral devices before
installing the hardware key; it is sensitive to static electricity.

[2] Remove any connections to your computer’s parallel port.

[3] Secure the hardware key in the parallel port and tighten the
screws.

IMPORTANT: Do not remove the hardware key from your

node while iFIX is running. If you do, iFIX features will shut
down and you will need to restart iFIX. You may also damage
the hardware key if you remove it while iFIX is running.

[4] If you had any equipment connected to your parallel port,

reconnect to the back of the hardware key.

USB Port Hardware Key and Microsoft Windows

GE Fanuc supports the installation of the USB port hardware key only
on systems running Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Server
2003.

At this time, GE Fanuc does not support USB keys connected through
an external USB hub.

IMPORTANT: If you are using a Rainbow/SuperPro Key from a

Previous iFIX release, do not install the hardware until after you install
the iFIX product. If you accidentally installed the hardware first, follow
the steps in the Recovery for Improper Installation of the Rainbow
SuperPro USB Hardware Key section in this topic.

8 Getting Started Guide

To install the USB port hardware key license:

[1] Run iDemo.exe to begin the iFIX installation process. You can
find this file on the iFIX installation CD in the DemoShield
folder.

[2] Click Install iFIX 3.5. An installation screen appears.

[3] Insert your USB hardware key in the appropriate port.

IMPORTANT: If you are using a Rainbow/SuperPro Key from

a previous iFIX release, you also need to install the Sentinel
driver so that iFIX recognizes this key. To install this driver,
click the Sentinel button on the installation screen.

[4] A message box, similar to the following figure, appears as the

hardware key installs:

[5] Once the hardware installation and licensing is complete, click

Retry in the iFIX installation dialog box.

General Installation Information 9

 Recovery for Improper Installation of the Rainbow SuperPro
USB Hardware Key

If you inserted the Rainbow SuperPro USB hardware key prior to

installing the Sentinel System Driver, a dialog box requesting USB
drivers appears. Cancel this dialog box, and then follow these steps to
uninstall the incorrectly installed USB hardware key:

[1] Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop and select

Manage from the right-click menu. The following dialog box
appears:

[2] Select Device manager from the System Tools tree.

10 Getting Started Guide

 [3] Select Universal Serial Bus controllers from the right pane of the
Computer Management dialog box.

[4] Right-click the USB Token. Choose Uninstall from the right-
click menu.

[5] Click OK to confirm uninstall.

[6] Remove the USB hardware key from your computer and reboot
your computer.

[7] Continue the correct installation using procedures from the USB
Port Hardware Key and Microsoft Windows section in this topic.

Troubleshooting Hardware Key Installation

If the hardware key does not install properly, you may find that even
though you have followed the installation directions for your hardware
key, you see the following message from iFIX:

Figure 1-1: Message when No Key is Detected

First, check to see that your hardware key is firmly attached. Next,
uninstall and reinstall the driver for the hardware key. If this driver has
been incorrectly uninstalled, it may behave unpredictably.

General Installation Information 11

 Troubleshooting the New Aladdin HASP USB Key...

If the Aladdin HASP USB key does not appear to be working, you can
reinstall the Intellution Licensing to recover from the improper install.
When the Aladdin HASP key is not communicating correctly, you will
notice that the indicator light at the end of the key is off.

To reinstall the Intellution Licensing, follow these steps:

[1] Reinstall the Intellution Licensing by clicking the Setup.exe file

in the License folder on the iFIX product installation CD.

[2] Click Finish when the licensing install completes.

Troubleshooting the Rainbow SuperPro USB Key from a

Previous iFIX Release...

If the Rainbow SuperPro USB key does not appear to be working, you
can uninstall and reinstall the Sentinel System Driver to recover from
the improper install.

To uninstall the Sentinel System driver for the Rainbow SuperPro key:

[1] Double-click Add/Remove Programs in your Control Panel.

[2] Select the Sentinel System Driver from the list of currently
installed programs and click Remove.

[3] Run the setup.exe file from the following directory on your iFIX
Installation disc:

\SentinelDriver

If you see the Message when No Key is Detected and do not see Sentinel
System Driver in your list of currently installed programs, you may
have implemented the Windows XP or IBM rollback feature to restore
your registry to a previous state. This process does not remove files,
and the Sentinel System Driver will not install over existing files. You
will need to remove the file manually.

12 Getting Started Guide

To remove the file manually:

• Delete the following file:

WINNT\system32\drivers\sentinel.sys

To reinstall the Sentinel System Driver:

[1] Click Sentinel button from the install screen.

[2] After the driver installs, plug the key into the USB port.

Replacing Defective Hardware Keys

Defective hardware keys cause iFIX to generate the following error

message when it starts or when you start an application:

ERROR - MISSING SECURITY KEY OR FILE

The message may also indicate that the hardware key is not securely
installed. Be sure to check the connection before assuming your
hardware key is defective.

You can also tell if a hardware key is invalid by running the

iKeyDiag.exe application in the Dynamics folder (the folder where you
installed iFIX). The Licensing Info tab for the KeyDiag utility indicates
whether the license is not current or invalid.

General Installation Information 13

 GE Fanuc replaces defective keys as quickly as possible. To obtain a
replacement hardware key:

• Call your local GE Fanuc technical support representative. The

support representative will instruct you to FAX a completed
copy of a Merchandise Return Authorization form. On receipt of
the form, GE Fanuc can program a new hardware key and send it
to you overnight.

• When you receive the hardware key, you must return the old one
along with a copy of the form sent with the new hardware key.
GE Fanuc reserves the right to invoice you for defective
hardware keys that are not returned.

Common Questions About USB Hardware Keys

This section describes some frequently asked questions about iFIX

hardware keys.

What’s the Difference Between the Aladdin HASP USB Key

and Rainbow SuperPro USB Key?

The Aladdin HASP USB Key is the new hardware key that is provided
with new iFIX v3.5 installations.

The Rainbow SuperPro USB Key was provided with previous iFIX
releases. If you are upgrading from a previous release, you likely have
one of these keys. This USB key is a lighter purple than the other key.

If I Have Both Types of USB Keys Plugged in, Which One

Does iFIX Detect First?

iFIX detects the Aladdin HASP USB Key.

14 Getting Started Guide

What Does the Light At the End of the Key Indicate?

For the Aladdin HASP USB Key, the light indicates that the key and the
software are communicating. If this light is off, it would indicate a
problem with the key.

For the Rainbow SuperPro USB Key, the light simply means that it is
plugged in. It does not indicate if it is running correctly.

If I Move the USB Key To Another Port Is It Automatically

Detected?

Yes. The Aladdin HASP USB key and Rainbow SuperPro USB key are
automatically detected when moved to another USB port. The Rainbow
SuperPro USB Key, additionally, displays a screen asking you to install
the software again. There are no additionally screens requesting
software to be installed for the Aladdin HASP USB key.

General Installation Information 15

 Software Requirements
The minimum iFIX with FIX Desktop software requirements are:

• One of the following operating systems:

• Microsoft® Windows® NT v4.0, with Service Pack 6a.

• Microsoft® Windows® 2000, Professional or Advanced

Server Edition, with Service Pack 2 or greater
recommended.

• Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional, Service Pack 1

or greater. Since Windows XP has continuous updates,
you should run the Windows update feature to get the
latest software.

• Microsoft® Windows® Server 2003, Standard or

Enterprise Edition. Since Windows Server 2003 has
continuous updates, you should run the Windows update
feature to get the latest software.

• Network interface software for network communication and

certain I/O drivers.

NOTE: Microsoft discontinued support for NetBEUI in

Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. For more information
on the discontinued support, beginning with Windows XP, refer
to Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q306059.

• An I/O driver for SCADA servers. GE Fanuc supplies I/O

drivers for many programmable controllers or you may purchase
a driver separately. Be certain that the I/O driver you purchase is
compatible with your hardware. Contact your GE Fanuc Sales
Representative or visit the GE Fanuc web site at http://
www.gefanucautomation.com/products/fixiodrivers/default.asp
for the latest list of drivers and supported hardware.

• Internet Explorer v5.5 or higher.

16 Getting Started Guide

Third-Party Software Installed During the iFIX
Install

Please note that the following third-party software is automatically

installed with iFIX v3.5:

• MDAC version 2.71, Service Release 1

• Microsoft® VBA version 6.3

Notes on VBA and MDAC Software Installed with

iFIX

During the installation of iFIX, both VBA and Microsoft Data Access
Components (MDAC) are installed.

iFIX requires that these components be installed. If the versions of

these components on the iFIX CD are newer than the versions on your
computer, then the iFIX installation program updates the ones on your
computer. If the versions on your computer are newer, then the iFIX
installation program does not update them, and iFIX uses the most
recent versions already on your computer instead.

NOTE: Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 already

include MDAC, so this component is not installed on these operating
systems when you install iFIX. You can use the Windows Update
Service to update MDAC for these operating systems.

iFIX v3.5 ships with VBA v6.3, which is the version included with
Microsoft Office XP; it also ships MDAC v2.71, Service Release 1.
This is the same version that shipped with Microsoft Windows XP,
Service Pack 1.

If you have questions about the compatibility of MDAC with your

system, refer to this web site: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/
default.asp?url=/downloads/list/dataaccess.asp, or contact Microsoft.

If you have questions about VBA, please visit: http://

msdn.microsoft.com/vba/ for more information.

General Installation Information 17

 Additional Third Party Software on the iFIX CD

From the iFIX CD, you can also install the following programs:

• Microsoft® Internet Explorer v6.0, Service Pack 1

• Crystal Reports® Run-time files version 8.5 from Crystal

Decisions

To install either of these programs, double-click the iDemo.exe file in

the DemoShield folder of the iFIX CD to open the Install iFIX screen.
On this screen, there are buttons to Install Internet Explorer or Install
Crystal Reports Runtime.

Supported Regional Settings

iFIX supports the following regional settings available in the Windows

Control Panel:

• Decimal symbol - one character

• Digit grouping symbol

• List separator - one character

• Time style

• Time separator

• Short date style

• Date separator

NOTE: The decimal symbol and the digit grouping symbol cannot be
the same character. Also, the time separator and the date separator
cannot be the same character.

18 Getting Started Guide

Formatting the Time and Date

Avoid changing the time style or short date style in regional settings to
values that are outside of the standard styles provided. Changing these
values to non-standard styles may result in improperly formatting times
and dates in some parts of iFIX.

iFIX supports the following short date formats, some of which may not
be available in certain language versions of Windows:

• dd/mm/yy, or dd/mm/yyyy

• dd/yy/mm, or dd/yyyy/mm

• mm/dd/yy, or mm/dd/yyyy

• mm/yy/dd, or mm/yyyy/dd

• yy/dd/mm, or yyyy/dd/mm

• yy/mm/dd, or yyyy/mm/dd

Formatting the Regional Language Setting

Avoid changing the language setting once a timer has been used in a
schedule. If changed, the date always reverts to 30/12/99, regardless of
what you set the start time to be.

Setting the System Default Locale

The selected locale must be set as the system default.

General Installation Information 19

 Video Drivers

After much testing, GE Fanuc has found that some video drivers have
unique problems which are only apparent when using these drivers.
Additionally, GE Fanuc has found that many problems with video
drivers occur in both iFIX applications and common applications, such
as Excel and Word.

If you are experiencing problems with your video driver, try using it in a
different mode to find out if the problem is unique to a specific
configuration.

Using Third-party Video Drivers

If you need to use a third-party driver, please use the following

guidelines to resolve any problems you may experience:

• Contact the manufacturer to ensure you have the latest version of

the video driver. GE Fanuc has found that the latest version of
third-party video drivers can fix some problems.

• If the latest version of the video driver does not fix the problem,
notify the video driver manufacturer to see if they are aware of
the problem.

• If all else fails to resolve the problem, contact GE Fanuc

Technical Support.

Optimizing Virtual Memory

Through the use of paging files, Windows allocates space on your hard
drive for use as if it were actually memory. This space is known as
virtual memory. After you install Windows, be sure to optimize the
virtual memory for use with iFIX. The following list describes how to
optimize virtual memory in Windows to achieve maximum performance
from iFIX.

20 Getting Started Guide

To optimize the virtual memory paging file for iFIX in Windows:

[1] Double-click the System icon in the Windows Control Panel.

[2] In the Windows NT System Properties dialog box, click the

Performance tab.

In the Windows 2000 System Properties dialog box, click the

Advanced tab, then select Performance Options.

In the Windows XP System Properties dialog box, click the

Advanced tab, then in the Performance group box, select
Settings. In the Performance Options dialog box, click the
Advanced Tab.

In the Windows Server 2003 System Properties dialog box, click

the Advanced tab, then select Performance Options.

[3] Select Change in the Virtual Memory group box.

[4] Enter a value equal to three times your physical memory in the
Initial Size field.

[5] Enter a value equal to three times your physical memory in the
Maximum Size field.

[6] Select Set.

[7] Click OK to save the changes and exit the dialog box.

NOTE: If the paging file is set to grow dynamically, your system may
experience severe performance problems during run time. To ensure
optimal performance, be sure that the Initial Size and Maximum Size of
the paging file are the same so that the paging file does not grow
dynamically.

Running iFIX as a Service

If you are running iFIX as a service, please take note of the following
information.

General Installation Information 21

 Windows Services

Do not stop the iFIX service or make changes to the iFIX configuration
from the Services control panel. This applies to iFIX running on any
operating system.

Disabling iFIX as a Service

To disable iFIX from running as a service, follow these steps:

[1] Start the SCU.

[2] Select Local Startup from the Configure menu. The Local
Startup Definition dialog box appears.

[3] In the Service area of dialog box, clear both the Continue
running after logoff and Start iFIX at system boot check boxes,
as shown in the following figure.

[4] Click OK.

[5] Select Save from the File menu to save the SCU file.

[6] Exit the SCU.

[7] Restart iFIX.

22 Getting Started Guide

iFIX Paths

Windows does not map network drives until a user logs in. Therefore, if
running iFIX as a service under Windows, all iFIX paths must be set to
a local drive.

Required Application Feature

You must assign the Enable Ctrl+Alt+Del application feature to the user
that is logged in when iFIX is running as a service. Otherwise if a user
logs out of the operating system while iFIX is running as a service, no
one will be able to log back in to the operating system.

Running iFIX with Terminal Services

Running iFIX as a service under Terminal Services is not supported.

Installing the iFIX Software

To install iFIX software, follow these steps:

[1] Ensure your FIX software is not running, and close any other
programs that are running.

[2] Log in to Windows with Administrator privileges.

[3] Insert the iFIX with FIX Desktop CD into the CD-ROM drive:

• If the iFIX product install screen appears automatically

after you insert the CD, select Install iFIX from the list of
options.

• If the Setup does not start automatically, select Run from

the Start menu. Enter your CD drive letter, followed by a
colon and a back slash and the command Setup.exe (for
example, D:\Setup.exe), and then click OK.

General Installation Information 23

 [4] Wait for the licensing files to install. The Welcome screen
appears.

[5] Click Next to continue. The iFIX Product License Agreement

appears.

[6] If you agree with the license, click “I accept the agreement” to
continue.

[7] Click Next. The Choose Destination Folder dialog box appears.

[8] Leave the default Dynamics path or click Browse to select a

folder.

NOTE: If you are upgrading from FIX32, make sure that you
choose a location other than the folder that contains your FIX32
software, if it is installed on the same computer. Do not install
over a current FIX32 installation.

[9] Click Next to continue. The Setup Type dialog box appears.

[10] GE Fanuc recommends that you select the Typical install option.

[11] Click Next to continue. The progress of the installation displays

on screen as the files are copied. After a few minutes, when the
install finishes copying the files, the Node Information dialog
box appears.

[12] Enter the Node Name.

[13] Enter the Node Type and Network Type, if applicable, and then
click OK.

[14] Enter Remote SCADA nodes, if applicable. Verify that IP and

Names are in the Hosts file.

[15] A message box appears asking if you want to enable SCADA

support. Click Yes to continue. When the iFIX WorkSpace
finishes registering, the product registration message box
appears.

24 Getting Started Guide

[16] Click Yes to register now and display a web page with the
registration request, or click No to continue. A message box
appears asking if you want to review the release notes.

[17] Review the Release Notes and close the notes after you are
finished. The Setup Complete dialog box appears.

[18] Select Yes to restart the computer, and click Finish.

[19] When the computer restarts, log in to Windows with the same
user name (with Administrator rights).

IMPORTANT: If upgrading from FIX v7 to iFIX with FIX Desktop, do

not start iFIX yet.

Installing the FIX Desktop Software

To install FIX Desktop software after installing iFIX v3.5, follow these
steps:

[1] Ensure your iFIX software is not running, and close any other
programs that are running.

[2] Log in to Windows with Administrator privileges.

[3] Insert the iFIX with FIX Desktop CD into the CD-ROM drive:

• If the iFIX product install screen appears automatically

after you insert the CD, select Install FIX Desktop for
iFIX from the list of options.

• If the product install screen does not appear automatically,

select Run from the Start menu. Enter your CD drive
letter, followed by a colon and a back slash and the
command Demoshield\iDemo.exe (for example,
D:\Demoshield\iDemo.exe), and then click OK. Select
Install FIX Desktop for iFIX from the list of options.

The FIX Desktop install begins. The Welcome screen appears.

General Installation Information 25

 [4] Click Next to continue. The Software License Agreement
appears.

[5] If you agree with the license, click Yes to continue.

The progress of the installation displays on screen as the files are

copied. When the install finishes copying files, a message box
appears requesting that you review the release notes.

NOTE: FIX Desktop applications are installed into the iFIX

product folder. If you installed iFIX to the default location, this
folder is C:\Dynamics. It is important that this folder is not the
same folder as the v7.x product, if you are upgrading.

[6] Click Yes to continue. A text file appears with the release notes.

[7] Review the release notes, and close the file when you are
finished. The Setup Complete dialog box appears.

[8] Click Finish.

[9] Restart your computer.

IMPORTANT: If upgrading from FIX v7, do not start iFIX yet. Refer
to the Overview of Steps to Upgrade from FIX v7.x section for
information on how to proceed.

Online Registration
You can register iFIX online during the product installation. However,
you can also register the product online after you have installed iFIX.

To register iFIX online:

[1] Select the Intellution iFIX WorkSpace Help from the

WorkSpace Help menu, and then select Intellution On the Web.

[2] From the sub-menu that appears, select Register Online.

26 Getting Started Guide

[3] Enter the appropriate fields on the registration form, and click
Next until all pages are completed.

Using iFIX and FIX on the Same Computer

Although you can run iFIX and FIX Desktop applications at the same
time, you cannot run iFIX and FIX v7 at the same time on a single
computer. You can have iFIX and FIX v7 installed on the same
computer, however. The following sections address issues that occur
when installing iFIX and FIX v7 on the same computer.

NOTE: Because the hardware key for iFIX with FIX Desktop is
different from the FIX hardware key, remember to remove the iFIX
hardware key and insert a FIX hardware key before installing or
running FIX v7.

General Notes on Installing FIX and iFIX on the Same

Computer

When installing FIX v7 on a computer that already has iFIX installed

(or vice versa) do not elect to use the current SCU configuration when
prompted during the install. If you select to use the current SCU, both
FIX and iFIX will launch with errors when you try to run either program
after the install.

Installing iFIX on a FIX v7.0 Node

If you install iFIX on a node that has FIX installed and you have at least
one v7 driver installed, the registry paths for FIX v7 are changed to iFIX
paths. Therefore, when you run a FIX v7 application, such as the
System Configuration Utility, you will receive errors.

To avoid these errors, install iFIX without I/O drivers. This preserves
your FIX v7 paths in the registry.

General Installation Information 27

 Uninstalling iFIX and FIX v7.0

You can install iFIX and FIX v7. on the same computer. If you
subsequently uninstall iFIX, you must re-install FIX v7.0.

Starting up FIX v7.0 After Installing iFIX

An application error occurs when you start up FIX v7.0 as a service

under Windows after you install iFIX. The error occurs because both
FIX v7.0 and iFIX v3.5 use the same key name (FIX) under the Services
key in the registry. Therefore, when you install iFIX v3.5, it overwrites
the entry for FIX v7.0.

Each product needs to have its own Services key. FIX v7.0 runs
correctly if it is not run as a service.

The workaround for this problem is to edit the registry so that the
Services key points to the service executable in the correct path. The
key is located in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Fix.
Set the ImagePath value to the correct path for fixsrv.exe.

Installing the Sample System

If you installed iFIX in the default directory structure, the Sample
System will run with no problems. However, if you installed the
Dynamics directory as a sub-directory in Program Files, Sample System
will not run. To enable Sample System to run in this situation:

[1] Move the Sample System directory to C:\ or some other root.

[2] Copy the SampleSystem\Local folder and its contents back into
the original install location in the Dynamics folder. For
example, copy C:\SampleSystem\Local into C:\Program
Files\Dynamics\SampleSystem\Local.

[3] Open the Sample System SCU from the Sample System
directory.

28 Getting Started Guide

[4] Change the following base paths to C:\Program~1\Dynamics\, or
wherever you have installed the Dynamics directory, in the
Sample System SCU Path Configuration dialog:

[a] Base

[b] Language

[c] Alarms

[d] Master Recipe

[e] Control Recipe

[5] Change the following base paths to C:\SampleSystem in the

Sample System SCU Path Configuration dialog:

[a] Project

[b] Local

[c] Database

[d] Picture

[e] Application

[f] Historical

[g] Historical Data

[h] Alarm Areas (AAD)

[6] Change alarm area filtering for the enabled alarm services from
the Use areas common to all services option to the Use “ALL”
areas option in the Alarm Services Configuration dialog.

[7] Change the SCU path in the Sample System desktop icon target
from C:\Program
Files\Dynamics\SampleSystem\Local\Sample.scu to
C:\SampleSystem\Local\Sample.scu or the new location.

General Installation Information 29

 NOTE: The Sample System will not run if your Dynamics path
contains a space. For example, if you install to C:\My
Files\Dynamics\SampleSystem, the Sample System will not run.
Follow the steps listed above to enable the Sample System to run.

[8] Start the Sample System.

[9] Open the Security Configuration program (seccfg.exe).

[10] Click the Configuration button on the Security toolbox. The

Configuration dialog box appears.

[11] Change the Security Path and Backup Path fields to the new
Sample System location you created in step 1. For example,
change C:\Program Files\Dynamics\SampleSystem\Local to the
new path of C:\SampleSystem\Local.

This action copies the security configuration from the Sample

System’s installed location to the new location.

[12] Click OK and save the security configuration.

Optionally, you can delete the copy of the SampleSystem\Local

folder in the install location. For example, you can delete the
C:\Program Files\Dynamics\SampleSystem\Local folder.

Installing iFIX v3.5 after Uninstalling

iVisualize
If you have uninstalled iVisualize®, you must modify the
FixUserPreferences.ini file before installing iFIX v3.5. This file is
located in the \Dynamics\Local folder.

The section [AppConfigPicturePreferences] contains the following

lines:

TotalConfigPicturePath=1
PicturePath#0=*C:\DYNAMICS\PDB\PanelStart.ivs

30 Getting Started Guide

 Change TotalConfigPicturePath=1 to TotalConfigPicturePath=0 and
delete the line which reads
PicturePath#0=*C:\DYNAMICS\PDB\PanelStart.ivs.

You will then be able to install iFIX v3.5.

Using iFIX with Microsoft Office

You can use the Microsoft Office family of products and iFIX on the
same computer. However, to ensure that VBA works correctly, install
Microsoft Office products before installing iFIX.

Use the following table as a guide for installing and removing either
product.

If you have... And you want to... Then...

Installed iFIX Install Microsoft Remove iFIX, install

Office Products Microsoft Office
products, and re-install
iFIX.

Installed Microsoft Remove Microsoft Remove iFIX, remove

Office Products Office Products Microsoft Office
products, and re-install
iFIX.

General Installation Information 31

 Optional Hardware
iFIX supports the following optional hardware. You may want to
purchase one or more of these items to enhance your iFIX system.

• A Microsoft-supported touch screen or other pointing device.

• A DigiBoard™ to provide your computer with up to 9 serial

ports. If you are using multiple I/O drivers or multiple ports for
one I/O driver, you may require the use of a DigiBoard. GE
Fanuc has tested and supports the Digichannel PC/8E.

32 Getting Started Guide

2. Upgrading from an Earlier Version
of iFIX
This chapter contains information about issues concerning upgrading to
iFIX v3.5. Issues specific to upgrading from iFIX v2.5 and earlier are
clearly marked.

Upgrading the iFIX v3.5 License

The instructions for upgrading your iFIX license depend on whether you
upgrade from iFIX v2.6 or from an earlier version of iFIX.

Upgrading from iFIX v2.6 or Later

When you upgrade to iFIX v3.5 from iFIX v2.6 or later, you are
required to update the license on each iFIX machine. GE Fanuc
provides the iKeyUpdate utility to perform this task. To use
iKeyUpdate, you will need to obtain an iLicense update file with
specific information about your keys. For information about obtaining
the iLicense file, contact your sales representative. You will receive the
iLicense file by disk or by e-mail.

NOTE: Do not install iFIX v3.5 if you do not have the iLicense file.
iFIX v3.5 will function in demo mode only on a system that does not
have an updated key.

To run the iLicense file:

[1] Double-click on the iLicense filename. The iKeyUpdate dialog

box opens.

The full path to your iLicense file should appear in the Update
File text box. If it doesn’t appear, browse to it.

[2] Click Update Now to update your hardware key.

Upgrading from an Earlier Version of iFIX 33

 [3] Click OK to confirm that you want to update your key. A
message appears telling you that the key was successfully
updated.

[4] If you want, you can run iKeyDiag to review the update to your
hardware key.

Upgrading from iFIX v2.5 and Earlier

When you upgrade to iFIX v3.5 from iFIX v2.5 and earlier, you are
required to replace your existing hardware key and license with a new
hardware key and license. You should return your old key to GE Fanuc.
For information about obtaining a new hardware key and license, or
returning your old key, contact your iFIX sales representative. For more
information about the new hardware key, see the The Hardware Key
section of this manual.

Preserving Settings when Upgrading to

iFIX v3.5
When you upgrade to iFIX v3.5, the following files, located in the
Dynamics\Local folder, are overwritten:

• alarm.ini

• databasemanager.ini

• ddeclnt.ini

• filterederrors.ini

• fix.ini

• fixodbc.ini

34 Getting Started Guide

• SystemTree.csv

• FindReplace.csv

• iFixScreenSaver.bmp

When iFIX is installed, all previously existing configuration files listed

above are backed up to the Dynamics\Config Files Backup folder. To
preserve these settings, copy your customized changes from these
backup files into each current file located in the Dynamics\Local folder.
Do not copy and paste the entire file into the Dynamics\Local folder
because it would overwrite any new settings installed with iFIX v3.5.

Notes on Database Dynamos and Custom

Programs that Run with iFIX Startup

When you install the newest release of iFIX, the product install program
places a new version of the startup control file, FIX.INI, into your
Dynamics\Local directory. The previous version of this file is copied to
the Dynamics\Config Files Backup folder, along with the other
configuration files.

If you configured Database Dynamos, also known as loadable blocks, or

other custom programs to run as part of iFIX startup, you should
compare the new FIX.INI file in the Dynamics\Local folder against the
FIX.INI file stored in Dynamics\Config Files Backup folder. If you find
any changes between the two files, add the necessary lines to the
FIX.INI stored in the Local path.

Title Bar in iFIX WorkSpace

iFIX v3.0 and later provides a new title bar in the WorkSpace, which
reads “Intellution iFIX Workspace.” If you have any custom
applications that use the FindWindow Microsoft API call, you will need
to update these applications to reflect the new title bar.

Upgrading from an Earlier Version of iFIX 35

 Imported Toolbars
If your Intellution iFIX WorkSpace contains toolbars imported in iFIX
v2.6, such as the Proficy Historian toolbar, you will need to reimport
these toolbars after upgrading to iFIX v3.5.

Windows XP Windows Styles

Because Windows XP window styles have larger title bars and menu
bars, you may see some new scroll bars on your existing iFIX pictures.
GE Fanuc recommends that you change the Appearance Scheme in your
Display Properties dialog box to Windows Classic.

Changing Permissions for PlugAndSolve

and User Globals
If you had iFIX v2.6 installed on a Windows 2000, Windows XP, or
Windows Server 2003 computer, when you upgrade to iFIX v3.5 you
may need to change the security properties of the user.fxg and
plugandsolve.fxg files. In the Security tab of the Properties dialog for
each of these two files, enable the following check box: Allow
inheritable permissions from parent to propagate to this object.

Database Dynamos for iFIX v2.6 and Earlier

Must be Updated for iFIX v3.5
If you have Database Dynamos, also known as loadable blocks, created
in iFIX v2.6 or earlier, you must update them to work with iFIX v3.5.
For the current version of the database dynamo toolkit, contact your
local iFIX sales representative. Other GE Fanuc-supplied Database
Dynamos have been updated and are available on the GE Fanuc web
site.

36 Getting Started Guide

Database Dynamos created in iFIX v3.0 are compatible and do not
require updating.

NOTE: Any Database Dynamos that you installed from the Allen-
Bradley Productivity Pack CD for iFIX v2.6 must be updated before
they will work with iFIX v3.5. Database Dynamos that you installed
from the Allen-Bradley Productivity Pack CD for iFIX v3.0 work with
no changes.

Advanced Historian Not Supported with

iFIX v3.5
Advanced Historian is not supported with iFIX v2.6 and later. If you
have Advanced Historian installed, contact your local iFIX sales
representative about upgrading to Proficy Historian, GE Fanuc’s
historian product.

Upgrading to iFIX v3.5 with iDownTime

Installed
If you are upgrading to iFIX v3.5, you can no longer use iDownTime
with Advanced Historian, because Advanced Historian is no longer
supported. Contact your local iFIX sales representative about
upgrading to GE Fanuc’s historian product, Proficy Historian. To
enable iDownTime to work with Proficy Historian, download the
appropriate SIM from GE Fanuc’s technical support web site.

Compatibility of iFIX v3.5 Pictures

iFIX v3.5 supports pictures created, saved, or built in previous versions
of iFIX. However, pictures created, saved, or built in iFIX v3.5 are not
compatible and cannot be opened in older versions of iFIX.

Upgrading from an Earlier Version of iFIX 37

 Resolving iFIX Displays

When you upgrade your iFIX system, or add or delete tags from your
database, it is important that you run resolve on all pictures and
schedules. This will ensure that you are getting maximum performance
from your iFIX system.

Converting Pictures from FIX v7 to iFIX

When converting pictures from FIX v7 to iFIX, we recommend that you

load the corresponding database in Database Manager before converting
a picture. If you do not load the current database, you will need to
manually reset each animation. For more information, see the Using
the Picture Converter Utility section of the Creating Pictures manual.

Running Pictures Created in an Older Version of

iFIX

If you performed your original picture development on an earlier

version of iFIX and have not upgraded to iFIX v2.2 or later, you may
experience color mapping errors when upgrading to iFIX v3.5.

To avoid color mapping problems, perform the following steps before

saving and resolving any pictures in iFIX v3.5.

[1] Copy and save the tables.lst file from the older version of iFIX.

[2] Install the iFIX v3.5 upgrade or switch to the upgraded machine.

[3] Shut down the WorkSpace.

[4] Delete the tableconversion.lst file from the Dynamics directory

(C:\Dynamics).

[5] Copy the original tables.lst file to the Dynamics directory.

[6] Restart the WorkSpace.

38 Getting Started Guide

Using Code Written for Pictures in iFIX v2.1

Code written to position or size a picture using the ActiveWindow

object in iFIX v2.1 may produce different results in an iFIX v3.5 system
using multiple monitors with autoscale disabled. The incorrect
positioning and sizing occurs because the ActiveWindow object in v2.1
does not account for the disabled autoscale in v3.5.

You can access the ActiveWindow object directly from the documents
collection or by calling the OpenPicture subroutine.

To correct the sizing and positioning, multiply the parameters in the

v2.1 script by the number of monitors.

For example:

In iFIX v2.1, you opened a picture on the second monitor of a dual

monitor system by issuing the following command:

openpicture "picture.grf",,0,50

In iFIX v2.6 and later, open a picture on the second monitor of a dual
monitor system by issuing the following command:

openpicture "picture.grf",,0,100

iFIX Dynamo Sets

When you install iFIX v3.5 or a Software Improvement Module (SIM)
that updates any iFIX Dynamo sets, the Dynamo sets from previous
versions are overwritten. To avoid losing any modifications made to
these files, you can rename them or move them to a folder located
outside the Dynamics picture path. Dynamo set files have an .FDS
extension and are located in the Dynamics\Pic directory, by default.

Upgrading from an Earlier Version of iFIX 39

 Deleting Temp Directory Contents if iFIX
v3.5 Installation Fails
When upgrading to iFIX v3.5, in some cases the installation will run too
quickly, taking only a few seconds, or hang and not complete the
process. In both cases, the product will not successfully install. If this
happens, delete the contents of the Temp directory, and run the
installation again.

40 Getting Started Guide

3. Upgrading from FIX v7.x
This chapter describes how to upgrade the FIX v7.x product to the iFIX
with FIX Desktop product. After you upgrade, you can continue to use
your FIX32 pictures in FIX Desktop Draw and View applications, or
you can migrate and create new pictures in the iFIX WorkSpace.

Before you upgrade, you need to follow the steps outlined in the
Preparing for the Upgrade to iFIX with FIX Desktop section. The
actual upgrade steps are outlined in the Overview of Steps to Upgrade
from FIX v7.x section.

Preparing for the Upgrade to iFIX with FIX

Desktop
The following sections describe the steps you need to take to prepare
your computer for upgrading to iFIX with FIX Desktop. These sections
are presented in the order that you should proceed with each task. These
tasks are also outlined in the list below.

To prepare for the upgrade:

[1] Convert recipes to the required format by Preparing the Recipe

Files for the Upgrade.

[2] Convert I/O driver information by Preparing the I/O Drivers for
the Upgrade.

[3] Record the enabled environmental protection options by

Checking the Environmental Protection Settings.

[4] Be sure to save all required files by Backing Up FIX Files.

[5] Compile a list of user accounts by Exporting a Report of the

Security Configuration.

Upgrading from FIX v7.x 41

 [6] Edit the user accounts in the report file by Adding Passwords to
the .RPT File.

[7] Finish by Generating a System Configuration Report.

Preparing the Recipe Files for the Upgrade

If any of your current FIX32 projects uses recipes, you will need to
convert these recipes to .rcx (Master text) and .rcy (Control text) files
before you upgrade to iFIX with FIX Desktop. These recipes are
located in the FIX32 RCM and RCC folders. This step is necessary so
that you can import your recipes after installing iFIX with FIX Desktop.

To convert your recipes to .rcx and .rcy files, follow these steps:

[1] Start FIX32.

[2] If security is enabled, log in using a user account with

Administrator rights.

[3] Start the FIX32 Recipe Manager, RCP.EXE.

[4] Save each master recipe as a .rcx file:

[a] Open the master recipe (.RCM file).

[b] Select Save As from the File menu. The Recipe Mod Log
dialog box appears.

[c] Click Save As. The recipe Save As dialog box appears.

[d] Select Master text (*.rcx) from the Save File As Type
drop-down list.

[e] Confirm that the location is the RCM folder and file name
is the same as the original file.

[f] Click OK.

42 Getting Started Guide

[5] Save each control recipe as a .rcy file:

[a] Open the control recipe (.rcc file).

[b] Select Save As from the File menu. The Recipe Mod Log
dialog box appears.

[c] Click Save As. The recipe Save As dialog box appears.

[d] Select Control text (*.rcy) from the Save File As Type
drop-down list.

[e] Confirm that the location is the RCC folder and file name
is the same as the original file.

[f] Click OK.

[6] Verify that you saved all recipes by inspecting the FIX32\RCC
and FIX32\RCM folders.

Preparing the I/O Drivers for the Upgrade

Before you upgrade to iFIX with FIX Desktop, GE Fanuc recommends

that you use the driver configuration program to export the driver
information into .CSV files. By default, these files are saved to the
FIX32/PDB folder. You later use these .CSV files to import the driver
information into the upgraded system.

Later in the install process, after importing the driver files, you can
verify the driver migration and convert the process database for use with
iFIX and FIX Desktop.

To export the driver configuration, follow these steps:

[1] Start the current installation of FIX (if it is not already running).

[2] If security is enabled, log in using a user account with

Administrator rights.

[3] Start the System Configuration Utility (SCU).

Upgrading from FIX v7.x 43

 [4] Select SCADA from the Configure menu. The SCADA
Configuration dialog box appears.

[5] Select an installed driver (other than SIM or DDE), and click the
Configure button. The Driver Configurator program starts.

[6] Select the first channel, CHANNEL1, in the browser on the left
side of the window.

[7] Select Save As from the File menu. The Save As dialog box
appears.

[8] Leave the default location of FIX32\PDB, and enter a name for
the file in the File Name field.

[9] Select Text Files (*.CSV) from the Save as Type drop-down list.

[10] Click Save.

[11] Repeat steps 6-10 for each channel of the driver that is currently
installed. Note the file names and their location for later use.

[12] Repeat steps 5-11 for each I/O driver installed on your system.

[13] Exit the SCU.

Checking the Environmental Protection Settings

Before the upgrade to iFIX with FIX Desktop, you should open the
Environment Protection dialog in the Draw application and record these
settings. After the upgrade, you cannot access this dialog box from
Draw. Instead, you configure all environmental protection options in
the iFIX WorkSpace.

To record your current environment protection settings, follow these

steps:

[1] Start FIX.

[2] Open the Draw application.

44 Getting Started Guide

 [3] Select Environment from the Edit menu. The Environment
Protection dialog box appears.

[4] Inspect and record the enabled options.

Backing Up FIX Files

After you create the support files for your recipe and I/O driver
upgrades, you can proceed to back up your FIX v7.x files. Create a new
folder on your computer, separate from the FIX v7.x (FIX32) folder, for
the files you want to save.

After you back up the FIX files, you may also want to copy this new
folder to another location, such as a network drive or a removable
media, as a safeguard until the migration is complete.

The following table lists the files and folders that you must back up.

Files or Folder Location Description of FIX32

to Copy Component

*.PDB, *.CSV, FIX32\PDB Process database and driver

*.GDB, all driver configuration files.
configuration
files

*.ODF FIX32\PIC Picture files.

*.ODT FIX32\PIC Template files for pictures.

*.TGE FIX32\PIC Tag Group Editor files.

*.KMX FIX32\PIC Key Macro Editor files.

*.LYT FIX32\PIC Layout files.

*.SBL FIX32\PIC Custom Dynamos.

Upgrading from FIX v7.x 45

 Files or Folder Location Description of FIX32
to Copy Component

*.RCX FIX32\RCM Master recipe files, in text

format.

NOTE: These files do not

appear unless you followed
the steps in the Preparing the
Recipe Files for the Upgrade
section.

*.RCY FIX32\RCC Control recipe files, in text

format.

NOTE: These files do not

appear unless you followed
the steps in the Preparing the
Recipe Files for the Upgrade
section.

Draw.ini, FIX32\LOCAL Initialization settings for the

View.ini, *.RPT Draw and View applications,
and report files.

Entire FIX32\HTRDATA Collected historical data.

HTRDATA
folder

Entire HTR FIX32\HTR Historical collection

folder preferences.

Entire ALM FIX32\ALM Alarm file and event log.

folder

Entire APP folder FIX32\APP Custom data and

configuration files for your
iFIX applications.

46 Getting Started Guide

Exporting a Report of the Security Configuration

Before you upgrade to iFIX with FIX Desktop, you need to export a
report from the FIX Security Configuration application. This report
includes a list of iFIX users along with the application features
configured for each user in your FIX applications. Save this file along
with the other FIX files and folders that you backed up.

IMPORTANT: Passwords are not exported with the security

configuration report; you must re-enter the passwords manually. See
the Adding Passwords to the .RPT File section for details. This policy is
for security purposes.

After you install iFIX and FIX Desktop, you can import this report file
into your new security configuration to recreate the user accounts on the
upgraded system. You can also use this printed report as a cross
reference when you reassign the new application features to each user.

To export a list of user accounts, follow these steps:

[1] Start the current installation of FIX (if it is not already running).

[2] If security is enabled, log in using a user account with

Administrator rights.

[3] Start the System Configuration Utility (SCU).

[4] Enter the Security Configuration by selecting Security from the

Configure menu.

[5] Select Export from the File menu. The Select File dialog box
appears.

[6] Browse to the folder that you want to save the file to. By default,
this folder is the FIX32\Local folder. Most likely you will want
to save this file to the location where you backed up the other
FIX files.

[7] Use the default name for the .RPT file, which is Security.RPT.

Upgrading from FIX v7.x 47

 [8] Click Save.

[9] Open this report in a text editor such as Notepad or Wordpad and
print a copy.

Adding Passwords to the .RPT File

The report file that you export from the Security Configuration
application does not include user passwords. This is done to protect
your system. If you later try to import this file into the Security
Configuration application without the passwords, none of the iFIX user
accounts will require passwords. In this case, you would need to re-
enter each password manually. You can avoid this step entirely by
editing each account in the report file from a text editor before the
migration.

To add passwords to your exported file with the security configuration,

follow these steps:

[1] Open the Security.RPT file in a text editor such as Notepad or

WordPad. By default this file is located in the Dynamics\Local
folder.

[2] Search the file for the first instance of the word User: in the
report. For example:

User: GUEST
Login-name: GUEST
Timeout: 00:00:00
Feature: View

[3] Insert the text Password: after the user’s login name.

[4] Type the user’s password after the colon. An example of what
this might look like is as follows:

User: GUEST
Login-name: GUEST
Password: GUEST
Timeout: 00:00:00
Feature: View

48 Getting Started Guide

[5] Scroll down through the report and repeat steps 3 and 4 for each
user in the report.

Generating a System Configuration Report

Before you migrate to iFIX with FIX Desktop, it’s a good idea to create
a system configuration report. This report includes information that you
may need later when you are configuring your SCU. It is also helpful if
you want to verify your system after the migration. This report
includes:

• General node configuration information, such as the node and

setup file name, as well as SCADA, network, NLS, and security
options.

• System path locations for base, local, language, database,

pictures, and so on.

• SCADA configuration such as the name and number of I/O

drivers.

• Alarm configuration information such as default message

format, application message routing, remote alarm areas, alarm
network service, alarm summary, and alarm history service
settings.

• List of startup tasks.

• SQL configuration.

• Auto Alarm Manager configuration to send and receive alarms.

This report contains valuable reference information on your current FIX

system before the upgrade.

Upgrading from FIX v7.x 49

 Steps to Generate a System Configuration Report

To generate a system configuration report, follow these steps:

[1] Start the current installation of FIX (if it is not already running).

[2] If security is enabled, log in using a user account with

Administrator rights.

[3] Start the System Configuration Utility (SCU).

[4] Select Report from the File menu. The Select Report Name
dialog box appears.

[5] Leave the default name in the File Name field. The default name
is the node name.

[6] Click Save. A report named NodeName.RPT is saved to the

Dynamics/Local folder. A message appears when the save is
complete.

NOTE: NodeName is the name from step 5.

[7] Click OK to continue.

Overview of Steps to Upgrade from FIX

v7.x
After you complete the steps described in the Preparing for the
Upgrade to iFIX with FIX Desktop section, you can proceed to the
actual product upgrade. Follow these steps:

[1] Complete the steps for Installing the Hardware Key in chapter 1.

[2] Complete the steps for Installing the iFIX Software in chapter 1.

[3] Follow the steps for Installing the FIX Desktop Software in
chapter 1.

50 Getting Started Guide

[4] Install the Newest Drivers and iFIX Product SIMs.

[5] Copy the Backed Up Files into the New Product Folder.

[6] Import the FIX I/O Driver Configuration Information.

[7] Import the Security Configuration.

[8] Verify the I/O Driver and Database Migration.

[9] Import the Recipes Files.

[10] Reconfigure the Application Features and Passwords for Each

User.

[11] Redefine SCADA Failover Settings.

[12] Enable Environmental Protection.

[13] Setup the Report Generator.

[14] Update Database Dynamos.

Install the Newest Drivers and iFIX Product

SIMs
You must install the most current drivers before you migrate the Process
Database (PDB) from FIX32 to iFIX with FIX Desktop. This is
necessary so that your FIX32 applications can migrate properly to iFIX
with FIX Desktop.

You can install the newest drivers from the most current Driver CD, or
by obtaining the driver file from the Proficy GlobalCare Support web
site, http://iglobalcare.gefanucautomation.com/downloads/drivers.

Upgrading from FIX v7.x 51

 To install the driver, follow the instructions that came with your driver
CD, or with your download. If you install a driver from the web, the
process generally entails extracting files from a .EXE and running a
simple install program or manually copying files. Refer to the driver
documentation for information on the install process.

After obtaining and installing the latest drivers, GE Fanuc recommends

checking for the latest patches for the iFIX product. Obtain all
applicable iFIX SIMs and add-ons from the Proficy GlobalCare Support
web site, http://iglobalcare.gefanucautomation.com/downloads/sims.
Install these SIMs on top of the current iFIX installation.

Copy the Backed Up Files into the New

Product Folder
After iFIX with FIX Desktop is installed, along with the drivers,
appropriate SIMs, and hardware key, you can copy your previous FIX32
files into the new iFIX with FIX Desktop install location. As you
remember, you backed up these files before beginning the iFIX with
FIX Desktop installation.

The following table lists the files to copy from your backup folder, and
the location to copy them to (assuming you used the default iFIX
directory).

Files to Copy Location to Copy in iFIX Folder

*.PDB, *.CSV, *.GDB all Dynamics\PDB

driver configuration files

*.ODF Dynamics\PIC

*.ODT Dynamics\PIC

*.TGE Dynamics\PIC

*.KMX Dynamics\PIC

*.LYT Dynamics\PIC

52 Getting Started Guide

Files to Copy Location to Copy in iFIX Folder

*.SBL Dynamics\PIC

*.RCX Dynamics\RCM

*.RCY Dynamics\RCY

Draw.ini, View.ini, *.RPT Dynamics\LOCAL

HTRDATA/*.* Dynamics\HTRDATA

HTR/*.* Dynamics\HTR

ALM/*.* Dynamics\ALM

APP/*.* Dynamics\APP

Import the FIX I/O Driver Configuration

Information
After you copy the backed up FIX files into your new iFIX with FIX
Desktop folder, you are ready to import the I/O driver configuration
information.

To import the I/O driver configuration information, follow these steps:

[1] Start the iFIX SCU, by selecting Security Configuration from the
iFIX folder on the Start menu.

[2] Verify that the Node name that appears on the main screen is
correct. Refer to the NodeName.RPT report described in the
Generating a System Configuration Report section if you are
unsure of the name.

[3] Double-click the Database name to enter the Database Name you
want to use. The Database Definition dialog box appears.
Ensure it is the same name as the previous project.

Upgrading from FIX v7.x 53

 [4] Click OK. A prompt appears stating that the database does not
exist.

[5] Select Yes, and use the database anyway.

[6] Select SCADA from the Configure menu. The SCADA

Configuration dialog box appears.

[7] Verify that the required drivers appear in the Configured I/O
Drivers list. If required, add the SIM, DDE, and any other
required driver to the Configured I/O Drivers list.

[8] Click OK, and then Yes when prompted.

[9] Select Save from the File menu.

[10] Close the SCU.

[11] From the Start menu, select Intellution iFIX v3.5 in the iFIX
folder to display the iFIX Startup dialog box.

[12] Make sure the local node name is correct, and click the button in
this dialog box to start iFIX.

[13] When iFIX is running, start the SCU again.

[14] Select SCADA from the Configure menu. The SCADA

Configuration dialog box appears.

[15] Verify each driver configuration is correct by selecting the driver

and then clicking the Configure button. The Driver Configurator
opens.

If the driver configuration is correct, you can close the Driver

Configurator and proceed to step 24.

If you need to make changes, you can make the necessary

changes, save the file, and proceed to step 24. Otherwise, import
the driver configuration by following steps 16-22.

[16] Select the first channel, CHANNEL1, in the browser on the left
side of the window.

54 Getting Started Guide

[17] Select Open from the File menu. The Open dialog box appears.

[18] Select Text Files (*.CSV) from the Save as Type drop-down list.

[19] Select the .CSV file for the channel.

[20] Click Open.

[21] Repeat steps 16-20 for each channel of the driver that is currently
displayed.

[22] Repeat steps 15-21 for each I/O driver installed on your system.

[23] When you finish these tasks for all drivers, select Save from the
file menu, and exit the Driver Configurator.

[24] Save and Exit the SCU.

Verify the I/O Driver and Database

Migration
After configuring the SCU, complete the following procedure to verify
the migration of the I/O drivers and to convert the Process Database:

[1] Start iFIX.

[2] Start Mission Control from the iFIX WorkSpace. You can find
the button to launch Mission Control in the WorkSpace tree.

[3] Examine the information on the I/O Control tab. Ensure that
data is being polled. If data is present, advance to Step 6.

[4] If there is no data present, ensure that the driver is loaded and is
running. Exit Mission Control and select System Configuration
to start the SCU.

Upgrading from FIX v7.x 55

 [5] Select SCADA from the Configure menu, select the I/O driver
and verify that the Poll Records are present. If they are not
present, repeat the steps in the Import the FIX I/O Driver
Configuration Information section.

[6] Maximize the iFIX WorkSpace and then:

[a] Start Database Manager from the WorkSpace System

Tree.

[b] Verify that the I/O addresses for your data block are
correct.

[7] Save and exit Database Manager.

[8] Errors that occur during the database conversion are written to
the error log file (dbcvt.err). You can open this file in any text
editor. Use this log file to identify the individual tags causing
the problems. Consult your manual or contact GE Fanuc for
more details on how to troubleshoot database conversion errors.

Import the Recipes Files

After converting and successfully running the I/O Drivers and Process
Database, you can import the recipes that you previously saved as .rcx
and .rcy files.

To import recipe files, follow these steps:

[1] From the iFIX WorkSpace, select the FIX Recipes folder in the
system tree.

[2] Double-click the New Recipe icon. The Recipe Development

utility appears.

[3] Open each .rcx file in the Dynamics\Rcm folder and save each
file as a .rcm file.

56 Getting Started Guide

[4] Open each .rcy file in the Dynamics\Rcc folder and save each
file as a .rcc file.

[5] When you are finished, exit the Recipe Builder.

Import the Security Configuration

When you import the security configuration file that you created before
the install, all your FIX 32 users are re-added to the iFIX with FIX
Desktop software. Later you will need to re-enter passwords for these
users and redefine the application features assigned to each user, since
the iFIX with FIX Desktop software includes new and reassigned
application features. However, before you can do that, you need to
import the list of users from the security configuration.

To import the list of users from the security configuration, follow these
steps:

[1] Start the current installation of FIX (if it is not already running).

[2] Select System Configuration from the iFIX group from the Start
menu. The SCU opens.

[3] Select Security from the Configure menu. The Security

Configuration application appears.

[4] Select Import from the File menu. The Select File dialog box
appears.

[5] Browse to the folder that you copied the original .RPT file to.
By default, this folder is the Dynamics\Local folder.

[6] Select the file and click Open. A message box appears warning
you that the imported user accounts will not contain passwords.

[7] Click Yes to continue. Another message box appears requesting

that you replace or add this file to the existing configuration.

[8] Click Replace.

Upgrading from FIX v7.x 57

 IMPORTANT: Do not shut down the SCU before moving on to
the next set of steps. If you did not add passwords to the user
accounts before you migrated, as described in the Adding
Passwords to the .RPT File section, you could possibly lock
yourself out, if security is enabled.

[9] Continue by following the steps in the Reconfigure the

Application Features and Passwords for Each User section.

Reconfigure the Application Features and

Passwords for Each User
After you import the security configuration (.RPT) file, you can proceed
to reconfigure the features available for each user and reassign new
passwords, if you did not already do so.

Use the Security Configuration program to open each group profile and
user profile, assign application features, and create a new password (if a
password is required). Use the print-out that you created in the
Exporting a Report of the Security Configuration as a reference when
reassigning the application features to users on the upgraded system.
This print-out lists the original application features available for each
user.

Refer to the following sections when comparing this printed list of

features with the features that appear in the Application Features
Selection dialog box.

• Identical Application Features in FIX32 and iFIX with FIX

Desktop

• FIX32 Application Feature Names That Are Different After the

Upgrade

• FIX32 Application Features No Longer Available After the

Upgrade

• New Application Features Available for iFIX Users

58 Getting Started Guide

Steps to Assign Application Features and Passwords

NOTE: The SCU should still be open from the previous set of steps in
the Import the Security Configuration section.

To assign the application features and a password to each user, follow

these steps:

[1] Select Security from the Configure menu. The Security

Configuration application appears.

[2] Select User Accounts from the Security menu.

[3] Select a user and click Modify. The User Profile dialog box
appears.

[4] Enter a new password in the Password field if you want to assign
a password.

[5] Click the Modify button beneath the Application feature list (the
list on the right-side of the window). The Application Feature
selection dialog box appears.

[6] Add the required features. Click Add All if you want to allow
this user to use all application features.

See the sections that follow for information on the names used
with each feature and the new features available.

[7] Click OK.

[8] Click OK to exit the User Profile dialog box.

[9] Repeat steps 3-8 for each user listed in the User Accounts dialog
box.

[10] Click OK to exit the User Accounts dialog box.

[11] Select Group Accounts from the Edit menu. The Group
Accounts dialog box appears.

Upgrading from FIX v7.x 59

 [12] Select a group and click Modify. The Group Profile dialog box
appears.

[13] Click Modify in the Application Features section of the dialog

box. The Application Feature selection dialog box appears.

[14] Add the required features. Click Add All if you want to allow
this user to use all application features.

[15] Click OK.

[16] Click OK to exit the Group Profile dialog box.

[17] Repeat steps 12-16 for each group listed in the Group Accounts
dialog box.

[18] Select Save from the File menu to save the security
configuration.

[19] Select Exit from the File menu in the Security Configuration
program to return to the SCU.

[20] Save and exit the SCU.

Identical Application Features in FIX32 and iFIX

with FIX Desktop

After you import your security configuration, the following application

features are automatically imported for each user. You do not need to
assign these features again after the upgrade since the same names are
used for FIX32 and iFIX with FIX Desktop:

• Background Task Exit

• Database Reload

• Database Save

• Historical Trend Assign

60 Getting Started Guide

• Historical Trend Collection

• Historical Trend Export

• Intellution OEM Reserved 1 - 12

• Recipe Load

• Recipe Save

• Security Configuration

• System Configuration

• System User Login

• System User Logout

• Tag Group Editor

NOTE: While the Tag Group Editor applications may be different

executables for Draw and the iFIX WorkSpace, they both use the same
application feature.

FIX32 Application Feature Names That Are

Different After the Upgrade

After you upgrade to iFIX with FIX Desktop, you will notice that some
of the FIX32 features correspond to different names in iFIX with FIX
Desktop. These features do not automatically appear in the user’s
application feature list. You need to add these again.

For instance, to allow a user to access Draw, you need to add the
WorkSpace Configure feature to the user’s application feature list. By
doing this, the user has the same access to both Draw and the iFIX
WorkSpace in configure mode.

Upgrading from FIX v7.x 61

 Similarly, to allow access to the View application, you need to add the
WorkSpace Runtime feature to the user’s application feature list. By
doing this, the user has access to both View and the iFIX WorkSpace in
run mode.

The application feature names are different because they take into
account changes to support the iFIX system. As another example, since
the FIX32 Database Builder is replaced with the iFIX Database
Manager, you need to add the Database Manager to the user’s feature
list since the supported application actually changed with the upgrade.

When re-assigning these features for each user, use the following table
to locate the FIX32 feature name and determine the corresponding name
in iFIX with FIX Desktop.

Feature Name for FIX32 Feature Name for iFIX with FIX
Desktop

Database Builder, Database Manager

Database Create

Draw WorkSpace Configure

View WorkSpace Runtime

Report Creator Fix32 - Report Creator

Key Macro Editor Fix32 - Key Macro Editor

Operating System Window Fix32 - Operating System Window

FIX - System Shutdown iFIX - System Shutdown

Alarm Summary Display Fix32 - Alarm Summary Display

Historical Trend Display Fix32 - Historical Trend Display

Run a Task from View Fix32 - Run a Task from View

Report Generator Fix32 - Report Generator

Historical Display Configuration Fix32 - Historical Display Configuration

62 Getting Started Guide

Feature Name for FIX32 Feature Name for iFIX with FIX
Desktop

Exit from View WorkSpace Runtime Exit

Database Block Add/Delete Database Block Add-Delete

GUI Recipe Builder Operations Recipe Builder Operations Window

Window

GUI Recipe Builder Development Recipe Builder Development Window

Window

GUI Recipe Save Recipe Save from Recipe Builder

GUI Recipe Download Recipe Download from Recipe Builder

GUI Recipe Upload Recipe Upload from Recipe Builder

GUI Recipe Text Output Recipe Text Output from Recipe Builder

GUI TASK Switching Enable Task Switching

GUI System Reboot Enable Ctrl-Alt-Del

Historical Trend Display View Only Fix32 - Historical Trend Display View
Only

CDA Feature 1 - 54 EDA Feature 1 - 54

FIX32 Application Features No Longer Available

After the Upgrade

In iFIX with FIX Desktop, it is no longer applicable to include security

for these features, many of which are FIX BOS related or discontinued:

• All features that begin with the word: Batch

• Data Transfer Utility

• Dial Manager for Modem Support

Upgrading from FIX v7.x 63

 • Ingredient Manager

• Inventory Manager

• Procedure Monitor

• Procedure Monitor - Hold/Resume Control

• Procedure Monitor - Modify Parameters

• Procedure Monitor - Run/Skip Control

• Procedure Monitor - Stop Procedure

• Quality Test Manager

• Recipe Handler

• Recipe Manager

• Recipe Manager - Authorize

• Recipe Manager - Remove

• Report Manager

• Scheduler

• Scheduler Configuration

64 Getting Started Guide

New Application Features Available for iFIX Users

By upgrading to iFIX with FIX Desktop, you also obtain some new
features that you can assign to your iFIX users. The features that you
can choose from include:

• Application Validator - Creation of Baselines

• Application Validator - Run-time Access

• Electronic Signature - Perform By

• Electronic Signature - Verify By

• Manual Failover

• Project Backup-Restore

• Runtime Visual Basic Editor Access

• Security Synchronizer

• Startup Profile Manager

• A group of Proficy Batch Execution product features available if

you have this product installed (each feature starts with the word:
iBatch)

For more detailed information on using these features with your iFIX
pictures, refer to the iFIX Electronic Books.

NOTE: iFIX does not include a separate Key Macro Editor application
feature. For iFIX, the Key Macro Editor (FDKeyMacros.exe) does not
run outside of the iFIX WorkSpace. So, security for this feature is set at
the WorkSpace-level by allowing access to the WorkSpace Configure
feature. For FIX32, the Key Macro Editor (KME.exe) can run alone
without Draw running. This is why the Key Macro Editor appears as a
separate entry for FIX32 for use with FIX Desktop.

Upgrading from FIX v7.x 65

 Redefine SCADA Failover Settings
If your FIX32 applications used the failover feature prior to the iFIX
with FIX Desktop upgrade, you need to set up failover again. Be aware
that, if you want to use failover, all nodes (primary, backup, and view
nodes) must be upgraded to iFIX with FIX Desktop. FIX32 failover is
incompatible with iFIX.

One of the biggest changes required for iFIX failover is that you include
a logical node name in your configuration. Failover in iFIX follows a
different paradigm. In iFIX with FIX Desktop, the applications on the
iClient communicate to the logical node name, and iFIX substitutes the
physical node name at run time based on which SCADA server that is
available. The combination of the logical node name, and physical
primary and backup SCADA server names, is referred to as the primary
and backup grouping. You configure the primary and backup grouping
in the SCU of the iClient and of each SCADA server.

In other words, after you upgrade, you need to start the SCU and do the
following:

• Define the local node name and local logical name in the Local
Startup Definition dialog box on the primary and backup
SCADA nodes.

• Define the remote node name, as well as the primary and backup
server pair in the Network Configuration dialog box on the
primary, backup, and view nodes.

• Define the partner SCADA in the SCADA Configuration dialog

box on the primary and backup nodes.

You have two different options for the combination of Local, Logical,
Primary, and Backup node names that you use in these dialog boxes
after you upgrade. These options are detailed in the Understanding
Failover Options After Upgrading section.

The following figure shows an example of these steps and the dialog
boxes that you use from the SCU.

66 Getting Started Guide

 Overview of Failover Steps

The sections that follow detail how to configure these dialog boxes for
either failover option you select:

• Steps To Configure Failover Option One

• Steps To Configure Failover Option Two

NOTE: For more detailed information on failover and LAN

redundancy, refer to the Mastering iFIX manual in the iFIX Electronic
Books.

Understanding Failover Options After Upgrading

To use failover and iFIX with FIX Desktop, you have two options for
your current failover configuration. These options are described as
follows.

Failover Configuration Option One

With this option, you first define a logical node name. You use the
same primary and backup node names that you used in your FIX v7.x
application. This configuration has the advantage of requiring no
changes to pictures on the SCADA nodes, but the disadvantage is that
all iClient pictures and tag group files will have to be updated to connect
to the logical node name rather than primary node name, as in FIX32.

Upgrading from FIX v7.x 67

 This could be a significant effort depending upon the number of files
you need to inspect. See the Steps To Configure Failover Option One
section for more details.

Failover Configuration Option Two

With this option, you use the name of the primary SCADA server from
your FIX v7.x application as your logical name. Since the logical node
name and primary node name cannot be the same, you then must then
rename the node name for the primary SCADA. The backup node name
remains the same. This configuration has the advantage of requiring no
changes to pictures on the remote nodes, but anything which directly
references the primary SCADA node, such as NSD tags, must be
updated. See the Steps To Configure Failover Option Two section for
more details.

Example of Failover Option One

The following graphic shows an example of how the failover settings

for FIX32 differ from the iFIX failover settings when you use Option
One.

Example of Failover Option One

In this example, notice that the iFIX settings includes a logical node
name, SCADA. This logical node name is a new name, not used in the
FIX32 failover settings. The names for your iFIX primary server
SCADA1, and backup server SCADA2, remain the same as the FIX32
names.

68 Getting Started Guide

See the Steps To Configure Failover Option One section for more
details on how to set this configuration up in your SCU.

Steps To Configure Failover Option One

To define a new logical name and configure the backup and primary
grouping using the same names as FIX v7.x, follow these steps:

[1] From the Start menu, select System Configuration from the iFIX
group to open the SCU.

[2] Select Local Startup from the Configure menu. The Local
Startup Definition dialog box appears.

[3] Enter a name in the Logical Node Name field. Be sure that this
name is different than the local node name.

[4] Leave the name in the Local Node Name field unchanged.

[5] Click OK.

[6] Select Network from the Configure menu. The Network

Configuration dialog box appears.

[7] Select TCP/IP as the network type.

NOTE: The automatic failover option requires a TCP/IP

network; it does not work with NetBIOS.

[8] Enter the logical node name from step 3 into the Remote Node
Name field.

[9] Click Add. The logical name appears in the Configured Remote
Nodes list box.

[10] Select the node that you just added, and click Configure. The
Remote Node Configuration dialog box appears.

[11] Select the Enable Logical Node Names check box.

Upgrading from FIX v7.x 69

 [12] In the Primary Node field, enter the primary node that you used
in your FIX v7.x configuration.

[13] In the Backup Node field, enter the backup node that you used in
your FIX v7.x configuration.

NOTE: If you do not remember the Primary or Backup names,

refer to the Nodename.rpt file that you created in the Generating
a System Configuration Report section. This report lists the
node name and its partner node. The Primary and Backup names
must be different than the logical node name.

[14] Click OK.

[15] Select SCADA from the Configure menu. The SCADA

Configuration dialog box appears.

[16] Enter the name of the SCADA server with which this node is
paired. For the primary server, this is the name of the backup
node name that you used in FIX v7.x. For the backup server, this
is the name of the primary server. Refer to the names you
entered in steps 12 and 13.

[17] Repeat steps 1-16 on the backup SCADA server. Use the same
logical, primary, and backup node names that you used for the
primary node. The Local Node Name field (in step 4), as well as
Partner node name field (in step 16), should be different,
however.

NOTE: For failover to work, the logical node name, primary

node name, and backup node name should be the same on all
SCADA nodes.

[18] Repeat steps 6-14 for each View node.

70 Getting Started Guide

Example of Failover Option Two

The following graphic shows an example of how the failover settings

for FIX32 differ from iFIX when you use Option Two.

Example of Failover Option Two

In this example, notice that the iFIX settings includes a logical node
name, SCADA1. The logical node name is the same name that you
assigned to the primary server in FIX32. The iFIX primary server uses
a new name, SCADAP. The backup server name, SCADA2, remains
the same.

See the Steps To Configure Failover Option Two section for more
details on how to set this configuration up in your SCU.

Steps To Configure Failover Option Two

To define a logical name (using your primary SCADA name from iFIX
v7.x) and reconfigure the backup and primary grouping, follow these
steps:

[1] From the Start menu, select System Configuration from the iFIX
group to open the SCU.

[2] Select Local Startup from the Configure menu. The Local
Startup Definition dialog box appears.

Upgrading from FIX v7.x 71

 [3] Enter the name that you used for the primary node name on your
FIX v7.x system into the Logical Node Name field.

If you do not remember this name, refer to the Nodename.rpt file

that you created in the Generating a System Configuration
Report section. This report lists the node name and it’s partner
node. In this step you are basically moving the Local Node
Name field to the Logical Node Name field.

[4] Enter a new name in the Local Node Name field.

[5] Click OK.

[6] Select Network from the Configure menu. The Network

Configuration dialog box appears.

[7] Select TCP/IP as the network type.

NOTE: The automatic failover option requires a TCP/IP

network; it does not work with NetBIOS.

[8] Enter the logical node name from step 3 into the Remote Node
Name field.

[9] Click Add. The logical name appears in the Configured Remote
Nodes list box.

[10] Select the node that you just added, and click Configure. The
Remote Node Configuration dialog box appears.

[11] Select the Enable Logical Node Names check box.

[12] In the Primary Node field, enter the new node name from step 4.

[13] In the Backup Node field, enter the backup node name that you
used in FIX 7.x.

If you refer back the Nodename.rpt file again, this node is

referenced in the SCADA configuration as the partner node.

[14] Click OK.

72 Getting Started Guide

[15] Select SCADA from the Configure menu. The SCADA
Configuration dialog box appears.

[16] Enter the name of the SCADA server with which this node is
paired. For the primary server, this is the name of the backup
node name that you used in FIX v7.x. For the backup server, this
is the name of the primary server. Refer to the names you
entered steps 12 and 13.

[17] Repeat steps 1-16 on the backup SCADA server. Use the same
logical, primary, and backup node names that you used for the
primary node. The Local Node Name field (in step 4), as well as
Partner node name field (in step 16), should be different,
however.

NOTE: For failover to work, the logical node name, primary

node name, and backup node name should be the same on all
SCADA nodes.

[18] Repeat steps 6-14 for each View node.

Enable Environmental Protection

If your FIX applications used the environment protection feature prior
to the iFIX with FIX Desktop upgrade, you need to enable it again. To
enable this feature for both iFIX and FIX Desktop, use the Environment
Protection tab of the User Preferences dialog box of the iFIX
WorkSpace, as shown in the following figure.

Upgrading from FIX v7.x 73

 Environment Protection Options in the iFIX WorkSpace

From this dialog box, you can enable the options that your applications
require. When re-entering these settings, be sure to refer back to the
settings that you recorded in the Checking the Environmental Protection
Settings section, when you prepared for the iFIX with FIX Desktop
upgrade.

Important Note About Using Environment Protection

When you use environmental protection for iFIX with FIX Desktop, be
aware that some limitations apply to these options when View is
running and the iFIX WorkSpace is in run mode:

• Disable <Ctrl><Alt><Del>

• Disable Task Switching

If you exit the WorkSpace or View, either by shutting down one

application or by switching the WorkSpace to configure mode while
View is still running, these environmental protection settings no longer
apply to the application still running.

74 Getting Started Guide

Understanding Environment Protection in iFIX

When you upgrade to iFIX with FIX desktop, there are environmental
protection settings that apply to both the iFIX and View. There is also a
FIX32 environmental protection setting that is unavailable after the
upgrade. However, with the upgrade, there are also new settings now
available in the iFIX WorkSpace. The sections that follow describe
these changes.

Settings that Apply to Both the iFIX WorkSpace and View

From the Environment Protection tab of User Preferences dialog box,

the following settings apply to both View and WorkSpace in run mode:

• Disable Title Bar and Menu Bar

• Disable Menu Bar

• Disable <Ctrl><Alt><Del>

• Disable Task Switching

FIX32 Setting Still Available After the Upgrade

The only environmental protection setting that does not appear in the
Environment Protection tab of User Preferences dialog box is as
follows:

Disable Pop-up Menu

This setting is still available for FIX Desktop View, however, you must
enable this setting through the FixUserPreferences.INI file.

Upgrading from FIX v7.x 75

 New Settings for the iFIX WorkSpace

The remaining environmental protection options are new for the iFIX
WorkSpace:

• Disable “WorkSpace” Menu Pulldown

• Disable VBE Access

• Disable “WorkSpace” File Menu Accelerators

• Disable Open Accelerator

• Disable Print Accelerator

For more details on these settings, refer to the table in the

Understanding Environment Protection section.

Steps to Enable Environment Protection

To enable the environment protection feature after you upgrade, follow

these steps:

[1] Start iFIX.

[2] Shut down View and the WorkSpace if either is running.

[3] If you want to use the Disable Pop-up Menu option, open the
FixUserPreferences.ini file in the Dynamics\Local folder. In the
[AppRunPreferences] section, make the following change:

PopUpMenu=0

When the PopUpMenu=1, then the right-click pop-up menu is

not available. When this value is set to 0, the pop-up menu is
available in View.

[4] To set the other environment settings, open the iFIX WorkSpace.

76 Getting Started Guide

 [5] Select User Preferences from the WorkSpace menu. The User
Preferences dialog box appears.

[6] Select the Environment Protection tab.

[7] Select the Enable Run Time Environment Protection check box.
After you enable this setting, the check boxes below become
available.

[8] Select the options that you want to enable. Use the following
table as a guide when assigning these options.

NOTE: After you enable the environment protection feature in

WorkSpace, you must shutdown View (if it is still running) and
restart it for the environmental protection settings to apply.

Understanding Environment Protection

The following table outlines common tasks you may want to restrict
operators from doing in the run-time environment, and the
environmental option associated with each task.

To restrict an operator from... Select this check box...

Closing the current picture Disable Title Bar and Menu Bar.
displaying in View or the iFIX
WorkSpace (in run mode). NOTE: Be sure to also select the
Full Screen in Run mode check box
from the General tab and clear the
Title bar and Resizeable check
boxes from the Picture Preferences
tab.

Switching from View or the Disable Task Switching

iFIX WorkSpace (in run mode)
to another application that may
be running.

Upgrading from FIX v7.x 77

 To restrict an operator from... Select this check box...

Restarting the computer using Disable <Ctrl><Alt><Del>

Ctrl+Alt+Del or logging out of
Windows when running View
or the iFIX WorkSpace (in run
mode).

Using the iFIX WorkSpace Disable “WorkSpace” Menu

menu or switching to the Pulldown
configuration environment
(while in run mode).

Accessing the Visual Basic Disable VBE Access.

Editor from the iFIX
WorkSpace (while in run
mode).

Using the Ctrl+O or Ctrl+P Disable “WorkSpace” File Menu

shortcuts in the iFIX Accelerators
WorkSpace (while in run
mode).

Using the Ctrl+O shortcut in the Disable Open Accelerator

iFIX WorkSpace (while in run
mode).

Using the Ctrl+P shortcut in the Disable Print Accelerator

iFIX WorkSpace (while in run
mode).

Setup the Report Generator

If you used the Report Generator prior to upgrading to iFIX with FIX
Desktop, and want to use the Report Generator on the upgraded system
with Office 2000 or later, be sure to obtain and install this SIM
(software improvement module): WAAE2371.

78 Getting Started Guide

You can obtain more information on this SIM and the files associated
with it from the Proficy GlobalCare Support web site, http://
iglobalcare.gefanucautomation.com/downloads/sims/. This SIM was
also available for FIX v7.x.

If you are unsure if this SIM was installed before the upgrade, you can
reinstall it. The procedure to install the files associated with this SIM is
as follows:

[1] Copy the new file VDA2000.XLA to the directory in which your
current Report Generator files exist.

[2] Copy the REPRTLNK.XLA, HIST_OPN.XLA and GEN.XLA

files to the directory in which your current Report Generator files
exist. REPRTLNK.XLA and GEN.XLA replace the existing
Report Generator files which shipped with iFIX v3.5.

[3] Copy the STARTUP.XLA file to the directory in which your

Excel Startup Directory exists. STARTUP.XLA replaces the
existing Report Generator files which shipped with iFIX v3.5.

See the Proficy GlobalCare Support web site for more details.

Update Database Dynamos

To use FIX v7.x Database Dynamos in iFIX with FIX Desktop, you
must recompile them with the iFIX Database Dynamo Toolkit. Follow
the steps outlined in the iFIX Database Dynamo Toolkit and the
Database Converter will update your Database Dynamos. The Database
Converter runs whenever iFIX is started.

Upgrading from FIX v7.x 79

80 Getting Started Guide
4. Other iFIX Installation
Considerations
This chapter provides information you need to consider when using
databases or drivers and iFIX.

Supported Drivers
iFIX supports the following drivers:

• Version 6.x

• Version 7.1 or higher

Version 7.01 drivers have known issues with iFIX and are not
supported.

Special Keyboard Buttons

Some computer keyboards have special buttons for e-mail launch,
internet launch, search, and other functions. These keyboard buttons
may disable certain key macros or allow users to circumvent iFIX
security measures.

GE Fanuc recommends that you reprogram or disable the software that

operates such special buttons. Refer to your computer’s documentation
for instructions on disabling these buttons.

Other iFIX Installation Considerations 81

82 Getting Started Guide
5. Networking
This chapter provides general information about iFIX-supported
networks, supported network software, supported file servers, and
installing network cards with Windows.

Supported Networks
If you decide to implement a networked iFIX system, make sure that all
nodes are using compatible network configurations. Currently, iFIX
supports the NetBIOS and TCP/IP interfaces for peer-to-peer
communications in Windows NT and Windows 2000. Under Windows
XP and Windows Server 2003, iFIX supports only TCP/IP interfaces.
GE Fanuc has tested and recommends 3COM plug-in boards and built-
in network adapters from Compaq, Dell, and Gateway.

If you have difficulty networking your computer, refer to the

Troubleshooting chapter of the Setting Up the Environment manual to
pinpoint and resolve your problems.

Supported Network Software List

GE Fanuc recommends and supports the network software that is

provided by Microsoft Windows. The following table lists the
supported software that provides the network interface and the sections

Networking 83
 that contain setup instructions for the software. The software can be
combined with Compaq, Dell, or Gateway network adapters to provide
a complete networking solution.

Table 5-1: Network Software

For the network software... Refer to the section in the Setting Up

the Environment manual...

NetBIOS Working With NetBIOS

TCP/IP Working with TCP/IP

Supported File Servers

GE Fanuc supports using a file server to store System Configuration
Utility, alarm area database, security, historical, and recipe data files
and file server-based iClients. iFIX does not require a file server.

The following operating systems for file servers are recommended:

• Microsoft Windows NT Server.

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server/Advanced Server.

• Microsoft Windows Server 2003.

• Novell NetWare. If you use a NetWare file server, GE Fanuc

recommends that you use Microsoft’s Client Service for
NetWare on your iFIX node.

Refer to your file server documentation for installation and

configuration instructions.

If a file server becomes unavailable and an iFIX node attempts to access

a file, you may experience no response, slow response, or time-outs.
These conditions are a result of continuously polling all available drives

84 Getting Started Guide

while it waits for a response from the file server. It is recommended that
you store a backup copy of the files you need on the local node. GE
Fanuc does not recommend using the file server for files if it is
susceptible to failure.

Installing a Network Card with a Windows

NT Service Pack
If you install a network card on a node after you have installed a
Windows Service Pack, that node continues to see other nodes on the
network, but can no longer be seen by those nodes. The following error
message is generated:

Not enough server storage space is

available to process this command.

To correct this problem, reinstall the NT Service Pack after the network
card is installed.

Handling Time Zones when Using

Networked FIX v6.15 and iFIX Nodes
In FIX v6.15, time zones are ignored when passing alarms over the
network. For example, if a FIX v6.15 node in Boston (Eastern Standard
Time), generates an alarm at 4:00 PM, then a FIX v6.15 node in
Chicago (Central Standard Time) displays that alarm with a time stamp
of 4:00 PM.

By comparison, iFIX uses time zones and adjusts the time stamp
accordingly. For example, if an iFIX node in Boston generates an alarm
at 4:00 PM, another iFIX node in Chicago displays the alarm with a
time stamp of 3:00 PM.

Networking 85
 When FIX v6.15 and iFIX transfer alarms over the network, the time
zone handling is similar to FIX v6.15 as the following table shows.

When… Then…

A FIX 6.15 node in Boston An iFIX node in Chicago displays the

generates an alarm at 4:00 PM alarm with a time stamp of 4:00 PM.

An iFIX node in Boston A FIX 6.15 node in Chicago displays

generates an alarm at 4:00 PM the alarm with a time stamp of 4:00
PM.

Networking with Other iFIX and FIX Nodes

iFIX v3.5 can share data and alarms with previous versions of iFIX, as
well as with FIX32 v6.15 and FIX v7.0. FIX32 view nodes will only
receive alarms from alarm areas A-P.

NOTE: You cannot run iFIX and FIX v7 at the same time on a single
computer.

86 Getting Started Guide

 Index

Symbols disk space requirements 5

driver configuration, exporting 43
.CSV files 43
.RCX file 42 E
.RCX files 56
.RCY file 42 environment protection 44, 73
.RCY files 56 exporting
.RPT File 48 driver configuration 43
security configuration report 47
A
F
ActiveWindow object 39
adding passwords to .RPT file 48 failover
Advanced Historian, not supported with after upgrading to iFIX with FIX
iFIX 37 Desktop 66
understanding 67
B failover configuration
option one described 67
backing up FIX files 45 option one example 68
backup, file server files 84 option one steps 69
buttons, special keyboard 81 option two described 68
option two example 71
option two steps 71
C file server
color mapping errors 38 backup files 84
computers, recommended for iFIX 4 recommended types 84
FIX
files, restoring after upgrade 52
D I/O driver configuration 53
FIX Desktop 41
Database Dynamos
FIX v6.15, time zone considerations 85
iFIX installation 39
FIX v7.0,starting after installing iFIX 28
updating 36, 79
FIX v7.x
database migration 55
drivers 27
date format, supported 19
using with iFIX 27
demo mode troubleshooting 11
FixUserPreferences.ini 6
disabling iFIX as a service 22
format, time and date 19

Index 87
FreeDiskSpace parameter 6 iFIX (continued)
functionality conversion, Database software requirements 16
Dynamos 79 supported drivers 81
supported file servers 84
H supported network software 83
supported networks 83
hardware upgrading from iFIX v2.5 and earlier
optional 32 34
requirements for iFIX 2 using with FIX 27
hardware key using with Microsoft Office 31
described 7 iFIX environment, iFIX nodes 1
installing 7 iFIX installation
parallel port 8 Dynamo sets 39
recovery for improper installation overview 1
10 iFIX SIMs 51
replacing defective 13 iFIX v2.5, upgrading from 34
serial number 7 iLicense file 33
troubleshooting 11 imported toolbars 36
upgrading 33 importing
USB port 8 recipe files 56
hardware requirements security configuration 57
memory 5 installing iFIX
recommended computers 4 after uninstalling iVisualize 30
newest drivers 51
product hardware key 7
I with FIX v7 28
I/O drivers insufficient disk space 5
preparing for upgrade 43
verifying upgrade and database K
migration 55
iFIX 4 keyboard, special buttons 81
hardware requirements 2
installation failure 40 M
memory requirements 5
new title bar 35 memory
online registration 26 optimizing 20
optional hardware 32 requirements 5
paths 23 Microsoft Office and iFIX 31
picture compatibility 37
previous version compatibility 38 N
recommended computers 4
recommended file servers 84 network card and NT Service Packs 85
recommended video drivers 20 networked FIX v6.15 and iFIX nodes 85
regional settings 18 networks
resolving displays 38 software supported 83

88 Getting Started Guide

networks (continued) reports
supported in iFIX 83 security configuration 47
system configuration 49
O requirements
iFIX hardware 2
Office 2000 78 iFIX software 16
optimizing virtual memory 20 memory 5
optional hardware for iFIX 32 resolving iFIX displays 38
overview restoring backed up files 52
iFIX installation 1 running iFIX as a service 21
upgrading from iFIX to FIX Desktop iFIX paths 23
50 required application feature 23
Terminal Server 23
Windows Services 22
P
parallel port hardware key 8 S
passwords
in .RPT file 48 Sample System 28
reconfiguring 58 SCADA failover settings 66
PDB folder 43 security configuration
pictures exporting 47
compatibility in earlier versions of importing 57
iFIX 37 Security.RPT 48
converting from FIX to iFIX 38 SIM 78
created in an older version of iFIX software requirements 16
38 special keyboard buttons 81
from iFIX v2.1 39 starting up FIX v7.0 after iFIX install 28
preparing for iFIX with FIX Desktop supported
upgrade 41 file servers 84
preserving settings when upgrading 34 iFIX drivers 81
Process Database 51, 55 network software 83
Proficy GlobalCare Support web site 51 networks 83
Proficy Historian and iFIX 36 system configuration report 49
System Configuration Utility 43, 47
R
T
RCC folder 42
RCM folder 42 time format, supported 19
Recipe Builder 57 time zones 85
recipe files 42, 56 toolbars, imported 36
reconfiguring passwords after upgrade to
FIX Desktop 58 U
recovery, improper USB key install 10
registration for iFIX 26 upgrading
Report Generator 78 from FIX v7.x 50

Index 89
upgrading (continued) V
hardware key 33
iFIX permissions 36 verifying I/O driver and database
older pictures 38 migration 55
preserving settings 34 video drivers
to iFIX with FIX Desktop 41 recommended 20
with iDowntime installed 37 third-party 20
USB hardware key virtual memory
described 8 optimizing for iFIX 21
recovery from improper install 10
user globals, iFIX upgrade
considerations 36
W
using iFIX with Microsoft Office 31 WAAE2371 SIM 78
Windows virtual memory 20
Windows XP windows styles 36

90 Getting Started Guide