KINETICART STUDIO.ARCHITECTURE

The data layer typically comprises OPC or other servers that provide live interfaces to data.

The middle tier is configured from KineticaRT .NET and KineticaRT Studio .NET channels that connect to the data layer servers and are interconnected and configured to provide the required data processing.

Connections are via channel name references - which can be quickly set up by run-time drag & drop.

Channels provide parameters such as Description, Tool Tip and Units text, Formatting and Maximum and Minimum values - display controls auto-configure using these parameters when they connect to a channel (during configuration or run-time drag & drop).

KineticaRT Studio channels provide additional parameters such as Lo and Hi threshold values - displays can use these to display threshold marks and trigger color changes when limits are reached.

KineticaRT and KineticaRT Studio channels of the following types are included:

	OPC Items - interface to OPC server channels
	OPC Clients and Groups
	Logging Channels - for recording of data to, and replay from, a file
	Variables - for data storage (can be initialized and configured for persistence between sessions)
	Constants - values that cannot be set except during creation
	Expressions - evaluate mathematical and logical expressions involving other channels
	Links - used mainly to drive data from an expression to an output channel
	Filters - filter data in real-time over a configurable time base

Channels are provided that handle Boolean, Numeric, Text and Matrix data.

C# and Visual Basic programmers can develop custom channel components to perform special data processing tasks - for example, in the KineticaRT Wind Studio application, custom channels are included for test sequencing and processing of logged data.

KineticaRT Studio Sequences can be written in either the C# or Visual Basic .NET languages and are typically used to sequence actions, handle events, wait for conditions. The full facilities of the standard languages are available, so anything is possible.

KineticaRT Studio can compile and execute both languages without requiring any extra development software, even on the target systems, thus allowing end users to modify test sequences if required.

Sequences can be edited and debugged using Microsoft's Visual Studio .NET Development Environment if available, alternatively Sequences can be edited using any text editor.

The presentation layer is configured by placing KineticaRT .NET and KineticaRT Studio .NET controls and components and, if required, third-party .NET controls on to display panels. The KineticaRT .NET controls are connected to channels and update automatically on data changes.

Display controls auto-configure using the parameters of the connected channel, such as Description, Tool Tip and Units text, Formatting, Maximum, Minimum and Lo and Hi threshold values. Connection is via channel name references - which can be quickly set up by run-time drag & drop.

The following KineticaRT Studio .NET controls are included:

	Bargraph
	Button
	Checkbox
	Radio Button (a Button Interlock Component is included)
	Channel Selector
	Dial
	Setpoint Dial
	Display
	Lamp Indicator
	Linear
	Setpoint Linear
	Error linear

The following KineticaRT .NET controls are included:

	Bargraph
	Button
	Dial
	Multi-Needle Dial
	Display
	Frame
	Indicator
	Knob
	Message Display
	Picture
	Slider
	Multi-Needle Slider
	Tab
	Trend
	XYGraph

Studio .NET controls are KineticaRT .NET controls, largely pre-configured for ease of use - KineticaRT .NET controls provided more flexibility but are hence slightly less easy to set-up.

C# and Visual Basic programmers can develop their own custom KineticaRT Studio controls based on the KineticaRT .NET ones. They can also wrap third-party controls to provided standard KineticaRT features such as live update and drag & drop connection to channels.