Calling OPC UA server Method using mappView Widgets

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1

Hi all,
I have not yet found a solution for mapping my own created OPC UA method to a mappView widget in the event binding. I have created an OPC UA method in the logical view and activated the method in the OPC UA Default View. I now want to bind this method to the event bindings of a button in my MappView visualisation. This would mean that every time the button is pressed, the client would run the method on the OPC UA server. However, I could not find anything in the event bindings of the button to use my own created OPC UA method.

Are there any possibilities?

I use:

Automation Studio 6.5.0

mappView 6.5

and OPC UA C/S 6.5.0.

Best Regards

Felix Schmidt

2

Hello,

Since calling an OPC UA method is not documented among OPC UA actions in the AS6 help, I’d say it’s not implemented. But I could be wrong.

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3

You can checkout this!

4

Hello Mr Vavra,

As already stated, we could not find any documentation or examples regarding OPC UA method calls in the mappView event bindings either. That part is clear.

However, the core of the question was not whether it is currently documented, but rather:

  • Is there any workaround or alternative approach to trigger OPC UA methods from a mappView visualization (e.g. indirect triggering, proxy mechanisms, recommended design patterns)?

  • And if not: Are there any plans on the roadmap to support OPC UA method calls directly in mappView in future releases?

The current answer (“it’s not documented, therefore likely not implemented”) does not really help in a practical sense.

Given that OPC UA methods are a fundamental part of the OPC UA standard, and that mappView is positioned as a modern HMI solution, it would be very helpful to know whether this is:

  • a known limitation,

  • a design decision,

  • or simply a missing feature that may be implemented in the future.

A more concrete statement in this regard would be appreciated.

Best regards
Felix Schmidt

5

Hi @SchmidtF ,

as already assumed, invoking OPC-UA methods is today not possible using Event-Bindings.

If you have this requirement, there are currently these possibilities:

  • In the Event-Binding set a trigger variable (OPC-UA) - in your application monitor this variable and if set invoke the method using runtime library function (to my knowledge - I’m not an expert here - there are libraries available to invoke OPC-UA methods). Of course you would need to tweak with parameters, etc.

    Alternatively, as you have implemented the OPC-UA method on the PLC - you can invoke the function (ST, C, …) directly, too.
    This is the usually used workaround.

  • If you really want to invoke OPC-UA methods directly, you would need to create a dedicated widget, which acts as “bridge”. This is possible using the Widget Development Toolchain (“WDTC”), an “add-on” for mapp View HMI development.

Direct support for OPC-UA methods is not implemented, as OPC-UA methods are not too often used, so far there was never a real demand to support it … If this changes, this can of course be changed in the future.

hope that helps
CHH

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