Collaboration projects (=CoLab) overview

CoLab Projects
1

CoLab = Open-source projects, frameworks, or tools developed and supported by the community or application engineers. You can use them out of the box, request improvements and new features, or even develop them further. Any collaboration is welcome.

1. Widget Development Tool Chain – Applications

  • Widget development tool chain - applications

  • Toolchain for creating custom widgets for mapp View (HMI).

  • Allows developers to build their own UI components (JavaScript/HTML based).

  • Used for things like:

    • 3D viewers

    • OPC UA viewers

    • custom visualization controls.

  • Mainly targeted at HMI developers using mapp View.

Typical outputs:

  • reusable widgets

  • sample widget applications

  • visualization extensions.

2. mapp Framework / mapp Framework 6

  • mapp Framework and mapp Framework 6

  • A reference application framework for B&R projects.

  • Provides a standard architecture for machine applications.

  • Reduces boilerplate code when using:

    • mapp Services

    • mapp Axis

    • machine modules.

It acts as a starting template for Automation Studio projects, helping structure PLC software and machine states.

mapp Framework 6 = version adapted for Automation Studio 6.

3. AS6 Migration Script

  • AS6 Migration Script

  • Community scripts for migrating Automation Studio projects to AS6.

  • Helps convert older projects (often AS4 → AS6).

  • Automates repetitive migration tasks such as:

    • project structure changes

    • library adjustments

    • configuration updates.

Useful for:

  • system integrators

  • large legacy projects.

4. AS6 Conversion Tool

Purpose:

  • reduce manual work during Automation Studio upgrades.

5. BrLibToHelp

Tool used to:

  • generate CHM help documentation from B&R libraries.

Example usage:

  • take a .library project

  • automatically create help documentation for function blocks and structures.

This helps teams:

  • document internal libraries

  • distribute help files to developers.

6. MCPServer for AS Help

A tool that provides:

  • API / server access to Automation Studio help documentation.

Typical usage:

  • allow external tools (e.g., scripts, AI tools, or editors) to query AS help content programmatically.

Example:

  • search documentation

  • retrieve FB description automatically.

7. AS6-mvHighLight-JS

A small sample mappView project for Automation Studio 6.

Purpose:

  • demonstrate highlighting / UI effects in mappView.

  • port of a previous concept used in AS4.

Because it is a CoLab project, users can:

  • fork it

  • extend functionality

  • suggest improvements

8. Mobile Machine Demo Project

This sample project demonstrates how to build mobile machine control applications using Automation Studio.

Because it is a CoLab project, users can:

  • fork it
  • extend functionality
  • suggest improvements

9. CycloneDX 1.5 SBOM Generator for Automation Studio 6 Projects

This project contains a Python script that scans a B&R Automation Studio 6 project and generates CycloneDX SBOM files (JSON) for each project configuration.

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