Im curious. What are your reasons for switching from VC4 to Mappview?
Hi Nathan,
There are some reasons for switching from VC4 to mapp View. I list only a few points:
Modern Web-Based Architecture
mapp View uses HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript standards, making it future-proof and platform-independent. VC4 is based on older proprietary visualization technology. mapp View – Web meets automation [br-automation.com]
UX/UI
VC4 offers a traditional, static interface with limited flexibility and customization. Personalization and integration options are basic.
mapp View, on the other hand, uses modern web technologies, providing responsive layouts for PCs, tablets, and mobiles, and offers rich widgets with animations and event bindings.
Advanced Features
Role-based views, multi-client support, and OPC UA data model for easy integration with third-party systems. New features like mapp Connect (REST API for OPC UA) and mapp Script (JavaScript-based event binding) enable customization and performance optimization.
Ease of Development
mapp View simplifies HMI creation with drag-and-drop widgets, session timers, and event bindings without heavy coding.
Future Roadmap
VC4 is considered legacy; mapp View is actively developed with new features in Automation Studio.
I invite the community to add more points and create a discussion.
Xabier.
3 Likes
I would add one more point. I think, from a Cyber Security point of view—which is coming—mappView is aligned to this; not sure about VC4.
2 Likes
Yes, very important topic to mention @kovarj . VC4 will not be CRA compliant. With mapp View your visualizations are future proof.
Not to mention Widget Development Tool Chain (WDTC) which is available for mapp View where you can create widgets which are not available, although there are really a lot to choose from. WDTC is well documented also here in this community.
And thank you @xabier.zaldua for mentioning also mapp Script and mapp Connect and explaining very well the advantages of mapp View comparing to VC4.
And
5 Likes
Also, could I have a comment on multiple client connections? I haven’t done much with VC4. I know that multiple VNC server connections can be created. Are there any advantages with Mappview? I thought i read something about accessing program variables from two sources via VC4 is tricky, while doing that with Mappview it’s a non-issue.
Hi,
a VC4 visulization doesn’t support real multclient implementations, it just uses a mutliple access to the same visualization as some kind of mirroring - this can be useful for example for remote assistance, but when connecting multiple clients to one VC4 visu, they all act in the same context:
For example switching a page at one client will switch it on the other clients to, or if two clients are operated at the same time, they override each other.
If needing the possibility of real multiclient behavior, for example like independent login of multiple users with different user/ role-based rights operating at the same time on different pages, mappView is the right choice.
Best regards!
3 Likes
@alexander.hefner - thanks so much! very helpful advice!
1 Like
One thing to be mindful of with MappView, in practice it is very processor intensive in comparison to VC4. B&R has made improvements, and MappView embedded will supposedly become available in the future which will help. Whether or not there will be a conversion tool that will convert VC4 projects to MappView is also up for speculation. We have heard both yes and no to this.
For now, many of the current processors do not support MappView. The X20CP4xx series and C30 Power Panels are a few examples. A lot of these processors are becoming legacy systems now and new systems will have to be provided. Nearly our entire product line, dozens of products, are based on these systems and as such, we CANNOT switch to MappView at this time. It will take a very long time to simply convert all of these products.
Also with Multi-Client connections with MappView, we have been informed there is a licensing limit as to the number of clients possible. I suggest you look into what is best for your application.
1 Like
Thanks Fritz, good points.
I have tested with the CP0484-1 and it seems the only in the 400 series that works well with Mappview. From limited testing, I think our visualization project cannot have too much complexity - but we want to keep our projects simple anyway.
We are also inquired about a license to give us multi-client options, which we would be wiling to pay if we go with Mappview.
Thanks!