FDT – A Brief Introduction
FDT Tools
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ifak system GmbH
Object Model
The object model contains the following four elements:
• Frame Application
• Device Type Manager (DTM)
• Channel
• ActiveX
An engineering system or a configuration software forms a
Frame Application, which defines the run-time environment,
administers the project data and stores the persistent data. In most
cases also the access to the underlying fieldbus communication is
provided.
A DTM as device data server handles the tasks of management
and configuration of a device class, as defined by the manufac-
turer. This device class might be one device type or a group of
devices. A typical DTM contains no graphical HMI. In most
cases a DTM is invoked for every device.
The parameter of the device as well as the HMI elements can be
influenced or activated by the user of the DTM. Most HMI ele-
ments are implement as ActiveX components, although the
inclusion of external programs is also allowed. The ActiveX fits
seamlessly into the Frame Application. The user is not able to
determine where the called HMI came from. It appears as a natu-
ral part of the engineering system.
