Technology Licensing Partners

Technology Licensing Partners

Developer How-To Guides

So you want to write your own Ethernet driver to a Rockwell Automation Allen-Bradley Programmable Automation Controller? Or, you want to link a PC computer running HMI software to a SLC™ or ControlLogix® processor? You're not the first. We're pulling together information that will tell you what you need to know to write your driver or your interface. Our Developer How-To Guides and resources are designed to help you create your own solution on your own. With a little bit of creativity, you'll be able to accomplish some pretty impressive things. We're not giving away any secrets, but we are making your job easier by grouping our documents into How-to Guides. Take a look at some of the Developer How-To's we've pulled together for you:

How to Communicate with Rockwell Automation Products

• Logix5000 Data Access Manual

  Describes how to build a client application that can read/write tags in the Logix family (ControlLogix, SoftLogix™, CompactLogix™ & FlexLogix™) of controllers using either PCCC (native or CIP-encapsulated) or native CIP messaging on any network, or serial port.

• Type Encoding of Logix Structures in CIP Data Table R/W

  Describes how to encode the abbreviated data type of Logix structures for the CIP Data Table R/W services. These services are used to transfer named data (Tags), and are described in the "Logix5000 Data Access Reference Manual", along with the abbreviated data types.

• DF1 Protocol and Command Set Reference Manual

  Describes how to use the PCCC protocol to communicate with all Rockwell Automation products that support the PCCC protocol. This document covers the DF1 protocol (an RS-232 implementation) and the PCCC commands that are used in it. The PCCC commands given in this book can be directly applied to other communications networks like EtherNet/IP.

• Delivery of CIP Over RA Serial DF1 Networks

  Describes how to use PCCC commands 0Ah and 0Bh to support CIP connected and unconnected explicit messaging over a Serial DF1 link (e.g RS-232 or RS-485). The 0Ah and 0Bh commands are supported on Logix controllers, and are not currently described in the the "DF1 Protocol and Command Set Reference Manual" or the "Logix Data Access Reference Manual". This document also describes the PCCC Fragmentation protocol used to transfer CIP messages larger than the PCCC 244 byte limit.

• Communicating with Rockwell Automation Products Using EtherNet/IP Explicit Messaging

  Describes how to write a communications driver that can exchange data with Allen-Bradley Programmable Automation Controllers using EtherNet/IP Explicit Messaging. This document describes the entire process of building a compliant EtherNet/IP client device from obtaining the specification and a vendor ID through the communications methods required. It covers two methods: native CIP commands and PCCC commands encapsulated in EtherNet/IP. Use this document in conjunction with the "Logix5000 Data Access Manual" if accessing Tags in the controller and/or with the "DF1 Protocol and Command Set Manual" if accessing PLC-5 style data tables in the Logix controller, or if accessing SLC-5™, PLC-5® or Micrologix™ controllers.

• I/O Communications with ControlLogix on EtherNet/IP

  Describes how to build a product that can exchange I/O data with Allen-Bradley Logix controllers over EtherNet/IP. This covers how to build a device that can be added to the Logix controller's I/O configuration and a device that is a produced tag partner with the Logix controller.

NOTE: The How-To Guides are a compilation of basic, public information to be used for development