Optimizing access to HMI project files over a slow-performing network

HMI servers in a

FactoryTalk View SE

network distributed application provide project files, such as graphic displays, to

FactoryTalk View SE

Clients that connect to the servers at runtime. If an HMI server and a client connect over a slow-performing network, for example if they use a dial-up connection, the client might have problems gaining access to the HMI project files.

To avoid such problems, you can set up the HMI project files on an alternate server computer, located on the same Local Area Network (LAN) as the client. Then, in the

FactoryTalk View SE

Client wizard, when you select the application that the client configuration will connect to, you can specify that the client get HMI project files from the alternate location.

This means that the client will get graphic displays, global objects, images, parameter files, local messages, macros, and client keys from the specified location. However, the client will continue to get recipes, trend snapshots, and historical data (trend, alarm, and diagnostics) from the HMI server.

If a

FactoryTalk View SE

Client is set up to get HMI project files from an alternate location, and the client cannot connect to the location or find a project file, the client will connect to the HMI server until the alternate connection can be restored.

If you add, modify, or remove HMI project files while an alternate server location is in use, you must manually update the project files in the alternate location. As long as the HMI server can provide newer files, clients will connect to the HMI server instead of the alternate location.