What is keeping you from using this component?

[KircMax]

Hello everyone,

So I would like to get to know pain points some of you might have or generally what is keeping you from using the library.
I'd assume some reasons might be:

1. The Readme doesn't really tell me the benefits
2. I don't understand how to put this into a working environment
3. It doesn't fit for my use case (because...)

Please, feel free to add anything and I'd love to hear some opinions on what you might need.

[KircMax]

For those who'd like to have a bit more explanations on how to set things up and use this component:
Feel free to check out this Youtube Channel. (Feel free to ask for content!)

[Siemensplcuser]

Hi KircMax,

I am Anand. I am a PLC programmer by profession and I started learning C# and Python to understand how PLC + IT Integration works.
I cannot see any videos in your YouTube channel. Could you please share the video link?

Thanks in advance,
Anand

[KircMax]

Hi Anand,

Sorry this kind of got lost...
You can view them on my Youtube Channel...
I had put them offline since I didnt feel like there's much demand for them but since you asked - I put them back online.

Best regards
Max

[Siemensplcuser]

Hi Max,

Thank you so much for the videos.

Best regards,
Anand

[Mytronus]

Hey,
first of all, nice job with this project.
and now my question.
Is there an easy way to get a list of strings of each variable in a datablock down to the last tag (Integer, reals etc)?
My goal is to save the content of a datablock in a csv-file.

[KircMax]

Hey @Mytronus,
Thank you 😄,
I think I implemented something like a BrowseRecursive so basically the PlcProgram.Browse will do the trick for you but you will probably want to browse structures inside the db aswell ... I think I have that in place using a recursive Browse in the ApiPlcProgramHandler ... I'm currently just on my phone, I'd have to check on my PC - if you can't find it easily feel free to ask again

[KircMax]

Try using the
PlcProgramBrowseSetChildrenAndParentsAsync
Of the PlcProgramHandler.

[KircMax]

Hmm, does not seem so recursive after all, I might not have that recursive Method I thought I had -
You can take a look at:
PlcProgramReadStructByChildValuesAsync
But also the Browse and set Children should work for your needs when you extend your comfort method to get all sub children for the ones you found underneath the strict, etc.
I remember I had some problems with arrays of Structs inside a struct etc. - it sure needs some improvement there I guess 😃

[PTKu]

@Mytronus
we have developed a library to browse DB recusively. This was just POC to adapt TIA project to our existing communication library infrastructure, but you can find the principle of browsing DBs:

https://github.com/ix-ax/axsharp/blob/dev/src/AXSharp.connectors/src/AXSharp.TIA.Connector/TIA2AXSharpAdapter.cs

[PTKu]

On holiday, so just briefly. I am using the library extensively (https://github.com/ix-ax/axsharp).
Wider adoption has more to do with the overall culture in industrial automation than anything else; the vast majority of automation engineers are clueless about the technology in use here (REST/WebAPI...) and they lack the expertise to use it.

The library is well-documented and tested, and it just works.

Keep up the good work @KircMax we depend on you!

[KircMax]

Thank you so much @PTKu !
I'm trying my best.