Control RSLogix via ActiveX?

[ejoseph]

I have an RSLogix program built, but now I want to pass it along to the technicians to run the test.  I want to be able to turn it into a push button type of test where all they do is press start and it runs.  I don't want to make them have to figure out how to use the trends, how to create snapshots of them, etc.  I only have RSLinx Lite, so I can't use Labview to communicate via OPC and monitor the tags directly.  But I do see ActiveX libraries for the Rockwell software.  Is anyone aware of a way how to open the RSLogix program, start a trend, and then create a snapshot (export) the trend to a .dbf file using activeX? 

[SamboNI]

Hello ejoseph,

I do not know about the particulars of RSLogix and its ActiveX interface, but I recommend that you check out this developer zone article, which describes the basic mechanics of using ActiveX and LabVIEW.

You should be able to use an automation open, property nodes and invoke nodes to access the relevant ActiveX methods - but again, I'm not sure what these will be so this will be something you'll have to investigate and ask Rockwell.

Alternatively, another way to open another program from LabVIEW is to use the system exec command (which functions like the command line) and possibly pass some arguments to this program.

Hope that helps!