Configure a communication driver

Configure a communication driver

Configure a communication driver to import tags in the online or offline mode.
Prerequisites
  • Learn about any specific considerations for your controller. See Communication drivers overview.
  • If you import tags in the offline mode, export tags from a supported controller to a file. See the controller user assistance.
  1. To configure a communication driver
  2. From the toolbar, select
    Open dashboard page
    .
  3. Select
    Configure communications to devices
    .
  4. Select
    New station
    .
  5. Select a station type.
  6. (optional) Edit the name of the station.
  7. Select
    Next
    .
  8. Fill in the properties and select
    Next
    .
  9. Select
    Next
    .
  10. Configure tags import for the station:
    TIP:
    Some communication drivers may not support importing tags from controllers in the online mode, offline mode, or both modes.
    To import tags, you must be logged on to the FactoryTalk Network.
    • To import tags in the online mode, set the toggle to
      Online
      .
    • To import tags in the offline mode, set the toggle to
      Offline
       and in
      File path
      , provide a path to the file with exported controller tags.
    TIP: To select the station object in
    Project view
    , select
    Select in property view
    .
    TIP: If you import FactoryTalk Design Studio tags offline, any routine scoped tags are imported and referenced in the FactoryTalk Optix Application. However, if you then deploy the FactoryTalk Design Studio project through Logix Designer, any routine scoped tags are not deployed or downloaded to the controller because Logix Designer does not support routine scoped tags. Therefore, if you deploy that FactoryTalk Optix Application to a runtime device and connect the application to the controller, the routine scoped tag references display an error at runtime because the tags were not downloaded to the controller.
  11. Select the tags of interest and select
    Next
    .
  12. (optional) To configure another communication driver, select
    Configure another device
     and repeat the procedure.
  13. Select
    Exit
    .
In
Project view
, the variables corresponding to the selected tags are added.
If you imported tag types, create instances from the imported tag types. See Create an instance of a tag type.
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