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Specifications

Specifications


Products: Support Tools
Functionalities: Engineering
Product version: 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 2022, 2023, 2024
12/16/2022

Automated Engineering Tool

arrow1_rotationIntroduction arrow1_rotationFeatures arrow1_rotationSpecifications
 
action_zoom_plus_stroke Automated Engineering Tool
Figure: Automated Engineering Tool

Introduction

Automated Engineering Tool is a PC-based software platform that provides engineers with an efficient way to generate application content for EcoStruxure BMS servers and Project Configuration Tool (or Project Configuration Server). Automated Engineering Tool is designed to improve the engineering quality and consistency of HVAC applications for an EcoStruxure BMS while reducing the time to develop and deploy those applications.

Features

Standards and efficiency

Focused on efficiency and standardization, Automated Engineering Tool allows you to access an extensive library of pre-engineered HVAC standard application templates or create your own templates based on pre-existing engineered solutions. You can reuse those templates for other projects or for similar applications on the same project. Automated Engineering Tool provides robust search and replace, and other functions to enable an application to be modified or renamed before deployment. Utilities provide support for transitions from legacy systems and assist in generating EcoStruxure Building Operation objects needed for pre-commissioning.

Simplify and standardize

Automated Engineering Tool reduces the need to start from scratch by allowing a user to capture those common or standard applications and save or share them for future use. Reusing proven applications provides significant efficiency, productivity, and reliability.

Create a template

Automated Engineering Tool provides the user the ability to save any EcoStruxure Building Operation database content or application as a template. A template is a self-contained database file that contains all object information, bindings, documentation, graphics, and programs in an easily transferrable format. Creating a template is simple using a familiar System Tree view just like the one found in WorkStation. You can easily select any content and save it as a new template.

 
action_zoom_plus_stroke Create Template
Figure: Create Template
Multiple views

You can view an application in Automated Engineering Tool using different views that provide several techniques to create objects and applications in a repeatable manner. Flow View, I/O View, Folder View, Graphic View, and Object View present information about the library file you are working with.

Flow View

In Flow View, I/O modules, variables, programs, and graphics are displayed in a 2-D flow diagram with the bindings that link them clearly displayed. Selecting an object highlights all the associated bindings so you can clearly identify all the connected objects. Additional standard server objects, TGML graphics, and programs can be added and bound in this view.

 
action_zoom_plus_stroke Flow View
Figure: Flow View
I/O View

Use the I/O View to allocate objects to the I/O modules. The objects can be added directly in Automated Engineering Tool or uploaded from the target server. Mismatches can be identified and corrected manually or automatically.

Folder View
 
action_zoom_plus_stroke Folder View
Figure: Folder View

In the Folder View, the application objects can be organized into folders to match the target server. You can add new folders or rename folders. Duplicated folders and objects are clearly identified for correction. Use the Copy Wizard to quickly duplicate single folders or an entire application any number of times.

 
action_zoom_plus_stroke Copy Wizard
Figure: Copy Wizard
Graphic View

If a template contains a graphic file, users can see it in the Graphic View.

Object View

The Object View provides quick access to information about all the objects in your current template. You can sort and review the objects by type or name. All the object properties are available and can easily be edited. All the bindings associated with those objects are managed and retained even as changes are made to names or properties. The Object View also provides a robust search and replace wizard.

 
action_zoom_plus_stroke Object View
Figure: Object View
Reuse an existing application

Automated Engineering Tool enables existing HVAC applications saved as templates to be deployed, modified, and re-used without impact on object bindings, even if objects are renamed. Solutions can be re-engineered and downloaded to a new or existing EcoStruxure BMS server or Project Configuration Tool. Creating these HVAC applications from templates can greatly simplify your standardization efforts and help improve the consistency and repeatability of common HVAC applications.

Manage custom types

Automated Engineering Tool enables you to manage a custom type before saving it to an EcoStruxure BMS server. The Custom Type Manager allows you to create a custom type out of one of your applications or associate it with an existing custom type that exists on the connected EcoStruxure BMS server. This feature is especially convenient when working with MP and RP controllers.

 
action_zoom_plus_stroke Custom Type Manager
Figure: Custom Type Manager
Modify and edit

A Global Edit feature enables you to perform multiple updates on any text in the target application or template. Text can be updated or modified. Modifications can quickly be done to names, descriptions, labels, alarm text, and more. You can change text contained in Graphics, Function Block programs, and Script programs. The utility even provides a method of doing multiple find and replace using a file identifying the word pairs.

 
action_zoom_plus_stroke Global Edit
Figure: Global Edit
Manage bindings

As changes are made to the application, Automated Engineering Tool manages and updates the binding information. New bindings can be created in the Flow View when objects are added. In addition, you can use the Binding Manager to review the bindings for anything that is unbound. You can manage external bindings to objects only in the target EcoStruxure BMS server. Using the Binding Manager, you can quickly manage all the additional connections required.

 
action_zoom_plus_stroke Binding Manager
Figure: Binding Manager
Easily and safely deploy

Automated Engineering Tool leverages the power of Workstation SDK for deploying your application. Leveraging this connection provides a simple, safe, and validated method of deploying your templates to an EcoStruxure BMS server or Project Configuration Tool. Once connected to your target server, you can see the status as the application is deployed. Any errors or exceptions are clearly identified as the application is deployed to ensure successful transfer to the EcoStruxure Building Operation database.

 
action_zoom_plus_stroke Deploy
Figure: Deploy
Leverage, organize, and share templates

Automated Engineering Tool provides a way to access and control standard application templates through the library functions. Automated Engineering Tool provides access to an extensive library of pre-engineered, energy-efficient HVAC standard application templates that can be used, modified, and configured. In addition, the library functions allow you to manage your own templates. You can upload and approve templates that will then be available to other users. The library provides version control and automatic updates to ensure you are using the latest version of the application.

 
action_zoom_plus_stroke Library of standard HVAC application templates
Figure: Library of standard HVAC application templates
Advanced templates with configuration

For advanced users, templates can be created with additional configuration. A template can be created that contains the information for a complex application and questions can be presented that allow the user to configure the application. Based on the answers to the questions, the application and all associated objects, logic, and bindings are adjusted. These wizard templates can be combined with an Excel file to quickly duplicate the application any number of times while setting parameters specific to each one. For example, many VAVs can be created and configured from one wizard template and schedule.

 
action_zoom_plus_stroke  Template Wizard
Figure: Template Wizard
Template Editor

To create your own wizard templates, use the Template Editor to create a series of questions that can be connected to logic that modifies the application to get to the desired state. Using a combination of variables, expressions, and tags, a complex application set up can easily be configured through a series of questions.

 
action_zoom_plus_stroke Template Editor
Figure: Template Editor
Design View (Swedish only)

Design View provides an additional method of configuring your applications. Libraries can be created that cover a type of application, such as an air handling unit, chiller, or fan coil unit. You can then open the library and use drag and drop functionality to configure the application based on specific needs. Currently, the library contains only Swedish versions of applications. More libraries will follow.

 
action_zoom_plus_stroke Design View
Figure: Design View
Drag and drop configuration

In Design View, applications can be opened from existing templates saved on your computer. You can open a particular library and use the Components window to drag and drop components into a TGML graphic. When the configuration is complete, you can view the TGML, review the function block programs, and compile the entire application, and deploy it to a target server.

Other time saving utilities

Automated Engineering Tool also contains utilities to assist in engineering. Using these utilities, you can create the EcoStruxure Building Operation objects from various files. You can open those objects in Automated Engineering Tool and deploy them to an EcoStruxure BMS server or Project Configuration Tool. The utilities provide some efficiency on certain transitions from legacy systems and when pre-commissioning a SpaceLogic automation server.

The following utilities are included:

  • Generate objects from a workbook

  • Alarm Manager and Trend Manager

  • Continuum Upgrade Utility

  • Sigma Upgrade Utility

  • LNS Upgrade Utility

  • Device Manager

  • Binding Utility

Generate objects from a workbook

A workbook is an Excel file that contains information about SpaceLogic devices and the associated Input and Output. Based on input from an Excel file created from an external estimating or design tool, Automated Engineering Tool can create a template of all objects needed to deploy to the target device so that pre-commissioning can be done. Currently the UK format and the Studio 360 checkout sheets are supported.

Alarm Manager and Trend Manager

The Alarm Manager and Trend Manager allow you to create new alarms and trends quickly and efficiently for an existing EcoStruxure BMS. The alarms and trends can be created from an Excel spreadsheet or by dragging objects from the System Tree pane into the appropriate Manager. In the Alarm Manager and Trend Manager, you can easily view, edit, and mass edit the new alarms and trends before you save them to your target server.

 
action_zoom_plus_stroke Alarm Manager
Figure: Alarm Manager
Continuum Upgrade Utility

For Continuum, the Automated Engineering Tool Upgrade Utility can convert data from Continuum dump files to EcoStruxure Building Operation objects. The Upgrade Utility provides the ability to transfer bCX and Infinity CX network controllers to AS-P or AS-B servers. In addition, you can use the Upgrade Utility to convert Infinity and b3 controllers. The Upgrade Utility provides flexible options for customizing and streamlining your conversion, including the ability to convert single or multiple field controllers or small panels from a Continuum dump file (.dmp) and migrate to one or more SpaceLogic BACnet/IP controllers or an automation server.

 
action_zoom_plus_stroke Continuum Upgrade Utility
Figure: Continuum Upgrade Utility
Sigma Upgrade Utility

The Sigma Upgrade Utility can convert data from Sigma UNC controllers to the equivalent operation in a SpaceLogic BACnet/IP controller. The Upgrade Utility can convert all Sigma functionality except Standby Generator, Maximum Demand, Pulse Count, and Degree Days. It is also possible to upgrade Sigma graphics to EcoStruxure Building Operation graphics through the Sigma transition interface. Users have flexible options to convert IO Objects only, include matching software objects, or a full operational update as well as choose how folders are structured, folder names, and more.

 
action_zoom_plus_stroke Sigma Upgrade Utility
Figure: Sigma Upgrade Utility
LNS Upgrade Utility

The LNS Utility provides the ability to use LNS backup .xml files, combined with the MNL WorkPlace Tech files, to create the required EcoStruxure Building Operation objects in to migrate these devices to the EcoStruxure Building Operation database.

 
action_zoom_plus_stroke LNS Utility
Figure: LNS Utility
Device Manager

The Automated Engineering Tool Device Manager is an option that can be selected from the Automated Engineering Tool Workspace context menu that allows users to convert object types to be compatible with a specific hardware platform. Users can convert:

  • Automation server objects to SpaceLogic MP controller objects

  • SpaceLogic MP or RP controller objects to automation server objects

  • Continuum b3 or Infinity controller objects to automation server objects

This option means that it is possible to convert, for example, an Automated Engineering Tool template created from an automation server into objects suitable for a SpaceLogic BACnet/IP controller.

 
action_zoom_plus_stroke Device Manager
Figure: Device Manager
Binding Utility

The Binding Utility allows direct modification of binding transfer parameters in EcoStruxure Building Operation databases. This allows you to easily evaluate and mass update binding value transfer settings.

 
action_zoom_plus_stroke Binding Utility
Figure: Binding Utility

Specifications

Server side
EcoStruxure BMS servers
EcoStruxure Building Operation v1.8 and later
  
Minimum v2.0 for custom types support
For more information, see the Enterprise Server, AS-P, and AS-B specification sheets.
Project Configuration Tool
EcoStruxure Building Operation v1.8 and later
  
Minimum v2.0 for custom types support
For more information, see the Project Configuration Tool specification sheet.
Client side
Hardware requirements
Processor
Minimum: Intel Core i5 @ 2.0 GHz or equivalent
  
Recommended: Intel Core i5 @ 3.0 GHz or better
Memory
Minimum: 4 GB
  
Recommended: 8 GB or higher
Hard disk space
Minimum: 20 GB
Display
Minimum: 1,024x768 pixel resolution
Other devices
Microsoft mouse or compatible pointing device is required.
Software requirements
Operating systems
Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit)
  
Microsoft Windows 11
  
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 (64-bit)
  
Microsoft Windows Server 2016
  
Microsoft Windows Server 2019
  
Microsoft Windows Server 2022
The following Microsoft Windows 10 editions are supported: Pro and Enterprise.
The following Microsoft Windows 11 editions are supported: Pro and Enterprise.
The following Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 editions are supported: Datacenter, Standard, Essentials, and Foundation.
The following Microsoft Windows Server 2016 editions are supported: Datacenter, Standard, and Essentials.
The following Microsoft Windows Server 2019 editions are supported: Datacenter, Standard, and Essentials.
The following Microsoft Windows Server 2022 editions are supported: Datacenter, Standard, and Essentials.
Required additional software
Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.2 and later
  • Enterprise Server
  • SmartX AS-P Server
  • SmartX AS-B Server