Tutorial: SimpleHMI programming of SPLat controllers
Date originally written: January 2012
SPLat controllers can support a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) software client called SimpleHMI. SimpleHMI is available on the following devices:
- Your personal computer as a SimpleHMI function built into SPLat/PC;
- An Android phone or tablet running our SimpleHMI app and connected to a SPLat controller via BlueTooth. BlueTooth adaptors are available for SPLat controllers.. Download SimpleHMI on Google play
- A personal computer as a standalone Windows program. Download
"Big picture" features of SimpleHMI:
- Extremely simple to program (we called it SimpleHMI for a reason!);
- All application-specific programming is in the SPLat. The SimpleHMI device (Android or whatever) always runs factory standard code;
- Code developed using the Windows versions of the HMI will "simply work" with the Android version, with 99% fidelity;
- Designed for functionality rather than beauty. The more fancy a display gets, the harder it is to program and maintain. That said, SimpleHMI allows clean, logical screen layouts customized for each specific purpose;
- Highly configurable buttons to trigger actions in the SPLat controller;
- Ability to display SPLat data on the SimpleHMI screen;
- A very easily programmed method of getting an end-user to supply configuration data to the SPLat.
- Built in data logging capability
SimpleHMI can reduce the effort required to program an operator interface with multiple configuration settings by as much as 90% compared to the simple character LCD and buttons approach.
Outcomes (what you will get out of this tutorial)
- You will get started with programming SPLat to utilise the SimpleHMI;
- You will discover a handy technique for debugging SPLat programs;
- You will gain a good insight into the use of Hash commands.
Prerequisites (what you need before you start)
- A working knowledge of MultiTrack programming (this all builds on MultiTrack);
- Good skills with SPLat/PC;
- Any SPLat controller with language dialect 27 or later, with programming cable, set up and working with SPLat/PC. Ideally the controller will have some visual output indicators and some way of easily turning some inputs on and off;
- The latest SPLat/PC.
Note: It is possible to fully develop an application using the SimpleHMI built into SPLat/PC. At time of writing the BlueTooth adaptor needed for connecting to an Android device is under development.
How long will it take?
The tutorial shouldn't take very long to complete, maybe an hour or two to get the essentials (providing you have the prerequisites in place). After all, we do call it SimpleHMI!
So let's get started!
