May 10, 2010 - Acromag released ActiveX and .NET controls to help engineers developing measurement and control systems in a Visual Basic or C++ environment communicate with their Ethernet and Modbus I/O modules. Acromag's AMRN/AMRX (for Modbus/RTU) and AMTN/AMTX (for Modbus/TCP) controls packages provide a fast, easy way to interface with any Modbus slave device (not just Acromag I/O) connected to a PC's serial or network ports. These software tools start at just $225.
Free evaluation versions are available.Two software support packages are offered for Modbus/RTU and two for Modbus/TCP devices. The AMRX and AMTX packages are easy to use ActiveX controls that simplify communication with slave devices connected to a PC’s wired or wireless network. They include a timer for polled data acquisition and a floating point conversion control.
AMRN and AMTN are Windows Forms Controls (.NET) that provide a quick way to communicate with slave devices connected to a PC’s serial or Ethernet port. Other key features make this software very easy to use. Any container application that can embed ActiveX controls can use these tools. At design time, a user can access Modbus devices from the software’s test property page to make start-up and troubleshooting a snap – all without writing a single line of code.
Talking to a Modbus slave is as simple as calling a function with the necessary arguments. The software automatically builds the command, appends a CRC, sends the request over the network, and validates the response. Application programs just read and write simple 16-bit data values. ActiveX controls include a help file and examples for Excel, Visual Basic, and Visual C++.
The .NET controls include a help file and examples for Visual Basic, C#, and Managed C++.
