Opto 22 Introduces ioProject Basic and ioProject Professional Automation Software Suites
and software for industrial automation, remote monitoring, data acquisition, and machine-tomachine
(M2M) applications, announced today the release of ioProject Basic and ioProject
Professional, two automation software suites that include all the control programming,
human-machine interface (HMI) development, and connectivity tools required to design, develop,
and maintain sophisticated industrial control, monitoring, and data acquisition applications.
Used with Opto 22s line of Ethernet-based programmable automation controllers, including the
recently introduced SNAP PACs, this completely integrated hardware and software combination
provides unmatched power, simplicity, and reliability at the industrys most competitive price,
while delivering extraordinary automation equipment value to original equipment manufacturers
(OEMs), system integrators, and end-users.
The ioProject Basic software suite includes ioControl Basic, ioDisplay Basic, ioManager, and
various other tools and utilities. ioProject Professional includes the same components, but with
added features and functionality, plus OptoOPCServer.
ioProject Basic is included free with purchase of a SNAP PAC programmable automation controller.
This software suite also supports all Opto 22 SNAP Ethernet-based I/O and Ethernet Optomux
industrial control and input/output systems and components, including the recently introduced
SNAP high-density digital, load cell, and other modules.
By merging the SNAP PAC R-series programmable automation controller and the ioProject Basic
software into one, simple-to-use package, we are providing customers a superior shoebox
PLC-class hardware controller and the complete set of software needed to develop control
programs and user interfacesall for under a thousand dollars, says Benson Hougland, Opto 22
Vice President. This is unprecedented in an industry where most other automation vendors charge
much more for the software alone.
ioControl Basic, part of ioProject Basic, is a self-documenting, flowchart-based programming and
debugging tool that includes an extensive, plain-English command set, as well as a powerful
scripting language, each offering commands for analog and digital control, complex math,
conditional branching, string handling, serial device control, subroutines, PID loop control, data
arrays, and other complex functions. With over 15 years of field experience in proven applications
all over the globe, ioControl is based upon the worlds most implemented flowcharting
programming language in use today.
ioControl Professional, part of ioProject Professional, adds support for the mistic I/O serial
communications protocol and command set, allowing existing Opto 22 customers with legacy I/O
systems to migrate to the most recent software suite available while keeping their existing I/O
hardware intact. ioControl Professional also provides a means to import control strategies
developed with Opto 22s widely deployed OptoControl, part of Opto 22s FactoryFloor suite
of automation software, which was introduced in 1995. Finally, ioControl Professional adds
the capability to configure the SNAP PACs dual Ethernet interfaces for segmented
controller/input-output networking or Ethernet link redundancy.
ioDisplay Basic is a full-featured, human-machine interface (HMI) application used to design and
run operator interfaces on Microsoft® Windows®-based clients. With ioDisplay Basic, users can
create elaborate graphical user interfaces using original or included symbols, jpegs, and bitmaps.
Support for alarm management, recipe handling, operator logging, real-time and historical
trending, multimedia, and unlimited tags places ioDisplay Basic on the same footing as competitive
applications costing thousands of dollars more.
ioDisplay Professional, also part of ioProject Professional, adds the ability to import HMI projects
developed with OptoDisplay, again part of Opto 22s FactoryFloor software, providing users with
a clear migration path to newer human-machine interface systems. Further, if users choose to
retain their legacy hardware (like the popular SNAP-LCM4 controller), ioDisplay Professional can
connect to these existing controllers without any reprogramming.
The ioProject Professional features of ioControl and ioDisplay offer existing users several benefits:
the opportunity to utilize the newer and more powerful SNAP PAC-S and SNAP PAC-R Ethernetbased
controllers; the option of adding OptoTerminal touchscreens to their control systems;
and the ability to use the latest releases of SNAP I/O modulesall without sacrificing existing
investments in I/O, instrumentation, and field wiring.
In addition to the ioControl and ioDisplay components, ioProject Professional also includes
OptoOPCServer, a fast, efficient OLE for Process Control (OPC) 2.0-compliant server used to
consolidate and publish I/O point and SNAP PAC data to OPC-aware clientsincluding third-party
HMIs such as Wonderwares InTouch®, Intellutions iFix®, and Iconics Genesis®.
ioProject Basic is free with purchase of any Opto 22 SNAP PAC R- or S-series controller.
ioProject Basic can also be downloaded at no charge from Opto 22s website.
ioProject Professional is priced at US$999. The individual ioProject Professional software
components, ioControl Professional, ioDisplay Professional, and OptoOPCServer, are also available
separately and each is priced at US$399.
About Opto 22
Opto 22 develops and manufactures hardware and software products for applications in industrial
automation, remote monitoring, and data acquisition. Using standard, commercially available
Internet, networking, and computer technologies, Opto 22s input/output and control systems
allow customers to monitor, control, and acquire data from all of the mechanical, electrical, and
electronic assets that are key to their business operations. Opto 22's products and services support
automation end users, OEMs, and information technology and operations personnel. Founded in
1974 and with over 85 million Opto 22-connected devices deployed worldwide, the company has
an established reputation for innovation, quality, and reliability.
Opto 22 products are sold through a worldwide network of distributors, partners, and system
integrators. For more information, contact Opto 22 headquarters at 800-321-OPTO or visit the
website at www.opto22.com.

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