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Aaron Stewart
Aaron Stewart
June 18, 2023

Vijeo Designer v4 5: A Comprehensive Review of the HMI Software from Schneider Electric


Vijeo Designer v4 5: A Powerful and User-Friendly HMI Software




If you are looking for a software tool that can help you create, edit, and download graphical user interfaces for various industrial devices, you might want to check out Vijeo Designer v4 5. This is a powerful and user-friendly HMI (human-machine interface) software that allows you to design and customize screens, variables, scripts, security, data sharing, web gate, and more. With Vijeo Designer v4 5, you can create applications that are compatible with a wide range of Schneider Electric products, such as Magelis terminals, XBT controllers, Modicon PLCs, and more. You can also communicate with other devices using various protocols, such as Modbus TCP/IP, Ethernet/IP, CANopen, Profibus, etc. In this article, we will show you how to install, create, download, and use advanced features of Vijeo Designer v4 5.




vijeo designer v4 5



How to Install Vijeo Designer v4 5




Before you can start using Vijeo Designer v4 5, you need to install it on your computer. Here are the prerequisites and steps to install Vijeo Designer v4 5:


Prerequisites




You need a computer that meets the minimum system requirements for Vijeo Designer v4 5. These include:


  • Windows XP SP2 or later (32-bit or 64-bit)



  • Intel Pentium IV processor or equivalent



  • 512 MB of RAM (1 GB recommended)



  • 1.8 GB of free disk space



  • CD-ROM drive



  • USB port



  • Ethernet port



  • Internet Explorer 6.0 or later



  • You need a valid license key for Vijeo Designer v4 5. You can obtain one by purchasing the software online or contacting your local Schneider Electric representative.



  • You need to have Vijeo Designer v4.5.0 installed and registered on your computer before you can install Vijeo Designer v4.5.1. This is because Vijeo Designer v4.5.1 is an update patch that requires the previous version to be installed. You can download Vijeo Designer v4.5.0 from the Schneider Electric website.



Steps




  • Insert the Vijeo Designer v4.5.1 CD-ROM into your computer's CD-ROM drive.



  • Run the setup.exe file from the CD-ROM and follow the instructions on the screen.



  • When prompted, enter your license key and click Next.



  • Select the components you want to install and click Next.



  • Choose the destination folder for the installation and click Next.



  • Wait for the installation to complete and click Finish.



  • Restart your computer if required.



Activation




After installing Vijeo Designer v4 5, you need to activate it to use it without any limitations. Here are the steps to activate Vijeo Designer v4 5:


  • Launch Vijeo Designer v4 5 from your computer's Start menu or desktop shortcut.



  • Click on Help > License Manager from the menu bar.



  • Select the Activate tab and click on Activate Online.



  • Enter your email address and password for your Schneider Electric account and click Next.



  • Select the license you want to activate and click Next.



  • Wait for the activation to complete and click Finish.



How to Create and Download an Application with Vijeo Designer v4 5




Now that you have installed and activated Vijeo Designer v4 5, you can start creating your own HMI applications. Here are the steps to create and download an application with Vijeo Designer v4 5:


Project Creation




  • Launch Vijeo Designer v4 5 from your computer's Start menu or desktop shortcut.



  • Click on File > New Project from the menu bar or press Ctrl+N on your keyboard.



  • Enter a name for your project and click OK.



  • Select the target device you want to use for your application from the list of supported devices and click OK. You can also change the device later by clicking on Project > Change Target Device from the menu bar.



  • Select the communication settings for your target device, such as IP address, port number, baud rate, etc. and click OK. You can also change the communication settings later by clicking on Project > Communication Settings from the menu bar.



Variable Creation




  • In the Project Explorer window, right-click on Variables and select New Variable from the context menu. You can also press Ctrl+V on your keyboard.



  • In the Variable Editor window, enter a name, type, initial value, and description for your variable. You can also specify other properties, such as access mode, alarm settings, logging settings, etc.



  • Click OK to save your variable. You can also create multiple variables at once by clicking on Add in the Variable Editor window.



  • To edit or delete a variable, right-click on it in the Project Explorer window and select Edit Variable or Delete Variable from the context menu. You can also double-click on a variable to edit it or press Delete on your keyboard to delete it.



Screen Design




  • In the Project Explorer window, right-click on Screens and select New Screen from the context menu. You can also press Ctrl+S on your keyboard.



  • In the Screen Editor window, enter a name and description for your screen. You can also specify other properties, such as size, color, background image, etc.



  • Click OK to save your screen. You can also create multiple screens at once by clicking on Add in the Screen Editor window.



  • To edit or delete a screen, right-click on it in the Project Explorer window and select Edit Screen or Delete Screen from the context menu. You can also double-click on a screen to edit it or press Delete on your keyboard to delete it.



To design your screen, drag and drop various objects from the Object Library window to the Screen Design window. You can also use the toolbar buttons or keyboard shortcuts to add objects. Some of the objects you can use are:


  • Text: To display static or dynamic text on your screen. You can change the font, color, alignment, etc. of your text object.



  • Numeric Display: To display numeric values on your screen. You can change the format, unit, decimal places, etc. of your numeric display object.



  • Numeric Input: To allow users to enter numeric values on your screen. You can change the range, increment, keypad type, etc. of your numeric input object.Switch: To display and control the on/off state of a variable on your screen. You can change the shape, color, label, etc. of your switch object.



  • Lamp: To display the on/off state of a variable on your screen. You can change the shape, color, blink rate, etc. of your lamp object.



  • Bar Graph: To display the value of a variable as a bar on your screen. You can change the orientation, scale, color, etc. of your bar graph object.



  • Trend Graph: To display the historical values of one or more variables as a line graph on your screen. You can change the time range, scale, color, legend, etc. of your trend graph object.



  • Alarm Summary: To display the active and acknowledged alarms on your screen. You can change the filter, sort, color, etc. of your alarm summary object.



  • Alarm History: To display the historical alarms on your screen. You can change the filter, sort, color, etc. of your alarm history object.



  • Recipe: To display and manage the recipes on your screen. You can change the columns, rows, buttons, etc. of your recipe object.



  • Table: To display and edit tabular data on your screen. You can change the columns, rows, cells, etc. of your table object.



  • To link an object to a variable, right-click on the object in the Screen Design window and select Link to Variable from the context menu. You can also use the Link to Variable button in the toolbar or press Ctrl+L on your keyboard.



  • To edit the properties of an object, right-click on the object in the Screen Design window and select Properties from the context menu. You can also use the Properties button in the toolbar or press F4 on your keyboard.



  • To move, resize, align, or group objects, use the mouse or keyboard commands in the Screen Design window. You can also use the toolbar buttons or menu options to perform these actions.



Simulation




  • To test and debug your application in simulation mode, click on Project > Simulation from the menu bar or press F5 on your keyboard.



  • In the Simulation window, you can view and interact with your screens as if they were running on the target device. You can also monitor and modify the values of your variables using the Variable Watch window.



  • To stop the simulation mode, click on Project > Stop Simulation from the menu bar or press Shift+F5 on your keyboard.



Download




  • To download your application to the target device, click on Project > Download from the menu bar or press F6 on your keyboard.



  • Select the communication method you want to use for downloading, such as TCP/IP or USB cable.



  • Enter the IP address or COM port number of your target device and click OK.



  • Wait for the download to complete and click OK.



How to Use Advanced Features of Vijeo Designer v4 5




Vijeo Designer v4 5 also offers some advanced features that can enhance your HMI applications. Here are some of them:


Data Sharing




You can share data between multiple devices using Ethernet or serial communication with Vijeo Designer v4 5. For example, you can exchange data between two Magelis terminals or between a Magelis terminal and a Modicon PLC. Here are the steps to share data between devices with Vijeo Designer v4 5:


  • Create a data sharing device in your project by right-clicking on Devices and selecting New Data Sharing Device from the context menu.



  • Enter a name and description for your data sharing device and click OK.



  • Select the communication settings for your data sharing device, such as protocol, IP address, port number, baud rate, etc. and click OK.



  • Create a data sharing variable in your project by right-clicking on Variables and selecting New Data Sharing Variable from the context menu.



  • Enter a name, type, initial value, and description for your data sharing variable. You can also specify other properties, such as access mode, alarm settings, logging settings, etc.



  • Select the data sharing device you want to link your variable to and click OK.



  • Repeat steps 1 to 6 for each device and variable you want to share data with.



Web Gate




You can access and control your application remotely via a web browser with Vijeo Designer v4 5. This feature is called Web Gate and it allows you to view and interact with your screens, monitor and modify your variables, view your alarms, etc. from any computer or mobile device that has an internet connection. Here are the steps to use Web Gate with Vijeo Designer v4 5:


  • Enable Web Gate in your project by clicking on Project > Web Gate Settings from the menu bar.



  • Select the Enable Web Gate option and click OK.



  • Download your application to the target device as usual.



  • Open a web browser on your remote computer or mobile device and enter the IP address of your target device followed by /webvisu.htm. For example, http://192.168.1.100/webvisu.htm.



  • Enter the user name and password for your application if required and click OK.



  • Select the screen you want to view from the drop-down list and click OK.



  • Interact with your screen as if you were using the target device. You can also use the toolbar buttons or menu options to perform other actions, such as switching screens, viewing variables, viewing alarms, etc.



Security




You can protect your application from unauthorized access and modification with Vijeo Designer v4 5. This feature is called Security and it allows you to create user accounts, assign passwords, define access levels, enable login/logout functions, etc. Here are the steps to use Security with Vijeo Designer v4 5:


  • Create a security device in your project by right-clicking on Devices and selecting New Security Device from the context menu.



  • Enter a name and description for your security device and click OK.



  • Create a user account in your project by right-clicking on Users and selecting New User from the context menu.



  • Enter a user name, password, access level, and description for your user account. You can also specify other properties, such as expiration date, password change interval, etc.



  • Click OK to save your user account. You can also create multiple user accounts at once by clicking on Add in the User Editor window.



  • To edit or delete a user account, right-click on it in the Project Explorer window and select Edit User or Delete User from the context menu. You can also double-click on a user account to edit it or press Delete on your keyboard to delete it.



  • To enable login/logout functions on your screens, drag and drop the Login/Logout object from the Object Library window to the Screen Design window. You can also use the toolbar button or keyboard shortcut to add this object.



  • To edit the properties of the Login/Logout object, right-click on it in the Screen Design window and select Properties from the context menu. You can also use the Properties button in the toolbar or press F4 on your keyboard.



Scripting




You can use scripting languages to enhance the functionality and interactivity of your application with Vijeo Designer v4 5. This feature is called Scripting and it allows you to write custom code using VBScript or Java Script that can be executed when certain events occur, such as screen opening/closing, object clicking/changing, variable updating/triggering, etc. Here are the steps to use Scripting with Vijeo Designer v4 5:


  • Create a script in your project by right-clicking on Scripts and selecting New Script from the context menu. You can also press Ctrl+T on your keyboard.



  • Enter a name and description for your script and click OK.



  • Select the scripting language you want to use for your script, such as VBScript or Java Script, and click OK.



  • Write your script code in the Script Editor window. You can use the toolbar buttons or menu options to insert variables, objects, functions, etc. into your code. You can also use the syntax highlighting, auto-completion, and error checking features to help you write your code.



  • Click OK to save your script. You can also create multiple scripts at once by clicking on Add in the Script Editor window.



  • To edit or delete a script, right-click on it in the Project Explorer window and select Edit Script or Delete Script from the context menu. You can also double-click on a script to edit it or press Delete on your keyboard to delete it.



  • To assign a script to an event, right-click on the event in the Project Explorer window and select Assign Script from the context menu. You can also use the Assign Script button in the toolbar or press Ctrl+A on your keyboard.



  • Select the script you want to assign to the event and click OK.



Conclusion




Vijeo Designer v4 5 is a powerful and user-friendly HMI software that can help you create, edit, and download graphical user interfaces for various industrial devices. With Vijeo Designer v4 5, you can design and customize screens, variables, scripts, security, data sharing, web gate, and more. You can also communicate with other devices using various protocols, such as Modbus TCP/IP, Ethernet/IP, CANopen, Profibus, etc. Vijeo Designer v4 5 is compatible with a wide range of Schneider Electric products, such as Magelis terminals, XBT controllers, Modicon PLCs, and more. Vijeo Designer v4 5 also offers some advanced features that can enhance your HMI applications, such as data sharing, web gate, security, and scripting. Vijeo Designer v4 5 is a great tool for creating HMI applications that are functional, interactive, and secure.


If you want to try out Vijeo Designer v4 5 for free, you can download a trial version from the Schneider Electric website. If you want to buy Vijeo Designer v4 5 online, you can visit the Schneider Electric e-shop. If you need any technical support for Vijeo Designer v4 5, you can contact the Schneider Electric customer care center or visit the Schneider Electric online support portal.


FAQs




Here are some of the frequently asked questions about Vijeo Designer v4 5:


  • What are some of the supported target devices for Vijeo Designer v4 5?



Vijeo Designer v4 5 supports a wide range of target devices from Schneider Electric, such as:


  • Magelis XBT GT/GK/GC/GH/GTO/GTW/GTU/HMISTO/HMISTU/HMISCU/HMIGTO/HMIGTU/HMIPEP



  • Magelis Smart/Compact/Advanced/Modular iPC



  • Magelis XBT N/R/RT



  • Magelis XBT F/TXBT F



  • Modicon M340/M580/M238/M258/LMC058/LMC078



  • Modicon Premium/Quantum/Momentum



  • Modicon TSX Micro/Nano



  • TeSys U/T



  • Zelio Logic



  • What are some of the supported communication protocols for Vijeo Designer v4 5?



Vijeo Designer v4 5 supports various communication protocols for data exchange with other devices, such as:


  • Ethernet TCP/IP



  • Ethernet/IP



  • Modbus TCP/IP



  • Modbus Plus



  • Modbus RTU/ASCII



  • CANopen



  • Profibus DP/PA/FMS



  • Uni-Telway



  • Fipio/Fipway



  • Interbus-S



  • S-Bus



  • MPI/PPI/AS511/3964R/S7-200/S7-300/S7-400 (Siemens)



  • CCLink (Mitsubishi)



  • DH+/DH-485 (Allen-Bradley)



  • EtherCAT (Beckhoff)



  • What are some of the limitations of Vijeo Designer v4 5?



Vijeo Designer v4 5 has some limitations that you should be aware of before using it, such as:


  • The maximum number of screens per project is 1000.



  • The maximum number of variables per project is 10000.



  • The maximum number of scripts per project is 1000.



  • The maximum number of users per project is 100.



  • The maximum number of data sharing devices per project is 32.



  • The maximum number of web gate clients per target device is 4.



  • The maximum size of a web gate screen is 1024 x 768 pixels.



  • The maximum length of a script code is 65535 characters.



  • How to update or upgrade Vijeo Designer v4 5?



You can update or upgrade Vijeo Designer v4 5 to get the latest features, bug fixes, and device support. Here are the steps to update or upgrade Vijeo Designer v4 5:


  • Check the current version of your Vijeo Designer v4 5 by clicking on Help > About from the menu bar.



  • Visit the Schneider Electric website and download the latest update or upgrade patch for your Vijeo Designer v4 5 version.



  • Run the update or upgrade patch file and follow the instructions on the screen.



  • Restart your computer if required.



  • How to get technical support for Vijeo Designer v4 5?



If you encounter any problems or have any questions about Vijeo Designer v4 5, you can get technical support from Schneider Electric in various ways, such as:


  • Visit the Schneider Electric online support portal and search for solutions, manuals, tutorials, FAQs, etc. related to Vijeo Designer v4 5.



  • Contact the Schneider Electric customer care center by phone, email, or chat and get assistance from a technical expert.



Join the Schneider Electric online community and interact with other users and experts of Vijeo Designer v4 5


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