In this tutorial you'll learn about various features of iPlus. The following topics are covered:

• Creating project definitions and creating projects
• Creating classes and their designs
• Creating a visualization
• Creating workflows
• Creating materials and materialworkflows

In this tutorial, a simple mixing project is created in which the individual processes of an automation in iPlus are explained in more detail.

After the start of iPlus, the login screen appears. Enter your login details, then click on Login. In the Style box, you can choose between a dark default theme (GIP) and a light design (aero).

Default Login data:

Typically, you log on as a client only. However, certain functions are only available if a iPlus server is running in the background.

After logging in, you will first see the empty iPlus user interface with the menu bar. In the title bar, you can see in the parenthesis

• the username under which you are logged in
• and the database you are connected to

(in this example, the user name is Superuser and the database is iPlusMESV4).

iPlus has its own developement environment with Studio. You open Studio from the main menu under ? / Studio

To create a new project, first go to the main menu item ? and open the developement environment of Studio. It will show you Studio with the base project Root.

Projects consist of at least two elements, the definition and the first derivative of it, the application. You can display existing projects using the button Explorer. Without your own projects, only the existing standard projects are displayed there.

Note: A new project in the current version of Root will not be displayed in the Explorer until Studio has been started again.

Creating a definition project

First, create a new definition project.

1. Create a new project definition and a new project in the Content menu using the button, alternatively with the keyboard shortcut CTRL + N. The input mask ACProjectNew opens.
2. Enter MixeryDef as Projectname and select Appdefinitionproject in the combobox Projecttype.
3. Save your entries with the OK button.

Creating an application project

Now create a new application project.

1. To do this, open the ACProjectNew window again.
2. Enter Mixery as Projectname and select Applicationproject in the combobox Projecttype.
3. Under Baseproject select your previously created project definintion MixeryDef.
4. Save your entries with the OK button.

If elements are included in the definition before an application is created, they are copied to the application identically. If you wish to extend the definition later, you will be asked if you want to apply these elements before saving.

After you have created a definition and an application project, you first select the Mixerydef definition project.

1. To do this, open the Explorer using the Explorer button at the bottom right of the iPlus window.
2. Select the project by double-clicking the appropiate project name.

Creating classes in the definition project

To create classes, you can access a variety of existing base classes. To create a new class, open the Project Library in the Project window with the Library button. There you will see the available base classes listed.

In the path PA Module are, among other things, the module types, which can be dragged directly (from an application) by drag-and-drop into a visualization image.

The names of the aggregates starting with AGIP have a converter for direct communication with a PLC. These are programmed with PLC modules according to the GIP-standard.

In the path PA Process Module there are complex modules, e.g. different scales types, containers, measuring equipment, silos etc. These classes contain properties that are important for controlling processes with iPlus.

Start by creating a Silo with integrated screw. In the Project Library under Variolibrary / PA Process Module you will find the class PAMSilo which serves as basis for our silo.

1. Drag and Drop the class PAMSilo into the Project window on the project definition MixeryDef
2. After inserting the new class enter SILOWSCR into the textbox Class and Silo with screw into the textbox Description.
3. Confirm each entry with Tab or Enter.

Note: No changes to the name of the class are possible. Only the description can be changed as desired.

Note: Keep the class names as short as possible. The individual names are transferred vie URL. This could lead to delays in high-performance systems with many classes.

1. Under Variolibrary / PA Module you´ll find the class AGIPScrew which you drag and drop onto the silo in the Project window.
2. Name this Class SCR and give it the Description Screw.
3. Then save your entries using the button in the Content menu, alternatively with the keyboard shortcut CTRL + S.

After saving, a query is made whether you want to apply the changes you just made to the application projects based on the application definition. Since you have only created a template for the silos used later, click No.

1. Now open the Explorer again and select the application project Mixery.
2. In the Project Library of the application project you´ll find your previously created silo.
3. Drag and drop it onto the Mixery project.

By default, the new class receives the name of the derived class with a sequential number. For this tutorial we simply use the sequential numbering.

Subsequent changes to a class

Now add a full detector to you silo.

1. Open the Explorer and select the definition project MixeryDef.
2. In the project library, see Variolibrary / PA Module for the class AGIPSensorDigital.
3. Drag and drop the sensor class onto the class of the Silo.
4. Name this Class SENFULL und give it the Description Sensor full.
5. Save your entries.

After saving, you´ll be asked again if you want to apply your changes from the definition to the application project. This time you confirm this with Yes.

If you now switch back to your application project and expand the silo in the treeview, you see that the newly inserted sensor has been taken over directly.

1. Now create another silo of the same type in your application project. Name this SILOSCR2.

Create a scale

Now create a hopperscale according to the same principle as the silo.

1. Within the MixeryDef definition project, open the Project Library.
2. Under Variolibrary / PA Process Module you will find the class AGIPHopperscale.
3. Drag and drop the class onto the MixeryDef definition project on the Project window.
4. Name this Class HOPPERSC and give it the Description Hopper scale.
5. Save your entries. In the query for transferring the class to the application project, choose No.

The AGIPHopperscale already contains all the elements we need for this tutorial.

Create a Mixer

Now you need a mixer to mix or stir your product.

1. Within the MixeryDef defintion project, open the Project Library.
2. Under Variolibrary / PA Process Module you will find the class AGIPMixerDoor.
3. Drag and drop the class onto the MixeryDef definition project in the Project window.
4. Name this Class MIXERDO and give it the Description Mixer.
5. Save your entries. In the query for transferring the class to the application project, choose No.

Create second silo type

Finally, on order to be able to store your final product, you must now create a silo for storage.

1. Name the Class of this silotype SILOSTOR and give it the Description Silostorage.
2. Save your entries. In the query for transferring the class to the application project, choose No.

The intermediate result of the classes in the Project window should then look like this:

Connecting classes

Establish a connection between SILOSCR1 and HOPPERSC1.

1. Open the Explorer and select the application project Mixery.
2. Select HOPPERSC1.
3. On the PropertyInfo window under Available Projects, select the application project Mixery.
4. Now Select SILOWSCR1 in the Combinable Connectionspoints box, you´ll see the available connection points of the selected class.
5. Select the starting point PAPointMatOut1 from SILOWSCR1 and drag and drop it to the input point PAPointMatIn1 of HOPPERSC1 in the Select Property window.

You then see the connection you created in the Connections from field. If you now select SILOWSCR1 in the Project window and select its starting point PAPointMatOut1 in the Select Property window, you will see the connection to the HOPPERSC1 in the Connections to window.

Note: Always follow the connections from the class you want to connect to.

Now make the remaining connections according to the same scheme as between SILOWSCR1 and HOPPERSC1. These are as follows:

Design of a class

A class has a WPF-based design that is later used to display that class on the visualisation surface.

1. Open the Explorer and select the MixeryDef definition project.
2. In the Project window, select SILOWSCR, and open the Design tab.

The Designer tab contains a WPF editor that allows you to edit the visual representation of a class. In the surface designer, you can select individual items directly and edit their properties in the Properties window. In the XAML tab, you can edit the theme directly in the WPF code.

Now insert the sub-classes of the silo into the design of the silo. First you need to create a new design.

3. Create a new design using the New Design button.
4. Type SiloWithScrew in the Designname/ID textbox and Silo with screw in the Description textbox.
5. In the combobox Usage select Design.
6. Save your entries with the OK button.

Using inheritance, you can work with existing designs and extend them accordingliy. In this case, a screw and a full detector are added to the silo´s standard design.

7. Select the newly created design. A blank canvas appears in the Designer.
8. Drag and drop the Silo with screw class from the Controls window onto your empty canvas. This first appears only as an empty rectangle.
9. Select the element in the Logical Tree under the name (2) VBVisual.
10. In the Properties window under VBControl you´ll find the field VBDesignName. Enter FillLevel there.

The XAML tab shows the WPF source code. Alternatively, the last steps can be performed directly in the code. vb:VBDesignName = "" is the design from which you want to inherit and name = "this_0" is the pointer to the current design.

The working surface and the silo should each be given the height 350 and the width 80.

11. In the Logical Tree, first select the work area (1)VBCanvas (Canvas_0).
12. In the Properties window, you can find the Height and Width properties under Layout.
13. Repeat these steps for the silo (2)VBVisual "this".

Now insert the screw and the full detetctor (sensor) into the image.

15. To do this, unfold the treeview of Silo with screw in the Control window. Drag and drop the two sub-classes Screw and Sensor full onto the image.
16. Arrange the elements as shown in the following image. The sensor at the top of the silo and the screw below the silo.
17. Then save your settings.

In the Properties window, you can find all the settings that are currently available for the selected item. In the following picture you can see how the silo should look after it has been set up. Below the image you will find the corresponding source code.

Changing default design

For certain classes, there are already several different designs that you do not need to re-create. In this section you will learn how to access them.

1. Open the Explorer and select the definition project MixeryDef.
2. In the Project window, select HOPPERSC.
3. Open the Design tab.
4. Select ScaleMan2 from the list and select Defaultdesign in the Designinfo tab in the right window.
5. Save your entries.

You cannot use an application until it is activated.

1. To do this, open Master data / Administration / Usermanagement.
2. In the Explorer, select the user Superuser.
3. Assign the Mixery application under Available Application to Assigned Application using the arrow key-buttons.
4. Select the checkbox Client below.

The visualisation is opened in the main menu via Production / Visualisation. A blank image appears, which serves as the basis for the creation of visualisation images. Create a new visualisation image using the button in the Content menu.

1. Now enter the name MixeryVisu in the textbox Designname/ID
2. and Mixery Visualisation in the textbox Description.
3. Then press OK. The new design appears as a blank work surface.

The Sortindex determines the order of the image in the menu. The higher the number the further below the visualisation will appear in the list.

With the button VisualViews you can display all available visualisation images.

To insert and arrange items, you must use the Designmode.

1. Open the Designmode by right-clicking the still blank canvas.
2. Select Utilities / Designmode on.

You can see the tabs Design, XAML and Info at the bottom left of iPlus.

Design is the visual interface in which you can move all elements with the mouse. XAML shows you the WPF source code of the visualisation image. The Info tab contains general information about the visualisation image.

1. First, open the XAML tab.
2. Copy the following source code into it.

This serves as the basis for the visualization images.

Now add your classes to the visualisation.

1. Open the ToolWindow.
2. Unfold the tree structure of Mixery.

You will now see the priviously created classes of the individual aggregates. You can drag and drop them onto the visualisation surface and arrange them arbitrarily.

The following visualisation screen shows the finished arrangement of the classes. Followed by the source code for the arranged elements.

The arrows in the visualisation image are iPlus own WPF elements. ArrowLine, which lets you draw a straight line with arrows at one or both ends and ArrowPolyline you can draw across multiple points.

Creating a new workflow

Create a new workflow.

1. In the main menu, open Master data / Workflowmanagement.
2. Use the button on the Content menu to create a new workflow.
3. In the MethodName/ID textbox, type MixeryDefault and in the Description textbox Mixery Default Workflow.
4. In the Instantiation class of root node combobox, select the Production property and in the Class which invokes this Subworkflow combobox WF-Batch-Manager.
5. Select the checkbox Submethod.
6. Save your entries with OK.

Adding process functions

If process steps are needed and do not yet exist, as in the case of the mixer, you can add them later.

1. To do this, open Studio in the main menu under ?.
2. In the Explorer, select the definition project MixeryDef
3. In the Project Library, under Variolibrary / PA Process Function you´ll find the function PAFDosing.
4. Drag and drop the function to the class MIXERDO.
5. Save the changes.
6. In the query to transfer the class to the Application project, select Yes.

Assemble workflow

1. Open the Designmode.
2. Unfold the Toolwindow on the left edge of the iPlus window.
3. Drag and drop the class HOPPERSC onto the MIXERYDEF element on the canvas.
4. Now add Dosing and Discharge as shown on the following image in the HOPPERSC
5. Save the changes.

Extend workflow

Now add the remaining classes, the second container scale and the mixer, according to the same scheme. You can drag and drop the individual classes and functions onto the canvas.

1. In the Toolwindow you´ll find under Functions the function Wait.
2. Drag and drop it onto the mixer's work surface. After the first On/Off function and before the second On/Off function.
3. Unused connection lines that were created automatically can be deleted by selecting them and then right-clicking on Delete.

Connect the individual elements of the workflow as shown in the following screen. These tools are available for processing workflows:

	Select and move objects on the work area.
	Create connecting lines between two objects. The available anchor points at which you can connect the lines are indicated by green dots.
	Move existing connection lines.

Create batch processing for workflow

You need an empty definition and an empty application project. First, create the definition projekt (Planning Def) and then an application project (Planning) based on it.

Now create a new Workflow.

1. Open Workflowmanagement from the main menu under Master Data / Workflowmanagement.
2. In the Explorer, select the newly added project PlanningDef.
3. Create a new workflow.
4. Name this MixeryPlanningWorkflow and give it the name Mixery Planning Workflow.
5. Select Production as instantiation and WF-Batch-Manager as subworkflow call.
6. Do not select Submethod this time.

Now add the Mixery Default Workflow to the PlanningDef workflow.

7. Open the Designmode.
8. Open the Toolwindow.
9. Drag and drop the Mixery Default Workflow from the MixeryDef project to the PlanningDef workflow.

Create Material

First create an intermediate product.

1. Open the Material master in the main menu under Master data / Material master.
2. Use the button in the Content-Menu to create a new material.
3. In the Material-No. textbox type _IP01 and in the Materialdesc. 1 textbox Intermediate Product 01.
4. Since this is an intermediate product, select the checkbox Is an intermediate.
5. Save your entries.

Note: Batches that are still in the production process are called intermediate products. Following the iPlus convention intermediates begin with an underscore (_) and are marked as Is an intermediate in the Material master.

Now create 4 more materials. Only _IP02 is an intermediate product. For the other materials, leave the checkbox Is an intermediate empty.

Creating a materialworkflow

Material workflows describe how materials mix during the production process untiil the final product is created.

1. Open the Material workflow in the main menu under Master data / Material workflow.
2. Create a new Material workflow using the  button in the Content-Menü.
3. In the textbox Name type Mixery Material Workflow.
4. On the Workflows tab, open the Designmode.
5. Now drag the intermediate products _IP01 and _IP02 from the toolwindow to the Material workflow.

Assign workflows

Now assign the materialworkflow to the workflow.

1. To do this, click the Add Workflow button.
2. In the Select process workflow window, choose Mixery Planning Workflow
3. Confirm you selection with OK.

Establishing a link to intermediates

Note: Establish the connections by dragging and dropping a process step (right half of the screen) to an intermediate product (left half of the screen). If the connection is successful, you will see a red connection line between the two elements. To delete connections again, select the two connected elements and choose Remove WF Connection in the context menu (right click) of the intermediate material.

1. To display all available steps, select the Mixery Default Workflow and click on Details.
2. Connect _ZW01 with Dosing and _ZW02 with Discharge.

Creating parts list

Create a new parts list

1. Open the parts list in the main menu Master data / Partslist.
2. Create a new parts list using the button in the Content-Menu.
3. In the textfield Name enter Recipe IP1, the textfields No. and Version will be filled automatically.
4. On the Parts list tab, select the intermediate product _IP01 in the material combobox.
5. The reference quantity for this piece is 100 kg.
6. Select the unit of measurement kg (kilogram) in the combobox unit of measurement.
7. Select the Material Workflow Mixery in the combobox Select Workflow and confirm your selection with the button Set MaterialWF. The selected workflow appears in the Current Workflow field.
8. Save your entries.

Assemble Components

Now add the materials that make up the intermediate product on the components list.

1. Open the Components tab.
2. Use the New Component button to add a new material to the components list.
3. In the Material combobox, select Powder 1 and enter the Target quantity of 50 kg.
4. Now add the material Powder 2, also with the Target quantity of 50 kg.
5. Save your entries.

Note: All components should add up to 100 kg later. This simplifies later calculations during batch processing. For liquids, assume how many litres correspond to the weight (e.g. for water 1kg / litre).

Assign intermediate products

Now you have to assign the individual components to the intermediate products in order to define the process stage in which they are added.

1. Open the Intermediate tab.
2. Use the New component part button to add a new component to the intermediate product.
3. Select 001 Powder 1 in the Sequence combobox.
4. Enter 50 kg as the target quantity.
5. Now as Powder 2 according to the same scheme, also with the target quantity of 50 kg.
6. Save your entries.

Assigning parts list to workflow

Assign the parts list to the workflow.

1. Open the Workflow tab.
2. Öffnen Sie über den Add Button die Workflowauswahl.
3. Select the Mixery Planning Workflow and confirm your selection with OK.
4. Save your entries.

Check Routes

You can check your entries on the Parts List tab. Click on the Check routes button. In the window that appears, the system displays a message stating wheter you can produce the material with the parameters you have entered.

Creating a Facility

Now create the storage bins for the materials and assign them.

1. Open the Facility in the main menu under Master data / Facility.
2. Create a new Facility using the button in the Content-Menu.
3. In the textbox No. type MixeryStorage01 and in the textbox Name type Mixery Storage.

Creating storage bins

Now assign the storage bins to the facility.

1. Open the Storage bins tab.
2. Create a new storage bin for each of your silos using the New storage bin button.
3. Enter the data as follows:

4. Enable input and output to and from the storage bins by activating the two checkboxes Inward Enabled and Outward Enabled for all bins.
5. Save your entries.